Gateway DX4300-15e – Wi-Fi and TV tuner with HD video output

Desktops — on March 8, 2010 at 2:32 am | Comment Now

Thumbs Up:

It features wireless networking and TV tuner with general features and some upgrade options.

Thumbs Down:

The DX4300-15e does not have some external storage options that are found on other low cost Gateway desktops.

The Whiz Kid Speaks:

Gateway DX-43001e desktop is powered by 2.6 GHz AMD Phenon II X4 810 quad-core processor and AMD 780G chipset. The RAM is 8GB DDR2 SDRAM and it cannot be upgraded. The DX-43001e has 1TB SATA hard drive, 16x DVD±RW, AverMedia H751 hybrid digital/analog TV tuner card and wireless card supporting IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standards.

Gateway DX-43001e features ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3200 graphics card, network adapter and integrated sound card. The desktop has seven interfaces: 1×Audio, 1×HDMI, 1×IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 1×VGA (Monitor), 1×RJ-45 Ethernet and 8×USB 2.0 ports. It also has four expansion slots: 1×PCI Express x16, 1×PCI Express x1, 1×PCI and 1×Memory card reader.

The operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium. Preinstalled software includes Norton Internet Security 2009, Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007, drivers and utilities, and Microsoft Works. Gateway is providing one-year warranty on its DX4300-15e.

Razzle Dazzle:

Gateway has used the same casing for the DX4300-1e like its other desktops. It is 16.2 inches tall, 7.1 inches wide and 16.3 inches deep and it weighs 25 lbs. Gateway DX4300-1e is well-suited for living room being a mid-tower computer. Its black plastic exterior gives a shining and attractive look. Moreover, the front upper row makes USB 2.0 ports and media card slots comfortable and easy to use.

Inside Dope:

We don’t care much about a TV tuner card in the computer; we’d rather have that money spent on a discrete graphics card or a faster processor. Usually you have to sacrifice on features if you go for a computer with a TV tuner card but this Gateway machine is an exception to this. But if you are not too keen on a TV tuner card we will recommend you not to go for this because you can find a faster PC in this price range elsewhere. But if you need a PC with TV tuner card, look no further and buy this machine.

Gateway desktop reviews

Gateway DX4300-15e has to face tough competition from HP Pavilion p6320y because of the components are quite similar. Moreover, you will find less expensive desktops such as Gateway DX4831-01e and HP Pavilion p6310y with quite similar features such as quad-core or dual core processor, 1TB hard disk drivers, more upgrade options, multiple video outputs and 6-8GB RAM. Both the DX4300-15e and the Pavilion P6320y offers wireless networking. The Gateway model comes with an AverMedia H751 hybrid digital/analog TV tuner card.

Gateway DX4300-15e does not have the matching performance of $549 priced Gateway DX4831-01e. The DX4300-15e was slower on single application. Gateway DX4300-15e performed slower than HP Pavilion p6310y, p6320y, Gateway DX4831-01e and Asus CG5275-AR003 while working Apple iTunes and Adobe Photoshop. However, it succeeded over $599 priced HP Pavilion p6310y and p6320y in multitasking, but remains slower than Asus CG5275-AR003 and Gateway DX4831-01e.

In our tests, HP Pavilion p6310y and Gateway DX4300-15e were closer in performance. It means that you are paying $80 additional for TV tuner card and wireless capability for buying the DX4300-15e. It is a reasonable amount as per our assumption.

Gateway DX4300-1e features one HDMI video port that makes it well-defined for your living room. It is noteworthy that computer’s TV tuner card cannot decode few certain cable feeds. You will also get some upgrade options with the desktop. There is a free hard disk bay, one standard PCI slot and one PCI Express graphics card slot. We are disappointed that the power supply of 300 watt will restrict to add high-end 3D graphics hardware. Also, you cannot upgrade the RAM as all four RAM slots are already filled up.

You will get digital audio jacks, 7.1 analog audio ports, standard VGA and DVI video ports, numerous USB 2.0 ports and one HDMI port. Gateway DX4300-1e does not have any eSATA and FireWire ports. On the contrary, you will find these ports on low cost – Gateway DX4831-01e.

Having AMD processor and chipset, the annual power consumption of Gateway DX4300-1e is more than two Intel desktops. Due to its AMD Phenom II processor, the Gateway model has lower annual power consumption of $31.65 than $35.72 for HP Pavilion p6320y and $34.91 for the p6130y. The annual power consumption is more than $22.85 for Gateway DX4831-01e and $22 for Asus CG5275-AR003.

Gateway is providing one year warranty with 24/7 toll free number support with its DX4300-1e. You will also find online drivers and software for the desktop.