Gateway NV5207u
Manufacturer: Gateway Part number: NV5207u
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Gateway NV5207u is certainly above average for the money, but its processor is a dog.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy |  | See Site | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/04/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Gateway NV5207u price range: $479.99
- Reviewed by: Joshua Goldman
- Reviewed on: 11/05/2009
The good: Nice display; very good feature set, design.
The bad: A couple strange design choices; weak processor.
The bottom line: The Gateway NV5207u is certainly above average for the money, but its processor is a dog.
Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.
The Gateway NV5207u is what happens when a slow processor happens to an otherwise respectable budget-priced laptop. It's a good-looking notebook with a large screen, a decent port assortment, and a couple of extra features to sweeten the deal. But its AMD processor is a poor performer despite being dual core, and it apparently doesn't do anything for extending battery life, either.
| Price as reviewed / Starting price | $479.99 |
| Processor | 2.1GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-65 Dual-Core |
| Memory | 4GB, 667MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 320GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | AMD M780G |
| Graphics | ATI Radeon HD 3200 (integrated) |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Home Premium |
| Dimensions (WD) | 14.6x9.8 inches |
| Height | 1.0-1.5 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.6 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 5.8/6.6 pounds |
| Category | Mainstream |
The lid--glossy and a sort of brownish gray that Gateway calls Coffee Brown--has a subtle honeycomb pattern and a small silver Gateway logo panel. It's an attractive look that's understated enough to play in both home and office environments. A large, round silver hinge opens wide to reveal the black interior, and operates smoothly.
Surrounded by a shiny black bezel is the 15.6-inch 16:9 glossy LED-backlit screen, which is comfortably large for both work and entertainment. The NV5207u's screen has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels, which is standard for a screen this size. In anecdotal streaming video viewing, the picture was very good but not the brightest or crispest we've seen. While the Gateway NV5207u boasts Dolby sound, the volume from the built-in speakers was audible but not booming, placing it in the middle of the pack as far as built-in audio goes. Above the screen is a serviceable Webcam and mic, which performed well in our informal Skype tests.
The matte-black keyboard is wide and flat and seems to have been designed by someone with small hands. It has a full number pad on the right side, which forces the touch pad off center of the screen and the entire keyboard (as typical, it's centered on the main keys). The result is a tiny palm rest on the left and a giant one on the right. Instead of two separate touch-pad buttons, Gateway used a single thin bar for left and right clicks. Larger hands will miss the bar entirely leading to wasted presses on the chassis below the bar. Plus, all the keyboard keys are nearly flush with each other so sloppy typists might be in for a lot of backspacing and deleting. Since this is a retail system, we strongly recommend trying it before you buy it if you can.
One of the nicer features, however, is the row of touch-sensitive keys above the keyboard. Included with standards like volume controls, turning on and off wireless, and locking the touch pad, are a programmable launch key for opening a file, folder, Web site, or application, and one that starts up software for backing up files.
| Gateway NV5207u | Average for category [mainstream] | |
| Video | VGA-out, HDMI | VGA-out, HDMI |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 4 USB 2.0, multiformat card reader | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | ExpressCard/54 |
| Networking | Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN |
| Optical drive | DVD burner | DVD burner |
The Gateway NV5207u seems built to satisfy a large user group and its ports, I/O jacks, and networking options back that up. At this price it's very nice to see things like a full four USB ports split between the left and right sides, 802.11n wireless, and both VGA and HDMI outputs.
Given that the NV5207u is a retail system it's not configurable at time of purchase. However, a trip to Gateway's Web site shows this laptop available in multiple color and processor combinations. If you like the design and other features but need better performance you should pop over and check out the additional options.
Performance--even for this system's low price--is disappointing. We're placing the blame on the AMD processor and chipset because even backed by 4GB of DDR2 memory it could barely outpace a single-core Intel Celeron-based laptop with 2GB of memory. Despite being dual core, the processor is underpowered for multitasking situations. If your needs are simple (word processing, e-mail, Web surfing, basic entertainment), the NV5207u should suffice. But even streaming 480p video overtaxed the system, and photo editing proved a little tedious.
 Juice box | |||
| Gateway NV5207u | |
| Off (watts) | 0.4 |
| Sleep (watts) | 0.9 |
| Idle (watts) | 10.7 |
| Load (watts) | 56.7 |
| Raw (annual kWh) | 51.3 |
| Annual operating cost (@$0.1135/kWh) | $5.82 |
The NV5207u ran for 2 hours and 2 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, using the included six-cell battery. That's fairly disappointing, but our battery drain test is very demanding, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and office use, which is about all this laptop is good for.
