Which System is Better? (and when are the new Gateway FXs being released?)

[IronMan2003]

Does anyone know when the new Gateway FXs are suppose to be released? On the website it says coming soon/Check Back soon. Has the 3 new models specs.
http://www.gateway.com/programs/pseries/index.php
I'm highly interested in the P-171S FX Edition (2906007R)

Comparing the Current Models - (Which is Better?)
Custom Built HP dv9700t vs Retail Gateway P-6831FX

1. HP dv9700t
Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7250 (2.00 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Display - 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
Memory - 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Graphics Card - 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS!!
Personalization - Imprint Finish+Fingerprint Reader+Webcam(Megapixels?)+Microphone!
Networking - Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
Hard Drive - 240GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (120GB x 2)
Primary CD/DVD Drive - LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Primary Battery - 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

2. Gateway P-6831FX
Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile (1.67GHz, 2MB L2 Cache , 667MHz FSB)
Display - WXGA+ widescreen TFT-LCD with Ultrabright technology (1440x900)
Memory - 3GB (PC2-5300 DDR2, Non expandable)
Graphics Card - NVIDIA GeForce Go 8800 GTS (Up to 512MB discrete GDDR3)
Personalization - Web Cam 1.3 (Doesn't say if it has a Mic and Finterprinter reader, anyone?)
Networking - 56k, LAN, Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 network connection (802.11a/g/n)
Hard Drive - 250GB 5400 Serial ATA
Primary CD/DVD Drive - Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW
Pimary Battery - 9 Cell Lithium-ion Battery

My comments and questions regarding these 2 laptops...
Question = Q , C = Comment.

Q1- Just how much better is the 8800 GTS over the 8600M GS?
Q2- Is the 8800 GTS so good it easly overshadows the 1.67 ghz,667mhz FSB proccessor or
does the 2.0GHZ, 800 mhz FSB make it worth getting the faster proccessor with lower video card?
Q3- What if I bumped the HP proccessor up to a Intel2DuoT7500 (2.20 GHz, 4MB L2Cache, 800MHz FSB) , would it change the answer to Q2?
Q4- Does the Gateway have a fingerprint reader?
Q5- Does the Gateway have bluetooth?
CQ-Not sure if the Gateway has any Digital Media Card slots.(Not huge deal)
CQ- Not sure if the Gateway has monitor Port.
C- I really like the higher resolution of the HP.
C- Like the feal of the HP keyboard but the Gateway looks good.
C- Price is almost exactly the same.
C- Both have HDMI.
C- HP will have dual harddrives which I would like to use for ease of Dual Boot.(xp+Vista)
C- HP mouse buttons are much nicer as is the Audio buttons above the keyboard.
C- This machines usage consist of casual to occassional gaming(current games), but will mostly be a heavy multitasker, video, audio, internet all at once. Some video editing. Desktop Replacement good for 3yrs.
C- Plan on running Vista Ultimate(64bit)

Advice, Comments, Information...Welcomed. Thanks.

 

[Rottie]

what is the price for both notebooks?

 

[IronMan2003]

Originally posted by: Rottie
what is the price for both notebooks?

$1350

but the Gateway absolutely BLOWS the other away...

Foudn this thread @ notebook review.

http://forum.notebookreview.co...d.php?t=206261&page=10

THis Gateway is absolutely insane........ Its scoring 7000 on 3Dmark out the box... If you replace the processor people are pulling scores of 8500.....

Its brand new out this month.... 3 more models of this laptop come out @ end of month. I'll be buying the next up model with a better processor so I dont ahve to void my warrenty replacing the processor.

Here is another more of a "Review" thread on it ... http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=209623

Here it is on Gateways site.. the new 3 models soon to come out (@ end of month)
http://www.gateway.com/programs/pseries/index.php

Im no doubt buying the $1600 version.

 

[Rottie]

It looks good but 1.67Ghz is not very fast and the battery is short-lived, If you don't care about cpu speed and battery then you can afford 1350.00.
By the way is it for PC replacement?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: IronMan2003
Does anyone know when the new Gateway FXs are suppose to be released?

The only way to get one right now is the $1350 configuration at Best Buy with the lowest end C2D processor.

Q: Just how much better is the 8800 GTS over the 8600M GS?
A: A LOT faster for gaming. For everything else, no difference whatsoever.

Q: Is the 8800 GTS so good it easly overshadows the 1.67 ghz,667mhz FSB proccessor or
does the 2.0GHZ, 800 mhz FSB make it worth getting the faster proccessor with lower video card?
A: For gaming the slower processor with faster video will be faster overall. For all other tasks (except straight crunching like encoding videos or doing Folding) you won't notice a difference.

Q: What if I bumped the HP proccessor up to a Intel2DuoT7500 (2.20 GHz, 4MB L2Cache, 800MHz FSB) , would it change the answer to Q2?
A: No.

CQ- Not sure if the Gateway has monitor Port.
C- Both have HDMI.
A: HDMI is basically a fancy DVI port, so if the Gateway has HDMI then it has a DVI output.

C- I really like the higher resolution of the HP.
A: Don't "like" the higher resolution just because bigger numbers usually mean better. Like it only if your eyesight is really good and you really like to have more pixels - meaning more "stuff" on your screen at once. Thing is that higher resolution means everything looks smaller, so often people end up turning up the font size. The other thing is that for gaming more pixels means lower framerate. Couple that with the lower end video card on the HP means that you aren't going to be able to play many new games at full resolution with everything turned up. Also, even if both played smoothly you probably won't notice any difference between the two resolutions in games or movies, only working in Windows. If you ever are in a situation where you have to lower the resolution, then the picture quality isn't as good on a higher resolution LCD.

C- HP will have dual harddrives which I would like to use for ease of Dual Boot.(xp+Vista)
A: The Gateway notebook comes with only one HDD, but has an empty second bay for a 2.5" SATA notebook drive so you can add your own.