Gateway Bringing FX To Notebooks, Expands PC Line
By Doug Olenick -- TWICE, 1/7/2008
LAS VEGAS — Gateway has extended its FX desktop brand to its notebook line with the introduction of the three-SKU P-Series. The company also added two FX desktop models.
Like the FX desktops, the notebook models are aimed at power users and gamers looking for a top-end mobile experience.
The series will feature both preconfigured models and configure-to-order for those buying directly from Gateway. Pricing ranges from $1,599 to $2,999.
All three models are built around a 17-inch LCD and feature 3GB of DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS graphics, 512MB of discrete graphics memory, high-definition audio and Bluetooth. All three come with an HDMI port allowing them to be connected to an outside display, and multimedia functions can be accessed via a special control panel, the company said. Fingerprint security is also available on models bought direct from Gateway.
The line starts with the tentatively named P170FX1. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7250 with Centrino Duo Mobile Technology, has a 250GB 5,200rpm hard drive and a multiformat, dual-layer DVD burner. Starting price is $1,599; it is available this week.
The step-up model is the tentatively named P-170CX2. It adds an Intel Core 2 Duo processor T8300, a multiformat, dual-layer DVD burner and a 7,200rpm 200GB hard drive; it will carry a $1,999 suggested retail and should be available in late January.
The flagship model is the P-170FX MAX. It has an Intel Core 2 Extreme processor X7900 and an HD DVD drive. It will be priced at $2,999 and is available this week.
While all three models will be available direct from Gateway, the first two will also sell through retail, with the P-170FX MAX being a direct-only model.
The new desktops are the FX7020 and the FX 540.
The FX7020 will use the new AMD Phenom 9600 quad-core processor with AMD Live! and have an NVIDIA 8800GT graphics card. The model has 3GB of DDR2 dual-channel memory, a super multi drive, two DVI-I ports, S-Video, an analog/digital TV tuner and a 15-in-one digital media card reader.
It will ship this month with a $1,099 price.
The configure-to-order FX540, which will sell only direct from Gateway, will feature a number of technologies available from Gateway for the first time. This includes an NVIDIA SLI-capable motherboard with an NVIDIA 680i chipset, Dual PCIe x16 slots with SLI support, the ability to run NVIDIA's dual 8800 GT/GTS/GTX/Ultra factory over-clocked video cards, support for 800MHz memory and dual Gigabit Ethernet.
Other available features of the FX540 are support for Intel latest dual and quad-core processors, NTSC/ATSC TV tuner card and Creative Sound Blaster X-fi 7.1 surround sound. It can handle up to 1.5TB of storage; Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD drives are also available.
Pricing will depend upon configuration.
