Right
on schedule,
Gateway has set free its P-7811 FX gaming laptop, and we got our hands on one right before you can get your own. Our test unit shipped with the aforementioned
Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.26GHz with a 3MB L2 cache, Windows Vista Home 64-bit, Intel PM45 Express Chipset, NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS with 512MB of GDDR3 discrete video memory, a 17-inch WXGA screen, 200GB 7200 SATA HDD, 4GB DDR3 800MHz RAM, HDMI, 9-cell battery, and 1.3MP webcam. We're pretty pleased with the performance of the machine, although dialing up Crysis to its max settings made it choke a bit. We're still not sold on the computer's stylings, but in a dark room of gaming goodness, who's paying attention to gaudy lights and overly-shiny carbon anyway, right? Peep the hands-on pics and a brief video of Crysis in action after the break. And yes, we know we suck at the game.
posted Aug 13th 2008 5:20PM
I like the glossy screen; but I hate Gateway. Customer support sucks, and I don't really associate them with quality.
Quality WAS a concern with gateway... but they really changed something with their FX line of laptops and desktops. I own an FX laptop myself (for 5 months now) and can say it is very well built
Want bad customer service/spare parts/tech support? Try Dell...Don't even get me started.
well, it's unfair to compare anyone's service to dell. Dell is a whole new class of "support"
Give me a 15 inch w/lesser specs for cheaper and I'm in.
RV - Congratulations. Gateway delivers a sweet 15.4" FX, for practically half the price. The M-6864FX.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8907043&st=gateway+fx&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1213046783376
Thanks man, its even on sale now. I will greatly consider purchasing this.
It doesn't look thatttttt bad.
It looks like your momma!
It doesn't look thattttt bad.
your double post looks thattt bad, though
youre missing a "t"
Is it still $1500?
A 17" Screen with only WXGA? wut?
I'm guessing they meant WUXGA, since the screenshot shows them setting Crysis at 1920x1080.
Engadget tho, the full version of Crysis runs a lot smoother, as it has patches to help the performance and optimizations on the engine code.
yeah, it's 1920x1200. read the link on the words "on schedule"
What settings and resolution are you running Crysis on...? I would consider one of these if the screen on the new P-FX looks better than the horrible one on the first.
Only a Core 2 Duo?!?! I expect Core 2 Extreme if not Core i7!
I don't think I would ever really consider getting a Gateway, I never have thought of them to be that great of machines. For gaming, maybe, but as an everyday machine, I don't think so.
...this /is/ a gaming laptop
Well no duh it's a gaming laptop, but I still would think twice about getting it if I were looking for a laptop in that market, just because it's made by gateway.
You gave the impression that you were saying you'd never buy a normal machine from then, therefore giving the impression that you considered this normal
Beatiful pics but you messed it up when you put the macbook next to it.
what the hell man? you burned my pixels.
Heh - that was mainly to give people a reference point for size. Sorry for the random inclusion!
Id expect Core Exreme or maybe even a quad core but core !7 those processors aren't even out yet are they?
for a sub $1500 laptop? you're too greedy.
Engadget, the pictures are so grainy! Im guessing you have left the camera on auto and its chose a high ISO because of the low light conditions, or you purposely ranked the ISO up for said reason but damn!
Anyways, not a bad machine :) I hate the whole chavputer thing going on when it comes to gaming, im sure most gamers don't care THAT much about crazy lights and gaudy plastic :)
Looks fine to me, I'd buy it.
chavputer?
wut?
chavputer = magic
Chavputer = Tacky computer
Like a chav (USA = "wig**rs") with a grill in their mouth, fake gold jewelry and the quintessential track suit w/burberry baseball cap. When you spend time around Brits, you unfortunately get to know these things.
this isn't the 7811 is it? the 7811 doesn't have fingerprint reader?
This one does. It's an available option.
The only problem I can see is that yes, it is DDR3 RAM, but it's at 800MHz? At that frequency, DDR2 would be faster and cheaper because it has better latency. So what gives?
DDR my friend, means Double Data Rate. a DDR3 at 800MHz is DDR3-1600. DDR2-800 runs at 400MHz.
No, I meant DDR2 PC-6400, that runs at 800MHz. And it would be better than DDR3 running at 800MHz.
I like your table... a lot...
Thanks, but you can't have it. :) Those chairs are made by Burke if you're looking for them. From the 60s.
I guess that means all I need is a DeLorean and a Mod outfit and I can have me a swingin table like yours!
What the.
There is no way you are running that game at 1920x1080 with 8x anti-aliasing. NO WAY.
Never said we did - said the system choked on those setting. RTFA?
Too bad it won't play Crysis smoothly at max.... I guess the same could apply to Far Cry 2, and maybe Red Alert 3... definitely FSX.
