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Model: Gateway 15.6" FHD Ultra Slim Notebook, AMD Ryzen™ 5 3450U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Tuned by THX™ Audio, Fingerprint Scanner, 1MP Webcam, HDMI, Cortana, Windows 10 Home, Green
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I had bought (and later returned) the 16GB version of this laptop. And I've also bought another HP laptop similar to the Costco one.
The Gateway has a slower CPU (the 3450U is based on a design that's a few years old now, while the i3 is last year's and is better). It has no upgradeability: RAM and WiFi are soldered. The chassis is made from plastic that feels and looks cheap (the HP's is also plastic, but doesn't look/feel nearly as cheap). Its M.2 slots only support SATA and not NVMe (the BIOS claims it supports NVMe, but it that support looks like it's broken and non-functional).
Finally, I have zero confidence that the Gateway will be supported down the road. Go to their website, and you can't even find drivers or a manual to download for it.
The Gateway Slim does fine at general computing, but I cannot express the low quality, flexible nature of the chassis. The machine from Costco is like a luxury machine in comparison. I will also say that on battery power, my version (a 16GB RAM version with a 3450u), clocked WAY down. I got Octane scores in the 19-20k range!
I can confirm I never got a bog-standard HK Hynix NVMe drive to work in mine, regardless of what some reviewers have said.
This hasn't been true for years. Acer spun off Gateway ages ago. Why does everyone keep spreading this lie?
Anyway I have this laptop, it's an OK deal for the money (though less so in late 2021 versus mid 2020 when I paid this price) - case flexes, webcam is bad, but it's speedy enough and has a nice keyboard. Easily accessible slot on the bottom to add a 2nd M2 SATA drive. The screen is actually a bit better on this than most other $300 budget models. It's matte and a little dull, but plenty sharp. I had an ultra budget HP laptop briefly in 2020 and the screen was so bad I had to return it.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank code65536
Quote
from ABshe
:
How does it compare to the recent $300 quad core i3 laptop from Costco?
Worse in every way.
I had bought (and later returned) the 16GB version of this laptop. And I've also bought another HP laptop similar to the Costco one.
The Gateway has a slower CPU (the 3450U is based on a design that's a few years old now, while the i3 is last year's and is better). It has no upgradeability: RAM and WiFi are soldered. The chassis is made from plastic that feels and looks cheap (the HP's is also plastic, but doesn't look/feel nearly as cheap). Its M.2 slots only support SATA and not NVMe (the BIOS claims it supports NVMe, but it that support looks like it's broken and non-functional).
Finally, I have zero confidence that the Gateway will be supported down the road. Go to their website, and you can't even find drivers or a manual to download for it.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank PowerfulClub4936
Quote
from ABshe
:
How does it compare to the recent $300 quad core i3 laptop from Costco?
The Gateway Slim does fine at general computing, but I cannot express the low quality, flexible nature of the chassis. The machine from Costco is like a luxury machine in comparison. I will also say that on battery power, my version (a 16GB RAM version with a 3450u), clocked WAY down. I got Octane scores in the 19-20k range!
I can confirm I never got a bog-standard HK Hynix NVMe drive to work in mine, regardless of what some reviewers have said.
Last edited by PowerfulClub4936 November 4, 2021 at 05:33 AM.
I see a $379 Costco i3. Do you have the link for this $300 model you referenced?
It was 299 for s short period of time yesterday they had two very similar ones. The $379 one is still in stock. The only difference was the DDR two sticks vs one. Both 8GB.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank SteveA7911
Quote
from PowerfulClub4936
:
The Gateway Slim does fine at general computing, but I cannot express the low quality, flexible nature of the chassis. The machine from Costco is like a luxury machine in comparison. I will also say that on battery power, my version (a 16GB RAM version with a 3450u), clocked WAY down. I got Octane scores in the 19-20k range!
I can confirm I never got a bog-standard HK Hynix NVMe drive to work in mine, regardless of what some reviewers have said.
Inside it looks very cheap. The mother board is very small. Then it has wires going to the other side and a circuit board for those ports. It is all plastic and thin plastic not very strong.
The motherboard has written on it NVME however it does not accept NVME just SATA-3. Same as the accessible slot.
