Gateway compuers?

What is everyones opinion on Gateway PC's? I'm looking into buying one of their gaming rigs and they are so much cheaper than Dell's and it seems to me that the usual saying "you get what you pay for" can for the most part hold true to electronics. My family has a nice little gateway computer perfect for home office it actually one of gateways latest and it seems fine. So should I pony up for a Dell or would this computer be just fine?

http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668284.php

I suggest you post this in another thread since this is mainly for HTPC builds which are often used for gaming, but generally not as the primary purpose. Also, most of us build our own and wouldn't have an opinion on most of the manufacturers (or in my case a favorable opinion).

What is everyones opinion on Gateway PC's? I'm looking into buying one of their gaming rigs and they are so much cheaper than Dell's and it seems to me that the usual saying "you get what you pay for" can for the most part hold true to electronics. My family has a nice little gateway computer perfect for home office it actually one of gateways latest and it seems fine. So should I pony up for a Dell or would this computer be just fine?

http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668284.php

It would be an okay computer and would handle most games on the market. Couple of downsides,,the processor is a little light. You really would want multi core 3 gig and above. Plus the video is integrated. In order to really play games without hesitation and in all their glory, a higher end video card is mandatory. Also, it's got Vista as it's OS and a ton of bloatware. Although you can remove the bloatware, the operating system remains and Vista is a dog.

For the money, you really could build a much better machine.

It would be an okay computer and would handle most games on the market. Couple of downsides,,the processor is a little light. You really would want multi core 3 gig and above. Plus the video is integrated. In order to really play games without hesitation and in all their glory, a higher end video card is mandatory. Also, it's got Vista as it's OS and a ton of bloatware. Although you can remove the bloatware, the operating system remains and Vista is a dog.

For the money, you really could build a much better machine.

I know i could build better, I would rather too. But building one is not an option for me. Are you sure thats an integrated video card? Cause i'm pretty sure its not.

Or maybe it is. Wouldnt it say integrated video though?

Or maybe it is. Wouldnt it say integrated video though?

It's not integrated, I think it's either Nvidia's top card or close to it. The specs listed would allow you to play anything and you can compare specs between companies. I thought you were asking an opinion on Gateway itself in comparison to Dell and that would have to come from someone with experience with either. Just make sure you get a free Windows 7 upgrade with it.

That would be a hell of a gaming rig. BTW Gateway is now owned by Acer as is Emachines.

That would be a hell of a gaming rig. BTW Gateway is now owned by Acer as is Emachines.

I didn't know that. Interesting.

Me bad. Double looked at the vid card and yes, it is a screamer. For the money, and since you are not into building, go for it! And push them for a windows upgrade.

I suggest you post this in another thread since this is mainly for HTPC builds which are often used for gaming, but generally not as the primary purpose. Also, most of us build our own and wouldn't have an opinion on most of the manufacturers (or in my case a favorable opinion).

This thread is for all computers as it is called Computers/HTPCs and the description says a place to discuss your computer setup, PC requirements, ATI wonder card, etc. Just pointing out.

I also agree that the OP should push for a free upgrade to Windows 7 as a lot of computer manufacturers are offering that.

-Shark2k

One extra link gets you to the specs for the computer in question.

http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598057.php

Which is a quad core processor at a relatively anemic 2.66 GHZ.

And while its has a lot of high end parts, and its really tough to beat someone like gateway and dell on volume buying power, there is still a reasons that computer geeks do not buy dells and gateways.

And the reason is, that gateways and dells seldom offer the bios and motherboards options to overclock or add much of anything.

And while to speed potential of that computer could be increased by maybe 50% with a not very major overclock, it may not be doable on that computer series.

And without an ability to overclock, much cheaper equipment could be overclocked to a point beyond what that system offers.

I could be wrong on that particular system, but the generality about most gateway and dell mobo's hold.

And if our OP buys the system anyway, they may be advised to wait a while until windows 7 comes out, because it may be a toss up between windows 7 and win XP if its a freebie comes with the computer one or the other.

One extra link gets you to the specs for the computer in question.

http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598057.php

Which is a quad core processor at a relatively anemic 2.66 GHZ.

And while its has a lot of high end parts, and its really tough to beat someone like gateway and dell on volume buying power, there is still a reasons that computer geeks do not buy dells and gateways.

And the reason is, that gateways and dells seldom offer the bios and motherboards options to overclock or add much of anything.

And while to speed potential of that computer could be increased by maybe 50% with a not very major overclock, it may not be doable on that computer series.

And without an ability to overclock, much cheaper equipment could be overclocked to a point beyond what that system offers.

I could be wrong on that particular system, but the generality about most gateway and dell mobo's hold.

And if our OP buys the system anyway, they may be advised to wait a while until windows 7 comes out, because it may be a toss up between windows 7 and win XP if its a freebie comes with the computer one or the other.

Yeah I've been reading alot of Dell reviews about people buying XPS and buying a new mobo because of overclocking issues. And I'm still doing research and probably not gonna buy a new computer for quite a while yet (up to 7 months). I would like to build myself one. However the problem is since this computer is actually going to be a graduation gift from my parents although its ultimately up to me what I get, they told me they would prefer I didn't build one with the money I get to buy it.

To BeeF,

If you have time and your parents want something already professionally built, there are quite a few outfits that do build high end systems with overclockable motherboards.

But the standard overclocking warnings always hold, you can get some free speed very safely with a little tweaking, but if you push it too far, you can blow expensive components.

And it becomes an obsession with some folks, they keep pushing for more speed, especially if someone with a similar rig has them beat, until they blow something up. Then they replace their blown processor and are right back at it again.

To BeeF,

If you have time and your parents want something already professionally built, there are quite a few outfits that do build high end systems with overclockable motherboards.