But still great value for the buck.
this is beyond awesome. sure, it's not as sexy as a Alienware M15x, but for this price, it's more than i ask for. lots of gangbang for the buck
I just got my laptop today and drooling over it :D yay for bestbuy!
Would have been better if you test some benchmarks (3D Mark, PC Mark, etc). Or open Fraps while playing Crysis.
Great post though, I'm buying that laptop soon.
:D
Just wish that Gateway would make a 15.4 inch. FX laptop with the exact same specs. *sigh
wow thanks for posting this article!! This is the laptop that I've actually been following the past couple weeks with great interest to buy.
I know that this may not be typical, but is there anyway to provide a review of this machine? I'd really like to know your 2nd impressions and any other details about your experience.
This is the laptop I'm ready to buy if it's worth the price. How is build quality? Bloatware preinstalled? Any bugs you've noticed? These types of issues would greatly help me decide if I should commit to purchasing this pc or taking the plunge this fall into a Macbook Pro. My iPhone 3G has sparked my interest in trying out Apples computers.
Thanks Josh and Engadget!
What about the ASUS G50V-A1/A2?
I just picked one up...it's a 15" gaming/media class notebook.
T9400 2.53
4GB DDR2 800
2x250GB (5400), RAID 0/1 or none
NVidia 9700M GT...
1680x1050 LCD.
1 year accident protection
Need I go on?
Price: $1639
IMHO I think it wipes the floor with this huge monster...not to mention I probably get better battery life (2 hrs)
Jon Chang, you overpaid for an underperforming laptop - the 9700M GT isn't even half as fast as the 98 GTS.
damn ... nice digs.
thousands of dollars worth of furniture there.
Good deals at second-hand stores, actually, with a little eye for what's what and some Formula 409 once I get it home. And the table is a knock-off.
wait a sec....isnt it 8800M GTS???
It's 9800M GTS.
A little faster than the 8800M GTS.
i'm a little pissed. i just got the gateway p-173x-fx with the nvidia 8800 gts and know they have the same thing with a 9800 gts. don't get me wrong the computer is still amazing. does anyone know if the 9800 gts is really that much better than the 8800gts? thanks.
Yes its still $1500 @ best buy, and remember its DDR3 not DDR 2, and 4GIGs not 2-3gigs like most models. DDR3 is the way to go and the jump from 8800 to 9800 is noticiable. Battery life was rated at 2h 45 min which i good for a gaming rig.
Japan Gateway will release in different configuration as P-7812jFX. The diffs are; Intel Core 2 Duo T9400, Integrated Bluetooth 2.0, 3MB DDR3 1066MHz memory, Blu-ray readable drive, 320GB 5400rpm SATA HD, V1.3 HDMI connector. The price is not listed yet. Do you think which model is better, P-7812FX will be released in US as well?
http://jp.gateway.com/products/product.html?prod=P-7812jFX
I was seriously thinking of buying a gateway P-173XL FX, but this nvidia 9800 upgrade on this 7812 make me doubt about which one I'll decide. Actually I dont care about the 200Gb HDD compare to 400GB of p173,, but what really bothers me is the down on the processor from 2.4GH to 2.26 why they did that??, it would have been a power horse with the same processor. What model do you think is better, anyonw ples Help in advance :)
What I am disappoint with is I was looking at the P-173 also because I read it has a clean "no junk" install of Vista ultimate.
I was/am hoping for a updated p173 with the p45 chipset, faster cpu, the 9800 gpu, and the blu ray.
If tigerdirect had that for 1600-1700 I would get it yesterday as is I am on the fence and waiting to see what Gateway does next.
If nothing else comes down the pipe in 2-3 months I may pull the trigger on the 7811.
Why can't they push out the new lineup all at once???
The M-6864FX can't even compare to this baby.
7811 vs 6864:
17" WUXGA (1920x1200) vs. 15.4" WXGA (1200x800)
4gb DD3 @ 800 vs. 4gb DD2 @ 667
Montevina chipset (newest, DDR3 RAM to 8gb, 1066mhz FSB+) vs. Santa Rosa (667mhz max, 4gb cap DDR2)
9800gts vs. 2600 HD (Class 1 GPU vs. Class 2 GPU. 9800gts wipes the floor with the 2600)
2.26ghz 3mb cache 800mhz FSB CPU vs. 2.0 ghz 2mb cache 667mhz FSB CPU
The 7811 is a budget gaming laptop.
The 6864 is clearly a super budget borderline gaming system (albeit 1200x800 helps offset the deficiencies of the 2600 mobility GPU)
Discontinued. Why?
DO NOT BUY THIS LAPTOP.
Gateway is TERRIBLE not only with this laptop, but with their "customer support" it's more like wait on hold til some asshole "tech" support person says all they can do is cover your brand new laptop under their warranty, so basically you are paying for your brand new laptop to work..by sending it in for repairs. It's absurd, and I will be putting in a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.