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Gateway Inc. is rolling out a new desktop computer aimed specifically at the retail market featuring the new BTX design that improves cooling and noise reduction capabilities.
The Gateway 700GRs BTX chassis—a design led by Intel Corp. that Gateway officials say will overtake the current ATX model among major PC vendors—offers improved air flow through the machine. The better cooling capabilities mean the PC will operate more efficiently and more quietly while being able to house the latest chip technology—which not only runs faster but also hotter—without overheating.
Gateway is announcing the new system Friday.
For the 700GR, this means that Gateway, of Poway, Calif., can offer Intels 915G chip set, ATI Radeon PCI Express graphics card and a dual-layer 8X DVD drive that can store up to 8.4GB of data on a single disk. The machine is cooled with two large fans that provide three times the airflow of an ATX-designed PC, bringing more cooling capabilities to the processor, chip set and graphics cards. However, the fans spin at speeds 40 percent slower, improving energy efficiency and noise levels.
Other features include a Pentium 4 550 processor, which offers Intels HyperThreading technology and up to 2GB of memory, and integrated Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
The 700GR is part of an overall push by Gateway—which bought eMachines Inc. for $290 million in March—to upgrade its desktop, laptop and server offerings. The new desktop will be sold through retail stores, a key part of new President and CEO Wayne Inouyes push to expand the companys sales channels, particularly since the closing of Gateways own 188 retail stores earlier this year.
Gateway already has signed up Best Buy Co. Inc., CompUSA Inc. and Office Depot Inc. to sell Gateway-branded products on their shelves.
The 700GR is available now, starting at $1,199.99. A BTX-designed desktop specifically for the enterprise will be released next month, according to a Gateway spokesman.