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Entered CNET Catalog: 11/01/2006
SKU: 1009174
Manufacturer: Gateway Inc.
Manufacturer description
The cutting-edge technology of the FX530 series delivers serious speed and performance, plus vivid, high-definition graphics. Equipped with the Intel Core2 Duo Processor and ATI's Radeon CrossFire dual-graphics card solution (standard on select models), the FX530 is ideal for editing digital photography, video and music, as well as creating multimedia art and handling videogame action. This desktop comes with factory-overclocked processor: Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core QX6700 works at 3.2 GHz.Product summary
The good: Outstanding value for one of the fastest PCs we've seen; cutting-edge quad-core processor; sharp new case design; free CPU overclocking under warrantee.
The bad: Midtower desktop case limits expandability; sloppy interior cabling compared to nearly every other high-end PC vendor's.
The bottom line: It's rare that you see a performance-leading PC come in below $4,000, but Gateway's FX530XT has pulled it off. Complete with an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 quad-core CPU and a pair of ATI's highest-end 3D cards, this cutting-edge desktop won't make gamers and digital designers dig quite as deep to get their hands on it.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/02/2006
Unlike Dell's recent XPS 710 announced today, Gateway hasn't reinvented its high-end case with the FX530XT. The only real difference between this and the FX510XL is the newer model's gunmetal finish and the addition of some color. But the changes make a striking visual improvement to the chassis compared to the staid gray-and-black, plastic-looking FX510XL. It now looks much more like a serious PC.
It may look the part from the outside, but the interior design lags behind that of the high-end competition. Alienware, Falcon Northwest, Velocity Micro, and Voodoo PC have led the charge with impeccable case interiors wherein the cabling is routed, tucked, and otherwise tied down out of the way. If you ever want to replace a hard drive or swap out a graphics card, it's remarkably easy to do so with those systems. Further, that clean layout means clear airflow, which is essential for keeping a hot-running performance PC happy. Dell finally got aboard the clean cabling bandwagon with its XPS 700 desktop. Even lesser-known Cyberpower gives you clean wiring as a $20 option, so it can't be expensive to do. The question then is why doesn't Gateway tidy up the FX530XT's interior?
We asked Gateway this very question and were told, "The main goal was to maximize system performance for digital enthusiasts and PC gamers while still delivering an exceptional value. Origami cabling significantly increases manufacturing costs and has little impact on performance, so we elected to invest in other areas and ultimately reduce the cost of a high-performance, leading-edge PC for the customer." We're not buying it. If a volume producer such as Dell can make its cables look good and if a smaller company such as Cyberpower can do it for only $20, there's no reason why Gateway shouldn't be able to do it, either. That lack of polish doesn't mean we think the FX530XT is a bad computer--far from it. We just want to see Gateway take the now nearly universal measure of making a multithousand-dollar PC look like a quality machine inside and out.
Gateway may have missed a step on the FX530XT's design, but this system's high-end features and performance will inspire awe when you consider the price. For $3,650, you get Intel's new Core 2 Extreme QX6700 quad-core processor, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, a pair of 512MB ATI Radeon X1950 XT graphics cards in CrossFire mode, and two fast 150GB 10,000rpm hard drives in speedy RAID 0 mode. Even at stock speeds, we'd expect those parts to make for a great gaming or digital-design PC. But here's where Gateway goes above and beyond: The CPU on this system is overclocked by 20 percent, bumping its clock speed to 3.2GHz from the standard 2.66GHz. Gateway will not only be selling the FX530XT with an overclocking option, but it also puts the performance boost under warrantee--all for no extra charge. We expect that because Intel's new Core 2 CPUs are so easy to overclock there's no reason not to jack up the CPU performance. Most of the traditional boutique PC vendors overclock their parts for free, too. The notable exception here is Dell. For some reason, Dell will not overclock its CPU for you, even when Intel makes it so easy. As our performance charts will show, Gateway's willingness to overclock gives a major boost to its scores.
One test we should take some time on is our single core CineBench test. You can see on that chart that the ABS Ultimate X9 III won the test, but then on the multithreaded version of CineBench, the ABS places last. The reason it won on the single-core test is because its dual-core Core 2 Extreme X6800 was overclocked to 3.38GHz, where every other CPU on there has a slower clock speed. That indicates that on the many applications out there that don't take advantage of a multicore chip, raw clock speed will matter more. But for multitasking and multithreaded applications that do check for multiple CPU cores, CineBench's multicore results make it plain that, while clock speed still matters, the more cores the better.
The Gateway FX530XT loses on only two of our benchmark tests. On iTunes, both the Apple Mac Pro were faster, but both of the CPUs in those PCs have faster core CPU clock speeds, and that test in particular likes a fast chip. And on our F.E.A.R. 3D testing, the Dell XPS 710 takes the prize, but that system also comes with an Nvidia Quad SLI graphics card configuration, which is more powerful than the Gateway's ATI Radeon X1950 XT CrossFire setup. In short, we found a few scenarios in which the Gateway FX530XT was not the fastest system we've ever seen. But it remains so close to that ideal--and on many tests achieves it--that we have no hesitation recommending this Gateway as a high-end gamer or a multimedia-editing powerhouse.
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Dell hasn't determined pricing on the XPS 710 it sent us, so we can't say right now whether its price-performance ratio is comparable to the Gateway FX530XT's. We do have to give Dell the edge for flexibility, but that comes at the cost of the XPS 710's size. It takes up a ton of space. The FX530XT is a much more compact system. Some of you will appreciate that fact because you won't be as limited in where you can put the FX530XT; it's no bigger than a traditional midsize tower. The downside, especially with its two dual-slot 3D graphics cards, is that you have only so much room to upgrade. Free space includes a single spare x8 PCI Express slot, one free hard drive bay, and two free memory slots. But considering that the only free expansion slot in a CrossFire 3D-based system lies in the narrow gap between the graphics cards, any upgrades you make had better be thin.
