Gateway releases slew of new desktops, offers something for everyone

Do you absolutely love Gateway desktops? If you said yes, prepare to be seriously stoked. The company is releasing a slew of new systems this week, ranging from cheapo starters to pretty heavily equipped gaming / multimedia models. We've got all the info that's fit to print (and frankly, some that isn't), and we've rounded up the basic specs and features after the break. Enjoy!

FX7026

• Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 CPU
• Overclocked NVIDIA 8800GT graphics chipset
• 4GB of RAM
• 640GB hard drive
• $1,099.99
• Available at retail locations

GT5670, GT5674, GT5676 and GT5678

• AMD Phenom quad core, or triple core processors
• 3GB or 4GB of RAM
• 320GB to 750GB hard drive capacities
• NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE or ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics chipsets
• $549.99 to $849.99
• Available at retail locations

FX541

• NVIDIA SLI-capable motherboard
• Dual PCIe x16 slots with SLI support
• $1,199.99
• Available online

FX541XT

• Factory overclocked CPU
  
• NVIDIA SLI-capable motherboard
• Dual NVIDIA 8800 GT factory overclocked video cards in SLI mode
• $3,499.99
• Available online

DX442

• Intel Pentium Dual-Core, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Core 2 Quad CPU
• Intel G33 chipset with GMA X3100 Graphics
• 2GB or 3GB of RAM
• 320GB or 500GB hard drives
• $549.99 to $999.99
• Available online

[Aguiluz @ May 5th 2008 9:48PM]

What!? No monitor?

At $1000, I expected at least a 15" LCD, but well...

[JohnTitor @ May 5th 2008 11:36PM]

15" LCD, I'd rather memorize the image in my mind

[Blackstar @ May 6th 2008 6:53AM]

Not to mention those speakers... ick. Even with a grand to spend on a computer, you'd think they could still spend $100 to give you good pair of Klipsch Media Pro's. But then again, who buys 'Cow-Computers' anymore anyway?

[phanbouy @ May 5th 2008 9:51PM]

cheapos starter is my middle name

[Ryan @ May 5th 2008 10:59PM]

Your parents must have been really vindictive.

[Aguiluz @ May 5th 2008 11:01PM]

Cheapos starter is mine too!

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f11/my-hot-gpu-solution-recyklacooler-24609/

[clak @ May 5th 2008 10:11PM]

Okay, I know I'm an Apple Fanboy, I know that, but COME ON! Why is it so hard for these computer companies to make a computer that actually looks halfway decent.

Can it really be that hard to do?

Yeah, yeah, all you Windows fanboys can blow with your "but... but... games... AutoCAD... 110 percent of the market..." arguments. I'm just saying. Ugly is ugly.

[phanbouy @ May 5th 2008 10:15PM]

dude! but the grille says F X. hot shit, yo!

[cydonia @ May 5th 2008 10:18PM]

have you seen some of the XPS/vaio/asus ROG laptops yet?

OGC

[JosiahK @ May 5th 2008 10:20PM]

You do realize that looks are a matter of taste, yours just happens to be bad taste, sure I’ll give you that a clean looking machine is nice, but most apples look exactly the same it's like something you'd see in equilibrium or some other utopian based no-emotions society. Like your apple looks if you will, some of us like something with a more than one color and texture in them. I might add this is from someone who has owned a Mac and actually liked it, although I am currently using XP.

[Dave @ May 5th 2008 10:49PM]

"Ugly is ugly."

And attractive is attractive. "Ugly" and "attractive" is all a matter of opinion. There are PLENTY of great looking PCs on the market...they just don't have a constant, unrelenting, billion-dollar ad campaign convincing everyone that they look good and nothing else does. Like JosiahK said: white, grey, and black aren't the only colors that look good on computers. You've been brainwashed by Apple if that's what you think.

[phanbouy @ May 5th 2008 10:51PM]

just because taste is subjective doesn't mean you get license to be a hardcore relativist. just sayin'

[APasserBy @ May 5th 2008 10:54PM]

You act as if Apple is the only company in the world that actually hired a design team. They're not.
Granted, it took PC makers a while to realize that beige boxes were ugly.
However, now you have a wide variety of PCs (HP Pavilion Notebooks, XPS One, HP Slimline, Sony Vaios). Cmon, open your eyes, smell the coffee. I agree -- Apple's minimalistic white/silver design that started in 2000/2001 worked, has worked, and probably will work.
But to say that every PC notebook out there is ugly is misinformed.
To say that Apple can make a better-looking standalone desktop -- I disagree. The MacPro is pretty in-your-face ugly.