But the standard overclocking warnings always hold, you can get some free speed very safely with a little tweaking, but if you push it too far, you can blow expensive components.

And it becomes an obsession with some folks, they keep pushing for more speed, especially if someone with a similar rig has them beat, until they blow something up. Then they replace their blown processor and are right back at it again.

See, I wouldn't know when you've gone too far till its too late. I figure you could do a little bit at a time and if you start going too far the computer would shut itself off because it gets too hot or something, and if you went beyond that you'd fry the processor. Or is that not the case?

BeeF asks, "See, I wouldn't know when you've gone too far till its too late. I figure you could do a little bit at a time and if you start going too far the computer would shut itself off because it gets too hot or something, and if you went beyond that you'd fry the processor. Or is that not the case?"

At a minimum, overclocking will diminish the expected life of various components, and if an overclock results in problems, it can cause a bios reset that may require a clearing of the old settings. And in some cases, cause the computer to lose its OS.

Not really my area of expertise, but I am starting to read up on it now because I now have a new computer, with an excellent CPU for overclocking, and a board that is very over clockable.

So far I have been taking baby steps, but it looks like I may be able to get a mild overclock while running less than stock voltage to my cpu. And actually get more speed under load while reducing CPU temps.

But on a another forum I am reading about some guy who has the same basic cpu and motherboard, has already gotten a 70%
overclock, is running 80C for a cpu load temperature, and the guy is a pushing for even more speed.

This thread is for all computers as it is called Computers/HTPCs and the description says a place to discuss your computer setup, PC requirements, ATI wonder card, etc. Just pointing out.

I also agree that the OP should push for a free upgrade to Windows 7 as a lot of computer manufacturers are offering that.

-Shark2k

I suggested another thread because his post sat for 2 days with no reply and gaming seemed to be more important to him than general HTPC uses.

Anyway, BeeF, if it's really a gaming system you want, check out Alienware - that's their specialty and they've been around for a long time doing it. They even sell systems that are already OC'd.

I suggested another thread because his post sat for 2 days with no reply and gaming seemed to be more important to him than general HTPC uses.

Anyway, BeeF, if it's really a gaming system you want, check out Alienware - that's their specialty and they've been around for a long time doing it. They even sell systems that are already OC'd.

My budget doesn't exactly allow for Alienware. Computers that cost as much as cars aren't really my thing.

OC's was big when all we had to work with were 350 - 1 gig processors. As processors moved past 2 gig, and ram has been greatly improved, not to mention bus, graphics,etc.etc,etc.,,,most new computers have the cajones to run most software rather efficiently. Not saying to not overclock, just saying that the need has been diminished by improved computing power. Me thinks that with proper maintenance and turning off what needs not to run, you can keep your computer pretty slick. Bloatware, malware, bad installs, bad uninstalls, AV software all put a heavy load on the processor. keep it tuned and really no need to OC.

OC's was big when all we had to work with were 350 - 1 gig processors. As processors moved past 2 gig, and ram has been greatly improved, not to mention bus, graphics,etc.etc,etc.,,,most new computers have the cajones to run most software rather efficiently. Not saying to not overclock, just saying that the need has been diminished by improved computing power. Me thinks that with proper maintenance and turning off what needs not to run, you can keep your computer pretty slick. Bloatware, malware, bad installs, bad uninstalls, AV software all put a heavy load on the processor. keep it tuned and really no need to OC.

Thats what i'm thinking. This computer I'm pretty sure can run most anything I throw at it at good settings. So as long as it does that just fine and i maintain it to keep it that way, I'm happy.

As much as I want to agree with Oblioman, its not quite as simple.
We are talking about Moore's law, and the ever greater race for speed.

And as soon as we start talking about computer gamers, even faster Thn new computer speed is added, new games are invented that take ever greater and faster computer hardware to keep up.

IMHO, only a fool buys tip top of line, in a month or so, there is faster stuff and the month or two older older stuff really drops in price.

As much as I want to agree with Oblioman, its not quite as simple.
We are talking about Moore's law, and the ever greater race for speed.

And as soon as we start talking about computer gamers, even faster Thn new computer speed is added, new games are invented that take ever greater and faster computer hardware to keep up.

IMHO, only a fool buys tip top of line, in a month or so, there is faster stuff and the month or two older older stuff really drops in price.

Yeah, thats the general rule for electronics, more so for computers than anything else. TV's for example are still progressing but at a much slower rate and the progressions made are smaller improvements that don't change things drastically, so buying a really nice tv will hold itself for a few years (thats a completely different topic though). And I'm not really planning on being a hardcore gamer, sometimes a doubt if a should get a gaming computer or just more of a multimedia computer that can play some games. But my point is me not being a hardcore gamer, my being able to play most games at pretty good settings and every few years maybe updating some components to be able to keep it that way until i get a new comp is fine with me. I'm definitely not looking for top of the line as you know.

As much as I want to agree with Oblioman, its not quite as simple.
We are talking about Moore's law, and the ever greater race for speed.

And as soon as we start talking about computer gamers, even faster Thn new computer speed is added, new games are invented that take ever greater and faster computer hardware to keep up.

IMHO, only a fool buys tip top of line, in a month or so, there is faster stuff and the month or two older older stuff really drops in price.

hardcore gamers seem to be more the exception than the rule.Certainly they drive the need for faster, more stable, and of course, graphic intense hardware. But for the average Joe picking up a new computer, simply because that 5 year old machine is bogged down with crap they just can't get rid of (or don't know how),,,the new machine will play most software on the market rather efficiently. You also have 3 very efficient stand alone gaming machines on the market that have pulled some of the demanding load off of the home PC, and in some cases, much more efficient than the home PC. And web enabled at that.