The system includes an industry standard, one-year warranty, with parts and labor coverage and return-to-depot service. Gateway offers a 24-7, toll-free, technical-support phone line, and the Web site has the usual driver downloads and FAQs, plus options for e-mailing or online chatting with technicians. While retail shops are happy to sell you an in-store extended warranty, they are often expensive and hard to use, so we don't recommend them.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations: Gateway NV5207u
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.1GHz AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core QL-65; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Asus K60IJ-RBLX05
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.1GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4300; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 32MB (Dedicated Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 320GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Toshiba Satellite T135-S1309
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 1.3GHz Intel Pentium SU4100; 3072MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 128MB (Shared Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 320GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
Toshiba Satellite A505-S6980
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 128MB (Shared Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 500GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
HP Pavilion dv4-2045dx
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.2GHz AMD Turion II Dual-Core M500; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 320MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200; 320GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Dell Inspiron 1545-4374
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.1GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4300; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 32MB (Dedicated Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Gateway NV7802u
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600; 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 800MHz; 64MB (Dedicated Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 500GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F/T
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 128MB (Shared Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 320GB Fujitsu 5,400rpm
Toshiba Satellite L455-S5975
Windows 7 Home Premium; 2.2GHz Intel Celeron 900; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 128MB (Shared Video) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 250GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
User reviews
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great value!
by shan253 on November 20, 2009
Pros: very great display and speed. great keyboard layout. dolby speakers are great too. and my backup is a cool feature.
Cons: the beep when you plug in the battery. its not a windows setting so i am still trying to figure out how to disable it.
Summary: bottom line for the price to RAM and HDD size this laptop had the greatest value. i am very impressed with the HD LED LCD display. and the only laptop ...
Summary: bottom line for the price to RAM and HDD size this laptop had the greatest value. i am very impressed with the HD LED LCD display. and the only laptop in the bestbuy store at this price point with the HDMI output which i am dying to try out! this laptop is an over all great value just a few design issues i've noticed like the battery beep. oh and the multi-gesture touch pad is a silly pointless feature.
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Great laptop for a little spare change.
by genericusername234234231 on November 15, 2009
Pros: Quick and capable on all basic tasks.
Streaming media looks and sounds great.
ATI graphics card much more capable than intel crap.
Good design and layout with plenty of features.Cons: Battery life could be better (2.5 hours).
HD is a little small (320GB).
Would have liked an eSATA port.
Glossy screen makes using in daylight a pain.Summary: Overall I am very impressed with the level of performance and features in this laptop. This is especially true when you consider it costs less than $500. I bought this ...
Summary: Overall I am very impressed with the level of performance and features in this laptop. This is especially true when you consider it costs less than $500. I bought this gateway primarily for school to use in class, but have been impressed with its capabilities at gaming and media. Like all laptops it does get somewhat warm if you use it on a soft surface like, well, your lap. I solved this with a $10 "lap desk" and have had no problems with overheating whatsoever. The hot air exhaust is in the back of the laptop, but it seems as if it draws cool air in through the bottom.
The four usb ports split between the two sides is very nice, but I would really have liked an eSATA port. The touchpad is fairly resposive and supports multitouch, although I had to find out the hard way, as this feature is not advertised. The webcam seems to be of fairly decent quality, although I have not used it much. The software that came pre-installed for it was somewhat annoying as there was no easy way to stop it from loading on start, so I removed it. The cam does work with other software anyway. Wireless N is great to have and I have achieved DL speeds at home of almost 2MB per second. The capacitive touch buttons at the top of the keyboard I find very annoying, as they do not always react at first, and would have rather had regular buttons.
Battery life could be better but is not bad (2.5 Hours of heavy duty use). The glossy screen is annoying, but the only other laptop at BB at the time in this price range that had a matte screen had an Intel graphics card and that was just not an option.
All in all I am very impressed with this laptop. You must remember that you get what you pay for, but with this laptop I feel that I got a little more than I paid for. -
Pretty good, not perfect.
by tfernandez4 on November 7, 2009
Pros: Dual core, 4 gigs a ram, Radeon 3200 card, 64bit, 320 gig hard drive, number pad, touch buttons, and PRICE.
Cons: poor battery life with standard 6 cell, MAKES A LOUD BEEP WHEN PLUGGING IN OR REMOVING POWER CHORD, screen could be brighter, keyboard isn't illuminated, speakers are decent, gets hot pretty fast (but what laptop doesn't.)
Summary: I've had this laptop for about 6 months now and it's a real trooper. It survived a massive car crash in which the car flipped over and wasn'...