[clak @ May 5th 2008 11:14PM]

I for one, hated the look of Apple computers during their plastic phase, so it's not like I'm judging blind here, but really, I look at these designs used by some PC companies and it actually makes me sick.

The only company that makes PCs that I would buy if I was still a Windows user is Sony. I like the look of some of their Vaios. HP used to have some class with their desktops, but somewhere along the way they got infected with the Compaq/Dell design virus. Now they paint everything with black plastic.

Aluminum for the win! And by the way, my Mac Pro is stunning. Some nights I just stare at it for ten minutes before going to bed. My girlfriend is jealous.

[Quikboy @ May 5th 2008 11:14PM]

I'm guessing you've never seen a Vaio laptop before. In fact, many of the MacBook's design and features were most likely influenced by Sony Vaios that have been around much longer than the MacBooks.

The XPS (non-gaming) are also quite attractive, and some of HP's more better computers have always had a nice friendly look to them.

I'm guessing your thoughts of PC's must belong to the mundane Dell's, and old-school Gateways of the past.

[Ruben @ May 5th 2008 11:19PM]

This particular computer maker cared more about putting a 45nm quad, 8800GT, 4 gigs of ram, and 360gigs HD space for under 1100 dollars.

And for that, i commend them.

Ill take specs and components for a decent price over looks any day.

But i get both by building my own.

Heres the PC worlds Mac Pro case equivalent (because as we know, all Apple does is the OS and a shell):
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/contact_us/index1.php

Unbelievable quality and versatility (that by far supersedes the Mac Pro's case due to the versatility). Thats 100% aluminum there. I just wish i could justify the price. My P182 will do.

[Ruben @ May 5th 2008 11:21PM]

That should read 640Gigs.

[patriotsn1 @ May 5th 2008 11:25PM]

Are we having sex with our computers?? Should we really care how "sexy" they are? Do we know girls who won't sleep with you unless your computer has a fruit sticker on it? Get over it... a "sexy" computer doesn't make your penis any larger.

[clak @ May 5th 2008 11:45PM]

@Quikboy

First I praise Sony for their Vaio line and then you jump in and say I should look at Sony's Vaio laptops. Huh? For a Quikboy, you're not very quick.

Or maybe this was just your off beat sense of humor at play. No?

[Ace b @ May 6th 2008 1:11AM]

Damn Clak

It's either you or that other guy arguing.
But it is entertain,so I guess you can continue if you must.

[Quikboy @ May 6th 2008 4:17AM]

@ Clak : If you can read the times posted next to yours and my post, we posted at the exact same time.

I didn't see our latest comment until after I submitted my comment.

I'm not going to try responding to your insults this time.

[JW @ May 6th 2008 10:45AM]

Hell's yeah! I like my computer to look good. I don't even turn it on, I just look at it!

[Allen @ May 5th 2008 10:33PM]

Actually thats not a bad computer for $1100. I went on newegg and built a similar setup for a total of $852, without the card reader.

So for another $250 you get a warranty and you do not have to do it yourself. Not bad compared to other companies like Alienware, where you can build their "high end" setups for thousands less. Hell, I know Gateway gets good discounts but from a standpoint of profit margins, they are actually getting real aggressive here.

[wpyh @ May 5th 2008 10:51PM]

Has anyone noticed that the "FX" on the casing looks very much like the XPS logo? I mean the font.

[Ryan @ May 5th 2008 10:59PM]

I noticed. Do I get a cookie?

[Sporkinum @ May 5th 2008 11:00PM]

Hey.. I'm all about value.. I just got a refurb gateway desktop.
Gateway GT5416E Refurbished Intel Desktop PC - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz (Dual-Core), 2GB DDR2, 400GB SATA II, DL DVD±RW, NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS, TV Tuner, Flash Reader, Windows Vista Home Premium.. All for $249 with a 90 day warranty.


Which I needed because it came with a celeron that somebody swapped for the E6300. Gateway shipped me a pre-paid box to mail it back, Pain in the butt, but I will say the support people I dealt with were great! They are actually in the US and speak US english!

[Leroy @ May 5th 2008 11:24PM]

They spoke US English? That is to say, a version of English more bastardised from British English than any other? Hooray.

[JC @ May 5th 2008 11:14PM]

Even Alienware is now offering gaming systems at 1199 so what's so special about this box now?

[Ruben @ May 5th 2008 11:37PM]

For 1199, you only get an E8200 (disregard the Phenom's since they are disasters).

With the GT, Q6600 (already worse than the 9300 due to OC potential), 4 gigs, and 750gig HD, it costs $1,869.00. Thats substantially more. Although, the wire management in an Alienware is very nice and the case is better, albeit, still very plasticy.

Alienware, no matter how you look at it, still costs alot more, but you are really paying for the boutique name and install quality.

