• On GameFAQs: Top 10 most terrifying PC games
November 17, 2008 9:07 AM PST

Core i7 PCs on sale from Dell, Gateway, others

by Rich Brown

We reviewed Intel's new Core i7 CPU already, as well as two desktops with the chip inside, but today is the first day you can actually make a Core i7 purchase. Dell has the best starting bid, with a deal on its Studio XPS with a Core i7 920 chip and a 20-inch LCD for $999. Gateway's FX 6800-01e is also impressive, coming in at $1,249 for a Core i7 920 in a PC that can accommodate two 3D cards. Look for the Gateway review this evening, with a review of a more expensive version of the Dell up shortly after.

Dell's Studio XPS has an Intel Core i7 CPU inside

(Credit: CNET)

On the higher-end of the spectrum, both the $8,028 Falcon Northwest and the $2,499 Velocity Micro PC's we reviewed are also available for order. Maingear has a Core i7-based Ephex on offer as well, starting at about $3,850. We're disappointed, however, to see that neither Voodoo's swanky Omen desktop, nor HP's Blackbird 002 have made the switch yet.

Rich Brown reviews desktops and various other components and peripherals for CNET. E-mail Rich.
advertisement
 
The new 2011 Lexus IS
Power, handling, and control, at your command. Because it isn't real performance, unless it's wielded with precision.
Recent posts from Crave
Google Instant search a mobile boon?
So, who's still buying Netbooks?
T-Mobile G2 gets official, preorders starting soon
Pentax launches K-r to take on the Canon T2i
Pentax Optio RZ10 budget-friendly 10x zoom
Pentax intros skinnable RS1000 ultracompact cam
iOS 4.1: Positive early reviews from iPhone 3G users
MasterCard MoneySend like PayPal for BlackBerry
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (8 Comments)
  • prev
  • next
by tipoo_ November 17, 2008 9:37 AM PST
Phenom II had better be good.
Reply to this comment
by lundp November 17, 2008 10:46 AM PST
What does the Falcon Northwest include that would warrant $8 grand.
Reply to this comment
by pithenumber November 17, 2008 1:38 PM PST
dual 4870 X2's account for about 1k
i7 is another grand
80gigs of SSD, I'm not even going there
by pithenumber November 17, 2008 1:35 PM PST
The falcon got the insane Crysis score from the ATi Radeon HD 4870 X2, not the CPU
If you're gaming, i7 not much of difference
Reply to this comment
by Rabo101 November 17, 2008 5:57 PM PST
The USD - ZAR exchange rate right now is 10.18 The Falcon NorthWest at R8,028.00 would cost me
over R80,000 What chip is worth that sort of money to a South African. It's crazy. 2 Core Duo desktops with excellent hardware can be purchased anywhere from ZAR4,000 to R8,000 (sans monitor),
so I don't get the sense of an i7 chip costing R80,000 I can buy a very good second hand automobile for that price...
Reply to this comment
by nagasin November 18, 2008 7:38 PM PST
That Falcon PC mentioned above is a boutique gaming rig - meaning it is for people with lots of spare cash who don't want (or know how) to build their own gaming PC. The paint job alone that Falcon NW offer on their systems can be in the $1500 range so the system mentioned here (with a Core i7 965 overclocked to 3.79GHz and 12 GB of DDR3 memory) can be considered downright CHEAP (if you are one of the aforementioned people with lots of money, of course). The i7 965 CPU alone is just over $1000 retail but like others have said, that will come down the moment all the hype and fanfare over the release of the "next gen" CPU fades. Early adopters always pay a premium (willingly) when it comes to technology,
by the_iceman November 17, 2008 8:26 PM PST
I'll jump into core i7 in a few years when the newness & extreme prices go away. Happy w/ my Core 2 Duo for now.
Reply to this comment
by guest86 November 18, 2008 2:03 AM PST
Core i7 can support Windows XP use latest drivers. I hate Vista because slow speed. Windows XP is 100 times faster than Vista. I stay on Windows XP forever now to future(2012 to 2070) when get old. Forget Vista and lousy new things with high prices are not important. Windows Vista is pure evil. Windows XP is not. Please hammer Vista off into XP to be happy. God rules! World is full of junk. Money = Junk. We will hate high money. Why new things come out again, again. Forget it. I not going buy Nintendo DSi. Look worst and easy to break it. People should get angry and complaint all times. No help for nothings. Stupid. Stop buying new things now. Our world is failure. So poor. I just happy with my classic things. I own Core 2 Duo with 3.16 GHz. Pentium 4, D and Core 2 Duo are enough!
Reply to this comment
(8 Comments)
  • prev
  • next
Click Here! madison
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Subscribe to the show

Crave topics

Google Instant: Better but not revolutionary

The search leader has genuinely advanced Internet search if not rewritten the rules. But what of searches from the browser?

Apple 2010 iPod lineup, reviewed

CNET reviews Apple's 2010 lineup of iPod portable media players, including the fourth-generation iPod Touch, sixth-generation iPod Nano, and the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle.