Digital Trends

Gateway FMC-901X May 11th, 2004 | by Ian Bell

Is the FMC-901X the System for HTPC Enthusiasts?

While the Gateway FMC-901X may be great for the typical user, there are some things that still need some fine tuning. First of all the processor is probably overkill. At 3GHz the Intel processor will need a lot of cooling. Add to that a large 250GB hard drive and an ATI 9800PRO and you could probably fry an egg on this system. So of course Gateway adds some major fans to keep the system cool. The problem with this is that it also makes the system loud. During our movie tests we could hear the system over the movie in some of the quiet scenes; this is a serious no-no in the HTPC community. Secondly, the blue LED's on the front of the system are super bright and can be an eye distraction when the lights are turned off. You should be able to modify the system by adding some after market fans to cut down on the noise factor.

Another issue we found with the FMC-901X was the lack of expansion abilities and no integrated WiFi.  Every single PCI slot is taken up in this system. From the 7.1 soundcard to the integrated TV tuner, there simply is no room to add to it. And since there is no integrated WiFi card, you will have to use traditional Ethernet cables to connect this system to the internet. Granted this is not an issue for some people, it could be a deciding factor for others; especially since there is no room to add an internal WiFi card (USB WiFi will of course work though).

HTPC enthusiasts will be very attracted to the case and motherboard Gateway chose to use with this system. Theoretically you can switch out the video card, and sound card and add your own components. Of course this will void your warranty, but the case and motherboard in our opinion are worth it. The Gyration keyboard and mouse are an added touch and work great for this system.