Gateway DX4820-02 Mainstream Desktop PC

Jul 29 2009 - Gateway's DX4820-02 is a great deal for those looking to get a decently equipped desktop computer that also comes with a 23-inch LCD panel. With a $900 price tag, this system will likely cost less than a similarly equipped desktop and separate display. The system performs well at most tasks but will probably fall short of gamer's expectations. Still, if you want a good general performance system complete with monitor, this is a very solid package.

Jul 29 2009 - At $900, the Gateway DX4820-02 system is a very nice bundle that includes a modest desktop system with a 23-inch LCD display. The monitor is very much a stand out feature because many similar equipped PCs would cost a fair deal more if they included a display. The 1920x1080 resolution is very high and is quite colorful and bright. The built-in speakers are fairly weak but that is typical of many monitor speakers.

Performance is good thanks to an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 quad core processor. This is a lower end quad core processor from Intel but it does the job well for most task. The surprising aspect of the system is the inclusion of 8GB of DDR3 memory. This maxes out the memory in the system and allows it to run the Vista operating system plus a number of apps without any problems at all.

Storage is fairly typical of a system in this price range. A 750GB handles all storage needs while an 18x dual layer DVD burner handles all recording and playback of CDs and DVDs. The front panel of the system also includes a 15-in-1 card reader on the upper portion of the bezel. On the top side of the case is a nice recessed area with textured surface for placing peripherals such as a iPod for connection and charging that is quite useful compared to wires running from a port to somewhere on the desktop.

While the system comes with a very nice 23-inch wide screen LCD panel that has a 1920x1080 resolution, people thinking about using this system for gaming will be disappointed. The NVIDIA GeForce G210 graphics are very limited in its 3D performance. Expect to use it more for casual gaming as it struggles to really push out frames at anything higher than 1440x900. Upgrading the graphics to a faster card is also a bit more difficult due to the systems fairly meager 300W power supply.