My Gateway Config

[LarrySW]

Just configured this, and almost ready to buy it but need some opinions...
I have extra speakers, a CD-RW and a GeFroce4 Ti4600 waiting here in boxes already so take that into consideration.

CPU 2.4GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with 512K level 2 cache



RAM 256MB RDRAM® PC800 ECC RIMMSs (speeds up to 800MHz) expandable to 2048MB



Memory Slots Two Direct-RDRAM® channels with two RIMMs per channel (four RIMM sockets)



BIOS Intel®



Chipset Intel® 850E



Front Side Bus 533MHz



Monitor 17" EV700 Color Monitor



Graphics adapter 64MB NVIDIA® GeForce? MX 400 Graphics with DVI and TV out



Hard disk drive 120GB UATA100 7200RPM Hard Drive



Controller 1 FDD controller, 2 IDE channels each supporting 2 devices



Floppy disk drive 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drive



CD-ROM drive 16X/48X DVD ROM


Audio Sound Blaster® Audigy? Audio with IEEE firewire



Speakers Boston Acoustics® BA745? Speakers with SubWoofer



Modem 56k2 PCI Voice Modem



Network Integrated Intel® 10/100 ethernet



Case dimensions New Tower Case: (HxWxD) 20.5" x 8.0" x 20.0"



Expansion slots Five PCI, One 4X AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port



Expansion Bays External-Three 5.25?, Two 3.5? drive bays
Internal-Two 3.5? drive bays



USB Ports Total of 6 USB ports
2 version 2.0 USB ports in the front
2 version 2.0 USB ports in the rear
2 version 1.1 USB ports in the rear



Other Ports 1 Parallel
1 Serial
2 PS/2



Keyboard Multi-function Keyboard (WxDxH) 18.6? x 7.8? x 1.37?



Mouse Logitech® USB Optical Wheel Mouse and mouse pad



Operating Software Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition



Application Software Microsoft® Works Suite 2002 including Microsoft® Word & Encarta®



Anti-Virus Norton® Anti-Virus



Internet Service
Provider (ISP) One year America Online® Internet Access (New Members Only) or 6 months of MSN® Internet Access (New Members Only)4



Battery Coin cell battery included



Power Supply 250W-110/220 switchable power



Certification UL 1950, CSA C22.2, FCC Class B, ICES-003, Energy Star Compliant (except with Windows 98)

Total Price including shipping: US $1482

 

[Podolak]

Just a question not a flame but why go with Gateway? Really curiosity if anything. As far as I know they are notorious for having power supply problems. Also, whats the spec on the motherboard?

 

[Ryan]

You know, I did the same thing last august. I have a Gateway Athlon computer, and it's awesome. If I were you, I would reformat the Hard Drive before using it, and just do a clean install of XP. But, other than that, it looks great BTW - is this system the one with the REALLY SWEET black/silver case?

Originally posted by: Podolak
Just a question not a flame but why go with Gateway? Really curiosity if anything. As far as I know they are notorious for having power supply problems. Also, whats the spec on the motherboard?

No, Gateway has some of the most stable PSU in the industry. I have a Gateway Athlon Machine with MANY devices and it is running on Gateway's 215W power supply, and it has been stable as a rock for me.

 

[LarrySW]

Well I ain't buliding it because I don't like the headaches that occur and for the same system at Dell this is 300 dollars cheaper.

The tech specs are now shown above instead...

 

[LarrySW]

Yep the brand new case it is slick looking!

 

[Ryan]

What's the actual PC model number? Is it the 500 series? Why not bumb the monitor up to th VX730? It has a mitsibishi diamondtron tube, and it will be MUCH nicer that the one on your current configuration.

 

[LarrySW]

This is the Gateway 700X

http://gateway.speedera.net/www.gateway.com/images/prod/file700_pic.gif

 

[Ryan]

If you've already got speakers, you should be able to drop the Boston acoustics ones, and lower the overall price. Other than that, it looks sweet.

 

[LarrySW]

Is the VX730 worth 80 dollars more?

 

[Ryan]

Yes, the screen is awesome. I have the 19 inch version of it, and I feel as if I'm gonna have an orgasm everytime I look at it. j/k. Seriously, the quality is MUCh higher than that of the EV700.

 

[LarrySW]

Since I plan on popping a 3ghz chip in there when they are released, should I get a 2.26 or stick with the 2.4? What's the speed difference?

 

[Ryan]

I would downgrade to the 2.26ghz. It'll save you some cash.

 

[LarrySW]

Well just made the purchase very nice guy gave it to me with FREE S/H and I upgraded to the better monitor so my price was 1513.00 and my config was...

Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.4GHz with 512K L2 Advanced Transfer Cache and 533MHz Front Side Bus
Memory: 256MB RDRAM® PC800 .
Hard Drive: 120GB UATA100 7200RPM Hard Drive
Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive
CD-ROM: 16x/48x DVD-ROM Drive
Certification: Energy Star Compliant
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Application Software: Microsoft® Works Suite 2002 - Including Microsoft® Word and Encarta
AntiVirus Software: Norton AntiVirus 90 day Introductory Offer
Monitor: VX730 17" Color Monitor (15.9" viewable area)
Video: 32MB NVIDIA? GeForce2 MX200 AGP Graphics
Keyboard: Multi-function Keyboard
Mouse: Logitech USB Optical Wheel Mouse and Gateway mouse pad
Sound System: SoundBlaster Audigy Audio w/ IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Speakers: Not Selected
Case: NEW Gateway Tower Case
Expansion Slots: 5 PCI and 1 AGP External ports: (6) USB (2 in front and 2 in back are version 2.0, 2 more in back are version 1.1) Parallel, Serial and (2) PS/2
Controller: Integrated Ultra ATA Controller
Modem: 56K PCI Voice Modem
Network Adapter: 10/100 Ethernet Adapter
Internet Service Provider: One year America Online® Internet Access (New members only) OR 6-Months of MSN Internet Access (New members only)
Limited Warranty Program: 3 Year Limited Parts / Labor / Lifetime Support
Promotion Software: The Sims? (Limited Time ONLY - a $49 value)

 

[Ryan]

Enjoy, don't forget to reformat and reinstall windows XP. It'll get rid of all the crap that ALL OEMS install on their computers