Gateway Launches Quad-Core Gaming Notebook

Gateway Launches Quad-Core Gaming Notebook

Gateway today launched the P-7808u FX Edition gaming notebook featuring a quad-core Intel processor. The machine has the following specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor (2.0GHz/6MB L2/1066MHz FSB)
• Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB GDDR3 video card
• 17-inch WXGA+ (1440x900) display
• 500GB hard drive
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• Intel WiFi Link 5100 N wireless
• HDMI, eSATA ports
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
• One-year limited warranty

The P-7808u FX is available now from several online retailers. It has an MSRP of $1,799.99.

Gateway Press Release (BusinessWire.com)

 

I'm sorry, but to me it looks like Gateway went cheap across the board. Who wants a 17" at that resolution?

 

I agree the resolution is quite disappointing in general, let alone for the price.

 

I think Packard bell announced euro version of this back in December; though it never really showed up in the shops. The GPU could do with a update as well.

 

I dont mind the GPU so much(I just tell myself Im really buying an 8800m), just wish it had 1920x1200 and the typical 1400 or lower Best buy FX price point.

 

It's not bad it's just it could be better.

 

This is too big and too expensive for what you're getting. Compare it to the Sager NP8662. I thought the Gateway at least has the Quad Core advantage, but in fact this is not true. Here's what I just configured at xoticpc:

• Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor (2.0GHz/6MB L2/1066MHz FSB)
• nVidia GeForce GTX 260M 1,024MB PCI-Express DDR3 DX10
• 15.4" WSXGA (1680x1050)
• 500GB hard drive
• 4GB DDR3-1066
• Intel 5300 wireless
• HDMI, eSATA ports
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
• 3-year labor, 1-year parts warranty

$1774.00

So basically, you can get the same exact machine, but in a smaller form factor, with a better screen, a better GPU, a better wireless card and a better warranty for a lower price (OK, so maybe it's not the exact same machine anymore -- but it's better in every respect). Gateway's old FX series were of dubious quality (decent video card, but lousy processors and big and heavy), but at least they were at prices not matched by anything else. This thing is not only outmatched in every respect (including even screen space!) by something smaller and lighter, but it also somehow manages to cost more. Unless Best Buy sells it at a $400 discount off the MSRP price, I just don't see the point.

 

1440x900 on a 17" laptop, let alone one that costs $1,800, is an insult. There is nothing worse for general usage and productivity than a low resolution. Seriously, Gateway, let's get with the program here.

 

i do i have it and i love it , each to there own i guess

 

1920x1200 is a good resolution, but it's very taxing on games. My desktop 8800GT can barely keep up. 1440x900 is easier on hardware, but I agree, it's a bit low.

I think 1680x1050 would be ideal, but you don't really see it that much in notebooks.

 

The original FX laptop lineup was nice and affordable, it was one of the better gaming laptops for people on a budget, they never came with a good CPU but that was easily upgraded to a T9500 or T9800.
Now for that price you can easily get a much nicer laptop in a much better configuration.
And when are they going to re-design the way it looks, you would think after so many updates they would at least have some sort of different look to the lid and get rid of the cooper/orange color combination for something a little more stylish.
Don't get me wrong the Gateway FX-6831 was my first gaming laptop and I loved it, it was cheap( I picked mine up from BB for under $1100) and it performed very well, now it's competing with the big boys and at that price point it's not looking to good.

 

The Sager 5797, configured with the Q9000 and the GTX 280M is $1862, only $63 more than this Gateway.

 

I agree on the small screen resolution, I've used a 9800M GTS 512MB in a Clevo M570RU-U (Sager 5793 to most of you) with 1680x1050 rez and it handled most 2007-2009 games just fine. Considering the 1GB video memory, I guess Gateway is kind of future-proofing this model.

 

I have a Vaio AR at that res and it is perfectly fine. Of course i like my Gateways res better but still thats still a very usables res.

Plus HDMI port to a 1080p enabled tv which means you get 1920 anyway. Thats what i do with my sony i hook it up to the tv and use it on 1080 and its perfectly fine..

 

I agree, a lof the newer games push machines to the limit at 1920. Could this machine run crysis at full with 1920? I doubt it.

1680 would have been a nice compromise for a 17" machine.

 

Where has the typical $1300 price tag gone? It's a bit unusual for gateway to sell this hardware at this price. I assume may be it's because of the good build quality.

 

No one ever said you had to run the game at your screen's native resolution. I'm not going to get into a whole debate about this, but some people simply do not realize that.

 

It's probably a perfect match for GTA 4. Low native res, 1GB video memory, quad core... but yeah, overpriced. Maybe $1400, 15 with SXGA.

 

I game with 1920x1200 res on an 8600mGT. If need be I turn the graphics down, but always remain at native res because most times it performs better then lowering the res. AoC was better with a custom setting and max res vs 1440x900 on my dell.

Like Chaz said 1800 for this resolution is insulting. When the 6860 came out early last year that resolution was more then fine for what else you were getting. I understand that Core 2 Quads are expensive, but not enough to take a $1200-1440 laptop to $1800 and lower the resolution. Insult to injury IMHO.

 

I doubt it. It is much more likely that they're hoping the quad-core justifies the absurd price tag (most consumers don't read Intel's price lists...).

 

lol

I can play max res at a higher frame rate then you



I have 1440x900 on a 14.1 inch and I wish I had more resolution

 

Welcome to 2004. A 17" screen with a measly 1440x900 resolution belongs to that year. It's a joke in 2009.

 

If only there was an AMD Phenom(quad) for notebooks maybe it would be WAY cheaper

 

Im not going back to AMD. My tx2510us had the new (at the time) turion CPU and it was pretty slow compared to my penryn from 8 months earlier. Basically Id pay a lot to not be stuck with an AMD again.