Summary: I've had this laptop for about 6 months now and it's a real trooper. It survived a massive car crash in which the car flipped over and wasn't damaged at all. When I first got it, the toggle bar they used for the left and right click was a bit annoying, but since then I've grown to like it and is actually fairly comfortable. Over all I have had very little problems with it and would buy it again. Compared to computers in the 700 dollar range I saw, this laptop was keeper and had better features such as the radeon graphics card and the number pad. It runs TF2 well if you turn down the graphics and has worked fine so far with the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, so if you want a laptop for gaming and aren't too picky about looks, then this will work fine.
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Avoid This Laptop like the N1H1 flu
by Floyd369 on November 7, 2009
Pros: Cheap and affordable
Cons: This laptop has one major flaw. It over heats after 15 minutes of use.
Summary: Bought 2 of these gateway laptops from the local Bestbuy. I got a black screen after 15 minutes of use on both of them fresh outta the box. This laptop ...
Summary: Bought 2 of these gateway laptops from the local Bestbuy. I got a black screen after 15 minutes of use on both of them fresh outta the box. This laptop heats up very quickly and shuts down. The people at Bestbuy were great with there no hassle exchange policy. Purchased 2 Acers at a lower price. Although the Acers didn't have the great features of the gateway they are reliable. STAY AWAY FROM THIS LAPTOP!!! gateways are for suckers.
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The best performance to cost ratio of any laptop
by iConquered on November 7, 2009
Pros: - HDMI output
- Can play modern games
- Ample USB ports
- 64 bit processorCons: - Battery life is short, even with power saver option in use
- Too much bloatware preloaded on the system
- The trackpad is pretty awful, USB mouse suggested
- Processor is already datedSummary: For the money spent, you won't find a better laptop. Spec for spec and dollar for dollar, this laptop is the best choice for its price range. The HD3200 ...
Summary: For the money spent, you won't find a better laptop. Spec for spec and dollar for dollar, this laptop is the best choice for its price range. The HD3200 is by no means a gaming GPU (which is true for any iGP) but it competently handles modern games (Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV, Batman, Wanted) on modest resolutions (no higher than 1024 x 768) and no AA. Amazingly, those conditions allow you to run most of these titles on mid-high or high settings, which is an impressive feat for any iGP.
The feature set is top notch. HDMI output means that digital video purchases from Zune Marketplace or iTunes, can be viewed on your HDTV with ease. If you are using an older monitor, this laptop even supports VGA Output. 4 USB ports and an SD Card reader keep the laptop useful as an at home machine and not just the computer for on the go. The hard drive space is not the most bountiful, but 320GB is more space than is found in the most comparable Macbook (which starts @ $999 with a 250GB HDD) and even most comparably priced Windows laptops. The screen is vibrant, wide and has a lovely glossy finish, that all lead to the illusion of the screen being larger than it actually is.
As great as this laptop is, that is only when considering the price. It does have drawbacks. The Athlon 64 X2 is an old processor that only does a modest job of multitasking. Programs do open up swiftly, but certain actions in tandem do cause strain. Despite using an older processor, the battery life on this laptop is only so-so, considering that it has a six cell battery. The trackpad is also a painful endeavor. It is usually responsive, but at times, can be a bit jumpy. The single bar mouse button begins to stick after regular use. I suggest using a USB mouse to supplant the trackpad. If you are stuck using the trackpad, it does feature double tap functionality (it won't depress like a Macbook, but it works) and a scroll function (not visible, but a present feature). But again, I strong suggest the use of a USB mouse.
Another problem is that if you are using the HDMI output and disconnect your HDMI cable, the sound will still be set to HDMI output for whatever application you are using. You will have to fully exit any program you are using and reopen it i you want sound to default back to the laptop speakers.
All in all, for the $500 price range, you may find laptops with similar specs, but not similar feature sets. And even for laptops of similar specs, you will wind up with an iGP that is far worse than the Radeon HD3200. If your goal is watching HD video content, or using 3D intensive programs, then the Intel 4500GMA that is found in other laptops in the $500 range, just won't cut it. This laptop could be better, but for the price, you understand why it is not. -
good looking with problems
by vatechsavvy on November 7, 2009
Pros: i like how the computer feels and looks. It has great spec for the price point.
Cons: The laptop has issues when connecting a usb mouse. The screen goes black after a couple of minutes. I had to return 2 laptops to BB.
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AMD PLATFORM(Matching cpu,chipset,and Gpu.
by windooor7 on November 6, 2009
Pros: You can never go wrong with an AMD platform ever.
