Gateway P-7808u FX gaming laptop unboxing and hands-on
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted Mar 11th 2009 6:14PM
posted Mar 11th 2009 6:14PM
The latest FX sits in the same case as the P-7811 FX, including the gaudy black and orange effects that remind us of an 80s Chevy Monte Carlo (look it up, you'll see what we mean). We're ready for Gateway to leave this design behind -- the FX deserves a new dress, because, really, she has a great personality. Gateway has kept the 5-in-1 multicard reader, HDMI port, triple USB 2.0 plugs, and handy eSATA port while adding a 9-cell battery that provides longer portable gaming time of around four hours. Don't expect to throw this giant into a backpack any time soon, as the P-7808u FX weighs in at a bag-busting 9 pounds while a 17-inch widescreen monitor sits above a full-size keyboard complete with numpad.
The biggest additions to the FX are a 2GHz Core 2 Quad CPU and NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS (with 1GB of GDDR3) that have proven to make this a very adept gaming rig. The new machine is snappier than the 7811 we've been testing: startup time is a good 10 seconds faster when booting into Windows Vista Home 64-bit and Crysis played like a dream at 1440x900 and 8x anti-aliasing. Unfortunately, a more paltry resolution (1440x900 on the 7808 as opposed to the 7811's 1920x1200) was a disappointing and surprising cut and had us yearning for the vast real estate of the predecessor's display. In terms of memory, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB HDD spinning at 5400RPM opened applications without much hesitation but a 7200RPM drive would be welcome here.
If you're on the fence, you can't go wrong with the P7808u FX's specifications and price point. However, if you're sitting there sobbing with a 7811 (or similar) gaming rig, don't lose any sleep -- the 7808u is a basic (but welcome) evolutionary jump.
I have tried like hell to find the P7811FX but that thing has officially disappeared off the face of the earth. Probably cause it was the best deal on the damn planet. Honestly, how do they get a 9800 in there for 1500 bucks?
Its not really anything to be excited over imho. My Current computer is a 15.4 Model and blows this out of the water. Plus I CAN throw it into a back pack as it only weighs 7lbs. They just released an upgrade to the GFX card too. Gonna have to plunk down 200$ so I can get the new 260M Gtx sent to me so I can install it in my rig. That the nicest thing about clevos as you can upgrade any part. Yes even the cpu. =D
Plus it starts a full 100$ cheaper at 1392$
http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np8662-built-clevo-m860tu-p-2564.html
Sorry if this sounds like a ad. Most people only know clevo/sager for there huge sli laptop monsters but they have other models too :P
Nice site!
@thern
Thanks for the site, looks like a good deal
Thernn
Wow, nice find.
That is an amazing deal on a 260m equipped laptop.
Just goes to show how much everyone else overcharges.
actually it disappeared because they didn't cool the graphics chip well enough. 4-6 months of intense gaming will fry the chip.
Man, I really really wish I could afford this. I need a laptop and a laptop with gaming would eliminate my need for a PS3 or XBOX
I'll sell you mine for $1700
stoddcrew@hotmail.com
Can "i" use any pair of headphones that "i" want to?
or do "i" need a special adapter?
AHAHAHAH!!!
???
don't pay him any attention, he's high and stuck back in the year 2000.
The lack of back lighting on these FX models has always been frustrating.
Everyone always complains that Engadget doesn't give enough coverage to Windows based computers and yet when they do, the comments barely break the 20-30 comment range.
yeah and people complain to engadget about trolls like you and yet you keep coming back. Get a life moron.
This isnt revolutionary, nobody has ever heard of this company, oh and btw try covering and creating such a big deal out of other companies like you do of apple, then we'l see whos right. You shouldve thought before saying that, Chapel.. youre not very well liked, even on ur own site.
That's cause 80% of the comments on the Apple unboxings are trolls, and flames
Because all gamers love gaudy colours and cheap tacky plastic *sigh* :P
Actually most gamers have really bad taste in pretty much everything. Cheesy color combos and design languages (or lack thereof) should be expected.
Just a question on something that reviewers seldom mention; what is the build quality like on this thing? I ask after using several laptops that were made of cheap crap plastic that began falling apart before they were a year old. While it's true that I come damn close to abusing them with constant use and travel I have found some that do stand up including an old G4 Ibook thats damn near indestructable.
Wish I could give you some insight on that, but I can't comment on that. Even though I've had a 7811 in my possession for months, I never take it with me. It's been on a desktop pretty much permanently. That said, I haven't had any scratches or blemishes despite regular use. Given its weight and plastic case, though, I can't imagine it can take a ton of abuse.
lots of keyboard flex, but unless you're trying you can't see any pressure lines on the moniter when you press on the lid. It seems like it could take on the role of a macbook pro, but not a lenovo.
yeh!!! where is video on demand for the playstation network, i mean come on i bought a bravia to go with my ps3 don't i get rewarded for being so awesome...
