Home > Consumer Reviews > Gateway GT5692 Desktop PC (AMD Phenom X3 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

Hi,

I am mostly satisfied with my new Gateway GT5692 Desktop PC, HOWEVER...

1.) The lower optical drive switch button had fallen back into the cabinet in the first month. Not to worry... it just wasn't mounted right. I put it back together myself. It was a minor irritation to me.

2.) I read a review elsewhere online about this machine, before purchasing it, where the reviewer said he had received the Windows Vista Operating System Disk which was actually for a 32-bit version as stated on the label-side top surface of the disk, nearest to the inner hub and center-hole. I called Gateway and, without a fight at all, got them to send me a 64-bit version in the mail, immediately. It was properly installed as a 64-bit version but I do want the 64-bit disk also, not the 32-bit disk in the event that I must re-install my Operating System some day in the future (which I did have to do once on my old PC before).

3.) I am generally very happy with my new PC now, and the awesome and highly rated Triple-Core Processor, except I agree that the integrated graphics card is a fairly crappy one as I can see a streamer trail of any dialog box that I try to drag around my desktop to a new position. I also believe the internet page-loads are fairly slow because of this sub-standard graphics card, but that's what you get whenever you settle on an integrated device. These PC manufacturers love the integrated video and audio cards directly onto and as a part of the motherboard to save costs. And they, at best, are always no more than a middle-of-the-road type of a component when they are an integral part, sort of like in the car world when they use what is known as "Uni-Body Construction". That approach is primarily to save manufacturing costs, NOT to give you the premium components you may want in a PC with this kind of a processor, but then again, let's face it...... it is simply not like a $6,000 screamer, either! (I like it because of its' price-point and raw processor power, mainly). I would add a much faster video card if I were you, and that can wait a few months until you can afford to upgrade to a better video card, but I do love being able to do extreme multi-tasking without the PC crashing or bogging down. I know a lot about the ins and outs of manufacturing and PC's that I have used (on and off the job since 1980) and how these companies approach saving costs, maximizing profits, and sometimes compromising on long-term quality or features as I am a trained Machinist and A.S.Q. Certified Mechanical Inspector and have "grown up" in Manufacturing Quality Control, so to speak, which was the bulk of my entire adult work life for many decades. I hope this helps...... Carlbigman

We bought a Gateway desktop and Windows got hosed for some reason. We called 1-800-GATEWAY for support. Guess what? If you buy a Gateway anywhere but their website you must call a separate toll number. WTF!? Then we needed to restore it but the restore partition was bad. Had to get the recovery disk. They charged me $20 for a $1 CD-R. Then it wouldn't work, and they wanted to charge me to tell me how to use it. Again WTF? These people are horrible. Save yourself a lot of trouble and get a Mac. Anything but Gateway.

i was a little hesitant because
it was a gateway. but its very fast.
and you wont need to upgrade anything.
got plenty of memory. big hard drive.
the only thing i am going to upgrade in the vidio card.
very good computer