Cons: nothing wrong with this laptop.
however 3G turner should not just be limited to netbooks.Summary: The AMD platform blows ur mind CPU,GPU,CHIPSET credit to ATI.
lets not forget amd athlons x2s rivals intel core2 duo in an one TWO one match.amd need ...Summary: The AMD platform blows ur mind CPU,GPU,CHIPSET credit to ATI.
lets not forget amd athlons x2s rivals intel core2 duo in an one TWO one match.amd need to keep on lobying for apple to use their platform(DRAGON OR SPINDER) -
Great laptop for the price.
by kennyrbaker on November 5, 2009
Pros: price, 4 usb ports, HDMI output, size & mobility
Cons: sound & volume
Summary: I've had this machine for about a month and have been very impressed with it. Gateway is another story. My machine came with Vista 64bit pre installed and a ...
Summary: I've had this machine for about a month and have been very impressed with it. Gateway is another story. My machine came with Vista 64bit pre installed and a free Windows 7 upgrade which I sent off for immediately. I have not received my upgrade nor have I received any response to my email communications. The new models at Best Buy already have Windows 7 installed, so you should not have the same problem.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Gateway
- Part number: NV5207u
- Description: The Gateway NV series Notebook is packed with premium performance and functional features for a stellar HD entertainment experience. With great entertainment features, optimized performance and reliable connectivity, you can multitask and enjoy all your digital media from the comfort of your PC.
General
- Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, Wireless LAN antenna
- Width 14.6 in
- Depth 9.8 in
- Height 1.5 in
- Weight 6.8 lbs
- Color Coffee brown
- Notebook type Budget, Mid-size laptops (6-7.5 lbs.)
- Screen type Widescreen
Processor
- Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-65 / 2.1 GHz
- Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
- 64-bit processor Yes
- Data bus speed 667 MHz
- Chipset type AMD M780G
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache
- Cache size 1 MB
RAM
- Installed Size 4 GB
- Technology DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz
Storage Controller
- Storage controller type Serial ATA
- Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 320 GB - Serial ATA-150
- Storage Removable None
- Hard drive type Standard
Optical Storage
- Type DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Integrated
- CD / DVD read speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- CD / DVD write speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD) / 5x (DVD-RAM) / 4x (DVD Double layer)
Optical Storage (2nd)
- 2nd optical storage type None
Card Reader
- Card reader type Card reader
- Supported flash memory cards Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Pro
Display
- Display Type 15.6 in TFT active matrix
- Max Resolution 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )
- Widescreen Display Yes
- Features LED-backlit
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor ATI Radeon HD 3200 HyperMemory up to 1919MB
Audio
- Audio output type Speaker(s)
- Audio output compliant standards Dolby Headphone, Dolby Sound Room
- Audio Input Microphone
Notebook Camera
- Camera Type Integrated
Input Device(s)
- Input device type Keyboard, Touchpad
Telecom
- Modem Fax / modem
- Max transfer rate 56 Kbps
- Protocols & Specifications ITU V.92
Networking
- Networking Network adapter
- Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
- Data link protocol Gigabit Ethernet
- Networking standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) Memory, Memory card reader
- Interfaces 4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Audio / video - HDMI - 19 pin HDMI Type A, 1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x Headphones / speakers - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
- Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
- Power device form factor External
Battery
- Technology 6-cell Lithium ion
- Installed Qty 1
- Battery capacity 4400 mAh
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition
- Software Adobe Reader, Microsoft Works, Adobe Flash Player, CyberLink Power2Go, Cyberlink PowerDVD, Cyberlink DVD Solution, Gateway MyBackup Solution, Gateway Recovery Management, Norton Internet Security 2009 (60 days subscription), Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60 days trial)
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year
Accessories
- Targus Meridian 15.6" Toploading Laptop Case for Dell - notebook carrying case (33629025)47.99
- Belkin Core Series Backpack - notebook carrying backpack (33574528)24.88 - 45.08
- Lenovo ThinkPad 15W Case Sleeve - notebook carrying case (33770309)12.93 - 14.00
- SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive - 32 GB (33544914)54.99 - 139.99
- SanDisk Cruzer Micro - USB flash drive - 8 GB (32631690)12.81 - 44.99
- SanDisk Cruzer Micro - USB flash drive - 16 GB (33032681)27.79 - 79.99
- Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks (32481206)19.95 - 31.34
- Logitech Performance Mouse MX (33769469)79.99 - 99.99
- Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse (32554802)62.96 - 73.99
- Logitech Wireless Desktop MK300 - keyboard , mouse (33687687)32.88 - 43.84
- Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 700 - keyboard , mouse (31892359)24.97
- Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 V2 - keyboard , mouse (32011520)29.99 - 40.00
- Belkin wireless cable/DSL gateway router (7676655)35.00
- Panasonic KX HGW600 - gateway (30092493)300.16 - 316.29
- HP wireless gateway hn200w (9602497)
Manufacturer info
- Gateway
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Gateway products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.gateway.com/
- Address:
14303 Gateway Place, Poway, CA 92064 - Phone: (800) 846-2000
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