Gateway 7200 - First Take
Gateway's high-end 7200 series lets you build a full-fledged PC powerhouse packaged in a cutting-edge desktop layout.
Gateway 7200 series
The highest-end member of Gateway's new 7200-series desktops gives you the most flexibility and is an apt showcase PC for Gateway's return to selling customizable systems online. It's also the first consumer-oriented system from any vendor to adopt the new BTX desktop form factor. The 7200 series includes three models, all of whose specs can be tweaked online at the time of purchase. Starting at $1,199 (after the mail-in rebate) for the baseline 7200S, the 7200 series is Pentium 4-exclusive, ranging from a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 540 up to the 3.8GHz Pentium 4 570. Moderate gamers will be happy with any of the configurations, but the most demanding players will want to opt for either the 7200X or the CNET Editors' Choice award-winning 7200XL, because those two let you add a high-end ATI Radeon X800 XT 3D graphics card. Media aficionados aren't left out in the cold either, thanks to the 7200S Media Center system, although because it's a variation of the lowest-end 7200 system, you do have to choose between media functionality and high-end 3D and processor performance. Still, Gateway manages to offer something for almost everyone.
The highest-end member of Gateway's new 7200-series desktops gives you the most flexibility and is an apt showcase PC for Gateway's return to selling customizable systems online. It's also the first consumer-oriented system from any vendor to adopt the new BTX desktop form factor. The 7200 series includes three models, all of whose specs can be tweaked online at the time of purchase. Starting at $1,199 (after the mail-in rebate) for the baseline 7200S, the 7200 series is Pentium 4-exclusive, ranging from a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 540 up to the 3.8GHz Pentium 4 570. Moderate gamers will be happy with any of the configurations, but the most demanding players will want to opt for either the 7200X or the CNET Editors' Choice award-winning 7200XL, because those two let you add a high-end ATI Radeon X800 XT 3D graphics card. Media aficionados aren't left out in the cold either, thanks to the 7200S Media Center system, although because it's a variation of the lowest-end 7200 system, you do have to choose between media functionality and high-end 3D and processor performance. Still, Gateway manages to offer something for almost everyone.