WTF are you talking about.
@alexacoon: A few months ago, I fell asleep in my dorm room bed with my laptop (the FX-6831 version; same form factor). My bed is three feet or so off the ground. I pushed it off when I was still half-conscious, and I woke up to a loud "thud."
The screen was open when it fell, and when I looked down on it, it had closed itself. The laptop was on the ground as if I had just laid it down normally. I'm pretty sure the computer was on at the time, but it was probably either sleeping or hibernating when I pushed it off. I plugged it in, turned it on, and everything still worked perfectly. Checked S.M.A.R.T. data, and it was still in the same perfect condition. Still works fine to this day.
Crazy story, but I think it shows how well this laptop can take random blunt blows. =)
Thanks for the heads up; though most of my issues have always been more wear and tear. I've had the internal metal hinges freeze up on two different Dells which cracked both the body and lid open opening and closing; a Sony that suffered what I'm guessing was a bad video cable as adjusting the screen would wreck havoc on the picture adjusting the angle (after only a few months) and the entire body fell apart completely within a year. On the plus side another Dell we have in the shop (a 333mhz something) has done remarkably well given terrible abuse.
I'd consider a toughbook but I'm not THAT bad; just need something a little better than average.
Hey now, I would much rather have an 86 Monte Carlo SS, Black with Orange lettering over a gateway 'gaming' laptop. Despite the specs its still gateway and nothing will ever change that. Where the Monte, was a serious contender in its day (and still today) with an H.O. 305 small block.
Sorry... I just love my Chevy's...
9lb is not THAT heavy. It's heavy, but it's not DRAMA-QUEEN heavy ("bag-busting", really?)
What I'm saddened by is the screen resolution degradation. As soon as everyone went to widescreen, they all decided that they shouldn't offer high resolution screens anymore.
IBM used to offer 1600x1200 in a 15" screen. Dell d600's were offered with 1400x1050 on a 14" screen... Instead of widening the screen, everyone chose to cut the top&bottom off, as far as resolution is concerned...
I know there are a few 17" 1920x1200 behemoths, but high-res screen are just not offered on anything but the 17 inchers....
[gripe mode off]
Are you kidding? I had an XPS Gen 2 that weighed 8 pounds and It felt like a ton. Oh and btw desktop replacements SUCK
typo, 7811 has 1920x1200 resolution
I picked up a 6860fx off of ebay for $600 before thanksgiving, now I'm starting to get buyer's regret for not putting up the money for a 7811fx...
Wait a darn second... Crysis "played like a dream at 1440x900 and 8x anti-aliasing?" No way unless it was on all low settings or your concept of "dreamy" gameplay is 15fps.
no, my stock 6860 can run crysis on all high no AA on 1280/720 at 30, low dips of 20. the only thing holding me back was the wimpy 1.8ghz
@Thernn
I prefer my 1920x1200. I am a high res whore.
@Travis D
My 7811 is going strong after 9 months of use. I play TF2, Guild Wars, played FO3, RA3, Oblivion 4. If you check my TF2 stats, you'll see that I game pretty hard. Max settings whenever I can. Processor never tops 50c, video card never tops 70c, usually around 62-65c for gaming. Maybe I got lucky.
I got to say this laptop is not a looker. I would be embarrassed to take this thing out of my apartment. The orange on black, come on. And the power brick, its a brick all right. 86 Monte Carlo SS is a good comparison, except for the fact that Monte Carlo was a classic and this laptop is not.
Other than the appearance, the hardware is top of the line and you can't find another laptop of better value.
btw, is the display LED back lid? And does the battery seem to small for the laptop to another else?
Hmmm,.....XPS what?
my 6864fx is wanting to be replaced now
I'm on the edge here.. I have a 7805u... basically the same specs as this model, but a higher resolution of 1920x1200, 7200rpm HD but only a p8400 duo core. So basically what I'm missing out is the quad core, is it really worth the $600 more? lol
I will be very upset if the P-7811FX doesn't win laptop of the year for 2008. I bought it for 1300 from best buy when it was one sale for a 100 dollars off or something. Where the hell can you get such a nice quality laptop with such a low price.
Amazingness.
reminds the song:
another "brick" in the wall
if you guys want one so bad i just bought one on tigerdirect for 1301 dollars. thats right. it rocks out. with 1920x1200 screen res too.