The Gateway P172X FX Laptop
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Gateway produces laptops that are friendly to gamers, often including graphics cards in budget systems that would be expected in systems costing much more. Today we're going to put the mid range Gateway P172X FX laptop through its paces to see if it compares well to its predecessors.
A good choice for gamers with a mid range budget
Gateway has done a good job of providing options for gamers with various budgets when it comes to performance-geared laptops. Two of the company’s previous editions, the deluxe P-171XL-FX priced at $3,000 and the more economical $1,249 P-6831FX left many testers impressed, thanks in part to both having Nvidia's GeForce 8800 graphics card. A rarity in lower end systems, just this inclusion made the P-6831FX one of the best bargains ever in the laptop gaming world.
Gateway now presents the P-172X FX, priced at $1,999. It is a perfect go between of its predecessors and makes a good choice for those gamers with a mid range budget.
Priced only at $1,999, the P-172X FX still comes with the high 1,900 x 1,200 resolution and great graphics of its $3,000 big brother. The only thing missing is the now obsolete HD DVD drive. The P-172X FX tones down its CPU to an Intel Core 2 Duo T8300. This, however, is no problem as it still runs at very impressive levels.
Gateway’s competitors, Dell and Alienware, provide similar gaming laptops. While they do include more special features than the Gateway lines, they can cost substantially more. In this aspect, Gateway outdoes the competition by providing consumers with three different choices to suit their income levels.
The P-172X FX is aesthetically similar to its other companions in the Gateway lineup, the high end P-171XL-FX and the lower end P-6831FX. It comes in a sleek black color that would fit well into any modern bedroom or living room. Most would not be able to tell that it was a gaming laptop due to its classy, subdued finish. Gateway decorates the lid of the P-172X FX with its large FX logo. The keyboard and touchpad area boast a nice glossy black finish with red accents.
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