What do you think about this PC sportsman?

By Nick Daffinson · April 14, 2008

Gateway FX7026 at Best Buy for $1179.98

Processor - Intel Q9300

Graphics - GeForce 8800GT

4gb ram upgradeable to 8gb

Comes with 19in monitor(I'd be giving that to my wife)

This seems like a pretty good deal. I guess there is only a 400w power supply with it. If you subtract the monitor and what you would pay for Vista this sounds really good.

I have never had good luck with a pre-built though.

Comments 3

honestgamer Staff Apr 14, 2008

That sounds like a good deal to me, too. 400 certainly sounds like enough. Paying for a monitor you don't want kind of stinks, unless you've really been planning to get your wife one, anyway.

Honestly, prebuilt machines like that get a lot of trash talked about them, but I've been happy with mine. Just start by cleaning off the garbage software and enjoy the machine, I say!

Halon Apr 15, 2008

There's nothing "wrong" with a prebuilt if you get the correct one. Why PC nerds trash it all the time is because it is cheaper to build your own (can probably build that one you bought for around $950 or so), everything in a custom build is what you wanted and you have the ability to upgrade/overclock (most companies lock the BIOS so idiots don't fry their CPU while overclocking then complain and demand a refund).

That computer actually seems pretty good and will be able to handle any game out there right now on the highest settings (with the exception of Crysis) and should last for at least three years. That CPU is actually slightly faster than the quad core I linked to; didn't realize it was out yet.

I wouldn't worry about the 400 watt PSU. Whatever they give you will work with whatever it is powering. I wouldn't upgrade to a more powerful card on that, but it will handle what you have just fine. If something happens then call their customer service and they will send you something that works.

Also the standard for RAM is around 2-3 gigs now, so the fact that your motherboard can support 8 gigs of RAM doesn't mean you should consider upgrading to it. In the matter of fact 32-bit operating systems can only detect up to 3.25gb so anything more than what you have is overkill.

daff Blogger Apr 15, 2008

I just got home with the Gateway. I'm in the process of copying all of my music to my portable hard drive and then I'll fire up the new one. I think I'm gonna plug my old PC into my TV for playing music on the stereo and streaming video. I shouldn't have to make any electronics purchases for a long time now.