I bought two and both stopped working within a week. Never again. I highly suggest you not access the SATA-3 inside it if you do buy it. It does not do USB charging and the charger it comes with has a propriety connector so you are out of luck if it dies. It could take weeks to get one mailed to you and would most likely be expensive. The connecter is also small and cheaply made.
Obligatory Comment: Gateway is the budget brand for Acer. Acer is already a Budget Brand. So... Yeah avoid the cow 🐄 computer.
2021 Gateway has nothing to do with Acer or Gateway other than licensing. Gateways that were made by Acer were of the same quality and were extremely reliable---10 year old versions sell for a good price on ebay to this day.
Obligatory Comment: Gateway is the budget brand for Acer. Acer is already a Budget Brand. So... Yeah avoid the cow 🐄 computer.
This hasn't been true for years. Acer spun off Gateway ages ago. Why does everyone keep spreading this lie?
Anyway I have this laptop, it's an OK deal for the money (though less so in late 2021 versus mid 2020 when I paid this price) - case flexes, webcam is bad, but it's speedy enough and has a nice keyboard. Easily accessible slot on the bottom to add a 2nd M2 SATA drive. The screen is actually a bit better on this than most other $300 budget models. It's matte and a little dull, but plenty sharp. I had an ultra budget HP laptop briefly in 2020 and the screen was so bad I had to return it.
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I had bought (and later returned) the 16GB version of this laptop. And I've also bought another HP laptop similar to the Costco one.
The Gateway has a slower CPU (the 3450U is based on a design that's a few years old now, while the i3 is last year's and is better). It has no upgradeability: RAM and WiFi are soldered. The chassis is made from plastic that feels and looks cheap (the HP's is also plastic, but doesn't look/feel nearly as cheap). Its M.2 slots only support SATA and not NVMe (the BIOS claims it supports NVMe, but it that support looks like it's broken and non-functional).
Finally, I have zero confidence that the Gateway will be supported down the road. Go to their website, and you can't even find drivers or a manual to download for it.
I can confirm I never got a bog-standard HK Hynix NVMe drive to work in mine, regardless of what some reviewers have said.
Anyway I have this laptop, it's an OK deal for the money (though less so in late 2021 versus mid 2020 when I paid this price) - case flexes, webcam is bad, but it's speedy enough and has a nice keyboard. Easily accessible slot on the bottom to add a 2nd M2 SATA drive. The screen is actually a bit better on this than most other $300 budget models. It's matte and a little dull, but plenty sharp. I had an ultra budget HP laptop briefly in 2020 and the screen was so bad I had to return it.
57 Comments
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ABshe
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank code65536
I had bought (and later returned) the 16GB version of this laptop. And I've also bought another HP laptop similar to the Costco one.
The Gateway has a slower CPU (the 3450U is based on a design that's a few years old now, while the i3 is last year's and is better). It has no upgradeability: RAM and WiFi are soldered. The chassis is made from plastic that feels and looks cheap (the HP's is also plastic, but doesn't look/feel nearly as cheap). Its M.2 slots only support SATA and not NVMe (the BIOS claims it supports NVMe, but it that support looks like it's broken and non-functional).
Finally, I have zero confidence that the Gateway will be supported down the road. Go to their website, and you can't even find drivers or a manual to download for it.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank PowerfulClub4936
I can confirm I never got a bog-standard HK Hynix NVMe drive to work in mine, regardless of what some reviewers have said.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank SteveA7911
I can confirm I never got a bog-standard HK Hynix NVMe drive to work in mine, regardless of what some reviewers have said.
The motherboard has written on it NVME however it does not accept NVME just SATA-3. Same as the accessible slot.
I bought two and both stopped working within a week. Never again. I highly suggest you not access the SATA-3 inside it if you do buy it. It does not do USB charging and the charger it comes with has a propriety connector so you are out of luck if it dies. It could take weeks to get one mailed to you and would most likely be expensive. The connecter is also small and cheaply made.
https://youtu.be/VbtLm9sdyFo?t=2
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Anyway I have this laptop, it's an OK deal for the money (though less so in late 2021 versus mid 2020 when I paid this price) - case flexes, webcam is bad, but it's speedy enough and has a nice keyboard. Easily accessible slot on the bottom to add a 2nd M2 SATA drive. The screen is actually a bit better on this than most other $300 budget models. It's matte and a little dull, but plenty sharp. I had an ultra budget HP laptop briefly in 2020 and the screen was so bad I had to return it.
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