Gateway GT5674

The good: Quad-core CPU, 3GB of memory, and 500GB hard drive represent compelling mix of components for the price; open graphics slot provides upgrade path; relatively free of bloatware.

The bad: Similarly spec'd dual-core PCs cost less; nothing in the way of value-added extras such as Bluetooth, integrated Wi-Fi, or HDMI.

The bottom line: The Gateway GT5674 is a low-cost quad-core desktop that delivers excellent bang for the buck. The problem is, most mainstream users don't need four processing cores and can get away with a dual-core PC for even less.

The Gateway GT5674 is the second mainstream desktop we've reviewed with a quad-core processor, following the Acer Aspire M5100 we tested in March. We've seen our share of high-end, high-priced gaming boxes with quad-core CPUs recently, but this technology has quickly trickled down to much more affordable desktops for mainstream buyers. The question remains, does the mainstream user need a quad-core PC? In most cases, we'd argue no. Nvidia would tell you the same thing, but it has a horse in this race and would like to sell you a graphics card with the money you save from not overbuying on an Intel or AMD CPU. We stop short of suggesting discrete graphics for everyone and give the advice of looking for a PC with a decent dual-core chip, at least 2GB of RAM, and a PCI Express graphics slot for an easy and effective upgrade should you need it on down the road. That said, the quad-core Gateway GT5674 proved its worth in CNET Labs testing, offering excellent bang for the buck along with a dose of future proofing--who knows, there could be a flood of applications out in a year or two that will take advantage of all four cores. As it stands today, we think a budget system like the eMachines T5254 or the Dell Inspiron 530 will suffice for most looking for a general-purpose desktop.

The $400 eMachines T5254 and the $539 Dell Inspiron 530 provides enough muscle for basic computing tasks such as running Microsoft Office applications, iTunes, and even light photo and video editing. Home users who regularly work in Photoshop or constantly find themselves multitasking, however, will get some benefit from a quad-core system.

Few consumer applications can take advantage of four cores, so you're likely to find that the jump from two cores to four isn't nearly as substantial as the move from one core to two. That said, our tests show that the Gateway GT5674 delivers excellent bang for the buck. On our benchmarks, it and the Acer Aspire M5100 were able to separate themselves from the dual-core pack on our multimedia multitasking test and the multi-core Cinebench test. The Gateway GT5674 performed well on our Photoshop CS3 benchmark as well, but the dual-core HP Pavilion Slimline s3330f trailed only slightly while placing ahead of the quad-core Aspire M5100. In the Slimline's favor is clockspeed: its Athlon X2 5400+ chip runs at 2.8GHz to the Phenom 9500's 2.2GHz clockspeed, which helped it best both quad-core systems on our iTunes test. Though our Slimline s3330f review unit featured a now-outdated Blu-ray/HD DVD drive and TV tuner, if you remove that roughly $200 worth of add-ons, its price draws closer to that of the Gateway or Acer.

With an integrated Nvidia graphics chip that borrows memory from main system memory, the Gateway GT5674 should not be confused with a bargain gaming system. Then again, it could quickly become such a machine should you pop a graphics card in the waiting x16 PCI Express slot. Note that the system's 300-watt power supply will limit your options; be sure to note the power requirements of a card before purchase.

Aside from its quad-core 2.2GHz AMD Phenom 9500 processor, generous 3GB of RAM, and roomy 500GB hard drive, the Gateway GT5674 is about as basic a PC as you'll find. The black-and-silver midtower chassis is unobtrusive and supplies a multiformat media card reader and a pair of USB 2.0 ports conveniently located at the very top of the front panel (four more USB 2.0 ports are around back). Behind a sliding plastic panel in the center of the front panel hides a slot for a hot-swappable portable media drive and headphone and microphone jacks.

Inside the case, you'll find open bays for a second optical drive and a second hard drive. The hard drive bays face the side of the case, making replacements or upgrades an easy maneuver. You'll find two open x1 PCI Express slots and a modem card occupying the lone PCI slot. What you won't find is Bluetooth as you get with the Dell Inspiron 530 or an integrate Wi-Fi antenna as you get with the HP Slimline. Even the Acer Aspire M5100's sparse feature set includes an unexpected HDMI port. To Gateway's credit, the system comes relatively free of bloatware with only two trailware icons--for eBay and AOL--listed among the desktop icons.

Completing the Gateway GT5674's package is a keyboard with a pleather wrist rest and somewhat squishy keys, an optical mouse, and a two-piece speaker set. Gateway backs the system with a one-year parts-and-labor warranty. The GT5674 is a retail model sold at Best Buy and Circuit City, but since Gateway got out of the customization business, you'll find fixed configurations sold direct from its Web site as well.

CineBench
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Rendering Multiple CPUs

Rendering Single CPU

Acer Aspire M5100

6,364 

1,713 

Gateway GT5674

6,265 

1,783 

HP Pavilion Slimline s3330f

4,316 

2,247 

eMachines T5254

3,323 

1,712 

Dell Inspiron 530

3,212 

1,724 

Find out more about how we test desktop systems.

System configurations:

Acer Aspire M5100
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.2GHz AMD Phenom 9500; 3GB DDR2 667MHz SDRAM; 256MB (shared) ATI Radeon HD 1250 graphics chip; 500GB 7,200rpm hard drive.

Dell Inspiron 530
Windows Vista Home Premium; 1.8GHz Intel Pentium E2160; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8300GS graphics; 320GB 7,200rpm Hitachi hard drive.

eMachines T5254
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.1GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 BE-2350; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 128MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 6100 graphics chip 320GB 7,200rpm Western Digital hard drive.

Gateway GT574
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.2GHz AMD Phenom 9500; 3GB DDR2 667MHz SDRAM; 128MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 6150SE graphics chip; 500GB 7,200rpm hard drive.

HP Pavilion Slimline s3330f
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.8GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 6150SE integrated graphics chip; 500GB 7,200rpm Samsung hard drive.

Intro: The Gateway GT5674 is a phenom X4-based, budget desktop PC.Compared to other value-oriented PCs on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $625.This desktop comes with 3 GB RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.

Noteworthy Features: Has a DVD? RW/ DVD-RAM disc drive, which is more preferable than some similarly priced PCs.Also, the 500GB hard disk installed on this machine is rather large when compared to the average desktop.Furthermore, this machine's phenom X4 based processor is powerful enough to handle demanding applications, such as the latest games.

Weaker Features: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: Suited for homes or businesses where price is a concern.Also comes with advanced word processing software -- fine for most serious business or academic document authors.However, comes with a DVD writer, allowing you to convert home movies from your digital camcorder onto DVD's.This computer also has a CD writer, allowing you to compile your own audio CDs or video CDs.

Value: In view of its relatively inexpensive price, this PC has great features for the money.However, this desktop manages to combine class-leading processing power with ample storage.If you were to judge strictly by CPU speed, however, the price of a value-oriented desktops with similar speed is about 10% lower.

Suggestions: (1) If you plan to be playing the latest 3-D games, you may want to invest in a more powerful video card from NVidia or ATI, which are popular with the gaming community (requires an open AGP or PCIe slot).(2) For help in deciding if this is the right desktop for you, see CNET's buying guide for desktops.