For 1099, thats really not a bad price that puts alot of the retail boxes to shame, due to the much better video card, and 45nm quad.

[Elliott @ May 5th 2008 11:25PM]

Wow, the FX7026 actually seems like a pretty good deal considering it's a pre-built.

[Frank Furter @ May 5th 2008 11:59PM]

I am an Apple fanboy - na na na na na - and once again, I have a reason to love my MacPro. Man, you guys have some POS-looking machines. Heh. And you're running Windows. LOL.

Yeah yeah yeah, it's all subjective, Mac's suck, whatever. Glad I switched. It's nice to read these articles and watch the Mac-haters start foaming at the mouth because this is the best they have. Woohoo!

[Dave @ May 6th 2008 1:20AM]

Since when is this the best Mac-haters have? This is far from the best PCs on the market. The fastest and most powerful desktop computers are not MacPros, if that's what you've been lead to believe. We're "foaming at the mouth" because people like you post ignorant, "Mac-is-better-than-everything" comments on an article that has nothing to do with Macintosh computers.

[ethana2 @ May 6th 2008 1:55AM]

I'm getting an Ubuntu Dell Inspiron soon. The value is awesome, 'cause the windows tax is knocked right off the top. It looks great too. Apple can take their second best operating system and pretty logo and sho-*%36_.*message terminated*

[Ace b @ May 6th 2008 3:22AM]

I'm trying to figure out which fanboyism is worse:

The war between apple v.s. windows or,
xbox v.s. playstation v.s. nintendo.

God,it's a beautiful world out there.

[junyor Mynt @ May 6th 2008 12:41AM]

All the Elitist Mac users get on my nerves. They have been deceived so intensely they don't know a good thing when it slaps them in the face.
Yes I use XP and Linux and i would never use a Mac or their os bs. These are great deals for some one that does not know how to build comps.

[Ian @ May 6th 2008 1:09AM]

Well I'm a long-time Mac user, and I think the 2 or 3 other Mac users who have posted here so far are complete, brain-washed tossers.

Not all of us are complete twunts.

[Nitsunto @ May 6th 2008 2:00AM]

I'll have to agree with you, Ian. I have been a mac user for a long time. While I do love my macs, I consider these machines a damn good value. The
FX7026 looks really impressive for the $$$.

Forgive the fanboys. They are blinded by the magical man in the black turtleneck.

[ak4life @ May 6th 2008 1:47AM]

Hmm, they still don't offer LInux as an OS option??

--------
ak4life

[ethana2 @ May 6th 2008 1:52AM]

Looks like the same old windows-only garbage.
Meh.

Give us some OS choice and I'll have a reason to care about the product.

[willyboy @ May 6th 2008 8:58AM]

It needs more buttons.

[xB Owner @ May 6th 2008 1:28PM]

I have to say that I am seriously considering the 7026. I know Gateway's build quality and design aren't the best. But Building a machine to these specs, you would be hard pressed to match the price, especially when you take the warranty into consideration.

I was actually looking at the 7024 a few months ago, but decided against it. With the bump in spec. and negligible price difference for the 7026, it is all too tempting. I may have to go check one out at the local Best Buy this week.

[Geoff Gibson @ May 6th 2008 1:50PM]

I own the FX7026 and I gotta say it's a nice computer. Of course, you can basically build the same computer off of newegg for a couple hundred dollars less, but the fact that you can walk into Best Buy and walk out in 15 minutes with this thing completely built and ready to go from the moment you plug it in is very nice.

A few things I have noticed since buying it (I am using it right now):

1. The thing is quiet... if fan noise is ever an issue for you this is a great computer to have, especially for a gaming computer. At times I won't know if its on or off...

2. It's no slouch in the gaming department. The cpu, videocard, and RAM are all very much capable of playing any game on the market today.

3. The computer does come pre-loaded with the usual garbage programs: NetZero, Bigfix, eBay, etc. etc. etc... Although it only took me about 15 minutes to remove em all.

4. In addition to the extra expansion bay, it also comes with a portable media drive bay.

All in all, I'd say it was a worthy investment. It should be able to play games for at least a couple years.

[alan @ May 6th 2008 6:37PM]

Who cares about the look of your god damn computer? Mine sits on the floor out of site anyway. Id say a very small percentage like to have it sit up on their desk for "looks".

Gtfo the discussion and discuss how gateway is making up to par gaming pcs for affordable prices. I dont know why youre looking for an up to date computer if you cant afford to buy one at $1000

[Luddy @ May 7th 2008 1:29PM]

Meh, call me simple but I could give a rats ass if the computer looks ugly. Its all about performance/cost ratio, something which all computers have to adhere to.