Gateway P-171XL FX Edition Review

The Gateway P-171XL FX Edition is a high-end gaming notebook from Gateway, offering the Intel X7900 processor, a 17" WUGAX LCD, NVIDIA 8800M GTS Graphics Card, and two 7200rpm drives running in RAID 0. This package comes inside relatively sleek and high gloss notebook case.







This notebook has the following specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Duo X7900 (2.80GHz/ 800MHz Front Side Bus/ 4MB L2 cache)
• Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
• 3GB DDR2-667 dual-channel RAM
• 17.0" WUXGA (1920x1200) matte finishe
• Nvidia GeForce 8800M-GTS graphics card with 512MB dedicated memory
• 400GB Total HD space in RAID 0 configuration (200GB Hitachi 7k200 x 2)
• HD DVD-ROM/DVD Super Multi (+/- double layer)
• Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965 AGN (802.11a/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam and microphone
• Fingerprint reader
• Ports: 3 USB, Kensington Lock Slot, Modem, LAN, Headphone/Mic, Firewire, HDMI, eSata, VGA, SD Card Reader, ExpressCard/54
• Size: 15.75 x 11.5/12.25 x 1.5"
• Weight: Notebook 9lbs 4.5oz, AC Adapter 1lb 10oz
• 120w AC Adapter
• Warranty: 1 Year standard

Gateway P-6831FX User Review

It seems like only yesterday that consumer notebooks were simply analogs of their corporate cousins. Think grey slabs of plastic with no personality. Those were sad times.

Something happened recently to change this. I don't know if it was a resurgent Apple showing the big PC makers how to infuse some soul and character into their products or if it was the realization that there is no longer any way to differentiate against a competitor through specs alone. Maybe it was something else entirely. Whatever the reason, PC makers have discovered style.

HP and Dell, as leaders in this industry, have come out with some very impressive designs recently. Where only a short while ago you would have bought a notebook from either of these brands because of low cost, now you might buy one because its cool. Yeah, that's right I said Dells are sexy (but only some models).

Gateway, the perennial market share follower in the PC industry is attempting to join the fray too. While HP and Dell can draw on the hot rod artists at VoodooPC and Alienware (boutique brands recently acquired) to develop cool computers, how do the Gateway folks manage? Surprisingly well as it turns out.

Today we'll be taking a look at the Gateway P-Series FX Edition 6831. This is Gateways attempt at a full blown gaming rig that won't destroy your bank balance.

Specifications for the Gateway P-6831FX include:

• Intel Core 2 Duo 5450 CPU 1.67 GHz
• 3 GB DDR2 RAM
• 250 GB HDD 5400 rpm
• Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTS 512 MB GDDR3
• 17" 1440x900 display
• Windows Vista Home Premium