Our FX530XT came with the requisite pair of optical drives--a double-layer DVD burner and a standard DVD-ROM drive, as well as a 9-in-1 media card reader. That's all great stuff, and at this point, it's expected in a high-end PC. We also like the keyboard that Gateway sent: It's attractive and sleek but also feels substantial. The mouse, on the other hand, looks nice, but lacks the extra thumb-side buttons many gamers appreciate.
Gateway's support for the FX530XT is not outstanding, but then we've been disappointed in desktop coverage for high-end PCs for a while. You're covered for only one year of parts and labor with this system. We have fond memories of when a system such as this would have three years of coverage. Perhaps we should let them go. At least the overclocking on the Gateway's chip is under warrantee, and the company doesn't skimp on the phone support, which has your back 24/7. You can also get help via e-mail, but we're surprised that there's no service similar to Dell's DirectConnect. With that, you can let a technician take control of your PC remotely to simply fix your problems for you. Gateway offers such a service even on its budget eMachines PCs. Gateway's Web site has a helpful, system-specific resource for downloading drivers and looking up FAQs.
Find out more about how we test desktops.
System configurations:
ABS Ultimate X9 III
Windows XP Professional SP2; 3.38GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 920MHz; (2) 512MB ATI X1900 CrossFire; (2) 150GB Western Digital 10,000rpm SATA/150; Intel 8201GR/GH SATA RAID controller (RAID 0)
Apple Mac Pro (custom configuration differs from review)
OS X 10.4.8; 2x 3.0GHz Xeon 5160; 1,024MB DDR2 FB-SDRAM 667MHz; 512MB ATI Radeon X1900; 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm SATA/150
Dell XPS 710
Windows XP Professional SP2; 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo X6800; Nforce 590 SLI (D) chipset; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; (2) 512MB Nvidia GeForce 7950 GX2 (Quad SLI); (2) 150GB Western Digital 10,000rpm Serial ATA/150 hard drives (RAID 0); 750GB Seagate 7,200rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Gateway FX510XT
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2; 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800; 4,096MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; Intel 975X chipset; (2) 512MB ATI Radeon X1900 XT (CrossFire mode); (2) 500GB Hitachi 7,200rpm Serial ATA hard drives; Intel 82801GR/GH SATA RAID controller (RAID 0)
Gateway FX530XT
Windows XP Professional SP2; 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 overclocked to 3.2GHz; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; (2) 512MB ATI Radeon X1950 XT (CrossFire Mode); (2) 150GB Western Digital 10,000rpm Serial ATA/150 hard drives (RAID 0)
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 test bed
Windows XP Professional SP2; 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Radeon X1900; 74GB Western Digital 10,000rpm SATA/150
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 User Rating: 
10/10
Not much would make it better. Zipping fast!
Pros: I can't lock it up....I have had about 20 or more program windows and browser windows up, including word processing, spreadsheets, Math software, Bible software...it handles it all. Love the PC, and Love the Vista operating system!
Cons: I guess if it had 4 little tiny coaster wheels on the bottom of it, it would be nice. Seriously, can't think of anything.
User Rating: 
1/10
Installing x1900 video cards not x1950 GDDR4 memory cards people think their getting
Pros: Cost is Cheap
Cons: They are not installing the video cards people are paying for
This card was not even an option!!!!
They charged me $450 for a $300 card.
Buyer beware.
Their support is a joke.
User Rating: 10/10
Extreemely Fast. Worth the Money
Pros: Great system. Very Stable. Gatewa has excellent customer service, and was very helpful.
Cons: took a little while to recieve
User Rating: 
5/10
Still Waiting For Delivery!!
Pros: Can't Say hasn't Arrived
Cons: 3 delays ! in Production and still waitibg
Lousy Production and evn more lousy CService.
User Rating: 
9/10
The fastest and powerful PC!
Pros: Fastest performance, great on encoding and convert video files. Can do anything you want at the same time without lag!
Cons: The OS is Vista, compare with XP, it is a little bit slow and complicate.
User Rating: 10/10
I think this is very good preformance for a very good price.
Pros: High performance and good gaming.
Cons: Came a bit late for me.
User Rating: 
3/10
Very Poor Customer Service
Pros: Fast Computer and Nice Monitor
Cons: Please Read my Opinion
User Rating: 3/10
same complaint as previous used
Pros: supposed to be fantastic
Cons: will take 40 days to arrive!
Is anyone seriously going to argue that they are not interested in this information?? If you are buying this Gateway for the holidays, think again. I am not, so I have not canceled the order. I have always bought DELL in the past and never had any problems.. This is my first Gateway. So far the process of ordering has been very disappointing.
User Rating: 
2/10
Im still waiting for my computer
Pros: Looks lIke a good pc
Cons: Customer service is cryptic and horrible, pc didnt arrive as Gateway said it would
Got my computer on Dec. 9th. Gateway told me they were holding the pc til they got the Per Incident Help card that comes with it. Seems to be a lack of contact between customer service and where the computers are put together. I told them to go ahead and ship the pc and send the card later. This was their explination to me for their delay. Anyhow, the pc so far has been very solid. Great build quality. Solid midsize tower. Very fast machine. Interior cables weren't organized well but this is a solid value for the price. I'd revise my rating to a solid 8 just based on the product that i received.
