gateway performance -933 (Gateway Performance)

Member Name: ryanbritto

Product:	Gateway Performance
Date:	06/01/01 (1149 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fast, reliable, good sound output

Disadvantages: pricey

I would like to introduce a new member to my growing computer family. This is the Gateway Performance-933.

I already own a Gateway GP- 350mhz Intel Pentium 2, and a custom built AMD K-6 350mhz. Both computers are comparable in speed and stability. I decided to add this computer because my small home office is growing, and my computer needs are increasing.

Why did I go with Gateway? I went with Gateway because of the past performance of my old computer. It has been almost rock solid, and when I did have a problem Gateway Tech Support was very helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable. I have learned a lot from them.

I placed my order with Gateway, and received my new computer within 4 days. Gateway has really surprised me with this computer. It is everything the salesman said and more. I have had this computer now for about 1 month. It is fast, stable, and reliable. Set-up was easy, and on startup everything went smoothly. I did however have to turn the floppy drive on. All the basic software was pre-installed. They even included a poster of the computer with simple to understand color-coded instructions.

So what does it come with?

The Gateway performance-933 comes with:

Windows ME (Millennium edition)
This is Microsoft?s new home operating system. There are some new features with this OS. They include Auto Update, Enhanced Digital Media Features, Digital video with Movie Maker, Digital music with Windows Media Player 7.0, Internet Explorer 5.5, Home Networking Wizard, Internet Connection Sharing, System Restore, System File Protection. This system runs smoothly, with no lock ups. On boot up you are into Win ME in about 5 to 10 seconds. Windows ME still looks like Win 98, about the only real visible difference is the boot up Window, and the Start programs button instead of getting a list of all the programs, it has a list of the most recently accessed programs. There are some disadvantages. First it is not desig
ned to run Business Applications, and Microsoft is apparently trying to do away with DOS. I did however find the MS DOS Comand prompt hidden in the accessories folder. I am still debating whether to continue running this operating system or install the Win 98 SE OS.

Gateway 5 Bay mid tower case, 3 of the bays are full size 5.25?, and the other two are 3.5?, and it has 3 internal 3.5? bays. It has a power button with no reset. 200 watt power supply with a switchable 120VAC and 240VAC operation, and a fan. The dimensions of the case are 18.82"H x 7.32"W x 17.24?D.

Two PS2, One Serial, One VGA, One Parallel, and Two USB ports

5 PCI and 1 AGP Expansion Slots

Modem 56k V.90, Win/Fax Modem This modem functions fairly well, with the system. I have yet to have a dropped connection, and seem to communicate well with the servers. I have not had any modem driver problems so far.

Hard Drive 40GB 7200RPM Ultra ATA100 hard drive (actually 38GB are available. It came with 2 GB already used.)

Integrated Ultra ATA Controller

Intel Pentium III Processor 933MHz with Advanced Transfer Cache
This is a real nice speedy processor. I am not sure what the Advanced Transfer Cache means, and I have not been able to find what size cache it has in the system information. But it must have at least 512K if not 1 cache. The processor is an Intel 815e with ICH2.

Memory 256MB 133MHz SDRAM (2-128 modules) This is a $200.00 upgrade
The base system in this category comes with 128MB SDRAM and is upgradeable to 512MB.

Network Card 3COM 10/100 Ethernet
3COM PCI 10/100 Twisted Pair Ethernet Card features a single slot 32-bit half card measuring 3.375? height x 4.75? length. This card has 10 or 100 Mbps network operation with auto selection, three status LEDs, remote wake up and PCI interface with automatic configuration. Supports the Desktop Management Interface (DMI). The card also supports Novell, Win
95-98 and windows for work groups.

Mitsubishi Diamondtron Color VX920 19" (18" viewable) Monitor This was a £150 upgrade
The quality of the images displayed on this monitor is crisp and clear. This is a real nice step up from the Gateway EV 17? monitor. The colors are much nicer, and higher detailed. This monitor is capable of 640 x 480 resolutions, unlimited colors, and refresh rates of 50 to 140Hz.

Sound Blaster Live! With Digital Audio Output sound system.

Speakers Boston Acoustics BA735 Digital Speakers w/Subwoofer
This is a nice sound combination. The speakers have a tremendous sound compared to their size.

Application Software, Microsoft Works Suite 2000 with Microsoft Word and Encarta, A Cd-rom of Win ME. Gateway system restoration disk, which contains back up of Nortons Anitvirus, phone software, modem, video, sound, mouse and keyboard drivers, etc.


Video 32MB ATI RADEON AGP Graphics with TV-Out and DVI, This is a really nice video setup, my sons games don?t lock up, also windows and graphic display quickly.

Multi-function Keyboard, This Keyboard is basically Gateways standard keyboard, the keys have a nice feel, the added features to the keyboard are the Cd player controls, volume, mute, and messages, phone, TV and Radio, and sleep buttons. The only thing I have noticed different from my other Gateway keyboard is a Help button.

Microsoft Intellimouse and Gateway Mouse Pad, This mouse is exactly the same as the mouse they send me with my other Gateway. It has the right and left buttons, and scroll wheel. Each of these can be easily configured through the software.

Norton Anti-Virus Software
I have to say I am glad that gateway is now using Norton?s antivirus software. I did not like the McAffee antivirus that came on the other Gateway, I found it next to impossible to update the .DAT files. Norton?s is much easier and the server seems to be more stable.


3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive floppy drive
This is a drive I use very rarely but on the occasions I have, it performs like any other floppy drive I have ever had any experience with. What can I say it is a floppy drive.

DVD 16X/40X DVD-ROM Drive This was a screw up at Gateway. I had ordered a 20X/48X CD-ROM. I called Customer support and they were very puzzled at first but they are sending out the CD-ROM I had originally ordered and will have a tech come and install it for me. I can tell you though the DVD drive does play DVD movies very nicely, the software is very user friendly, and it is a fairly fast drive. I do plan to add a new Plextor Plexwriter 12/10/32 CD-RW in the near future.

IOMEGA 250MB Internal zip drive and 1 zip disk This is a £50 upgrade. I have an internal Iomega 100 MB zip drive in the other gateway, and I have always been very happy with it. The 250MB-zip drive is really nice. The added disk space is welcome, since I fill up the 100MB disks rather quickly.

This computer comes with a 3 Year Limited Warranty and 1 Year On-Site Service. Limited Hardware & Software Tech Support as long as you own your system.

In Conclusion

This computer has just about every feature anyone would ever want in a home computer. The speed really amazes me compared to the 350mhz pent11, which it runs circles around. The 32MB graphics hold up well to all of my sons memory hungry games. I never have to sit and wait for anything to open. High resolution scans seem to be processed quickly. The 19? inch monitor is absolutely wonderful, I now have plenty of space to do my graphics work. The OS is rock solid so far. Knock on wood, I have yet to have an illegal operation, but of course I haven?t put some of my other software on this system yet, such as Corel, Photoshop, since I am unsure of how compatible they will be. I have also yet to network the computers together since I am not sure WIN ME and WIN 98 are going to work
together.

I am really pleased with this computer. The £1500 purchase price is reasonable when you think about all that you get in this great package.

Now please call the 999 this baby is on fire because its so fast!

Summary: