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Gateway E-9220T review: Gateway E-9220T

A hot entry-level server with a cool BTX design.

Stephanie Bruzzese
4 min read
Gateway E-9220T

The new Gateway E-9220T may make the traditional server closet a thing of the past. The machine features a heat-efficient BTX motherboard, which eliminates the need for several noisy internal fans that would otherwise force you to keep the server behind closed doors. The system also offers plenty of additional hardware perks, such as support for dual-core Pentium D processors; SATA and SCSI hard drives with corresponding RAID 5 protection; and supereasy, tool-less case entry. While it could stand to include a helpful setup application and more operating system choices, the E-9220T remains a reasonably priced option for small and medium-size companies seeking their first server.

6.8

Gateway E-9220T

The Good

Supports dual-core Pentium D processors; BTX motherboard design reduces noise and heat; gives you tool-less case entry; ships with a full-featured management application.

The Bad

Offers no extra programs to help with operating system setup; ships with the Windows Server operating system only.

The Bottom Line

Small and medium-size businesses in the market for their first server should consider the Gateway E-9220T.

As the most economical system in its server entourage, the Gateway E-9220T is the logical choice for small businesses that lack the resources to buy a high-end machine. Most of those same companies also lack the funds to hire technical help, so the easier a server's setup, the better. Yet unlike the entry-level IBM eServer xSeries 226, the E-9220T doesn't ship with any applications to ease the setup burden--though Gateway claims to be considering the possibility of adding one of these applications to its server software bundle.

At least Gateway doesn't leave you completely high and dry in the software department: the E-9220T includes the company's extensive Systems Manager application for monitoring and upgrading the machines on your network. Among its many capabilities, the program enables you to perform upgrades on network systems and install new applications. It can also diagnose the health of your systems, alerting you to when one of them is about to fail, crash, or overheat. You can execute all of your management tasks through the program's two main consoles: Administrator and Server. The former operates on the E-9220T itself, providing a window into other network machines, while the latter operates on each separate machine, giving stats on that particular system. As a bonus, you can use Systems Manager to view the console windows of any other management applications you may have already installed on other non-Gateway servers. All of the program's features are explained in the accompanying user manual, which we wish included some useful screenshots as well.

In the same vein as most entry-level servers, the E-9220T sports a big tower design that's still nowhere near the size of Gateway's server goliath, the 9510. The E-9220T's case is exceptionally easy to open, thanks to the convenient handle on the back: after twisting off a couple of setscrews, pull up on the handle, and the side cover pops right open. The inside of said cover features a handy diagram that identifies all of the system's major parts, including four ECC DIMM memory slots, four SATA or SCSI hard drives, four media bays (two 5.25-inch and two 3.5-inch), and five card slots (two PCI and three PCI Express). The case also contains two 120mm fans--one at both the front and the back--that are designed to continuously pull air through, helping components stay cooler, which ultimately enables the fans to run more slowly and quietly.

You can draw from a wide range of components to configure the E-9220T. Available parts include Intel Celeron D, Pentium 4, and new dual-core Pentium D processors running from 2.66GHz to 3.2GHz; the Intel E7230 chipset; DDR2 ECC memory starting at 256MB and maxing out at 8GB; 80GB to 500GB SATA hard drives rotating at 7,200rpm and 73GB to 300GB SCSI hard drives at 10,000rpm; optional RAID controllers with support for Level 1, 5, or 10; CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and double-layer DVD burners; and Gigabit Ethernet, either onboard or as a PCIe card. Despite its ample hardware choices, the E-9220T comes with just two flavors of Microsoft's server operating system--Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003. The company supports other major OSs that you install yourself, such as Red Hat, but it won't preinstall them unless you purchase its CIS (custom integrated solutions) extended-service plan. This may be a turn-off to tech-savvy small-business owners who rely on non-Microsoft applications, though Windows Server will suit most first-time server buyers fine. CNET's server buying guide can point you down the path to choosing all the right hardware and software for your company.

Our $2,654 E-9220T test unit came in at a reasonable price, considering its healthy component mix: a 2.8GHz Pentium D processor, 2GB of memory, two 250GB SATA hard drives, a RAID-1 controller, a double-layer DVD burner, and Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition. From a performance standpoint, this E-9220T is more than capable of handling the typical e-mail, file sharing, and Web tasks of the fledging small business. Companies that want to conserve a little cash could even opt for a Celeron D or Pentium 4 processor instead, since our tests of dual-core Pentium D desktops have shown that the chip doesn't pack a big performance punch with most of today's applications.

Gateway offers a standard one-year warranty with the E-9220T. During the warranty term, a tech rep will fix your system onsite within one business day. You can also reach a rep via the toll-free phone support number, which provides free, 24/7 help for the duration of your warranty.

6.8

Gateway E-9220T

Score Breakdown

Design 7Features 6Performance 7Support 7