X

Gateway updates SX budget slim tower desktops

Gateway's SX series of budget slim tower desktops get updated with Intel's new Sandy Bridge Core i3 desktop chips.

Justin Yu Associate Editor / Reviews - Printers and peripherals
Justin Yu covered headphones and peripherals for CNET.
Justin Yu

Gateway

Three months ago, the Gateway SX 2850-33 earned our Editors' Choice Award for versatility and speed, and Gateway is upping the ante again with the introduction of four new additions to the SX line that feature Intel's new Sandy Bridge series of desktop chips. They are the SX2803-25e, SX2851-09e, SX2851-41, and SX2851-41e.

Design-wise, the SX desktops still feature the curves we praised in the past, but Gateway has updated the top of the chassis with a padded "device deck" that should be handy for storing MP3 players, external hard drives, and various cameras. Additionally, the front lip of the PCs are treated to a 45-degree slant that allows for easy access to the media card reader, USB ports, and audio jacks.

The models will range in price from $499 to $549 and offer the performance and connectivity options we expect for streaming video and light gaming, with AMD or Intel processors, up to 6GB of memory, integrated Intel or Nvidia graphic chips, and up to 1TB of storage. The systems also offer flexibility as living room PCs, with an HDMI port and the usual array of 5.1 analog audio outputs. The new SX-series desktops will be available at Gateway retailers next week.