Gateway One ZX4970G-UW308

For users looking to save both money and space, few choices are as attractive and well-rounded as the Gateway One ZX4970G-UW308 ($598 list), a Windows 8-equipped all-in-one desktop. Although its sub-$600 entails a few necessary compromises, the One ZX4970G-UW308 nicely acquits itself of these shortcomings by packing some nifty tricks up its sleeve, including a full HD display, a spacious 1TB HDD, HDMI-input, and USB 3.0 connectivity. For average users on the hunt for an affordably-priced system capable of performing basic daily tasks as well as the occasional media project, it's the entry-level all-in-one desktop to beat, and our newest Editors' Choice.

Design and Features
The One ZX4970G-UW308's plastic chassis measures 16.3 by 20.9 by 2.28 inches (HWD) and although that'srelatively bulky by all-in-one standards, it nonetheless uses significantly less desk space than a traditional tower PC by housing all of its components behind a 21.5-inch display. While it's not the sleekest all-in-one on the market, the One ZX4970G-UW308 is attractive and functionally designed . A silver U-shaped support bar beneath the display nicely complements its all-black chassis, resulting in a two-tone finish that adds a healthy dash of panache in a price point dominated by a more subdued, utilitarian aesthetic, like the design of the Acer Veriton VZ2650G-UG645X and the Lenovo C325. A leg in the rear of the chassis allows users to adjust the screen angle from a vertical 90 degrees to 20 degrees back.

The One ZX4970G-UW308's 21.5-inch display has a full HD resolution of 1,920 by 1,080, an impressive feature that gives it a distinct advantage over the 1,600-by-900 resolution found in its peers, like the HP Pavilion 20-b010z. Consequently, colors and text alike look crisp and vibrant. The One ZX4970G-UW308's full HD resolution display is all the more useful because it sports a DVD burner as well an HDMI-in port that can accommodate Blu-ray players, HD cable boxes, and game consoles.

Given its price, it's not surprising that the One ZX4970G-UW308 doesn't have a touch screen, a feature that typically adds a premium to a system's sticker price. For instance, our former Editors' Choice for entry-level desktops, the HP TouchSmart 320-1030, sports a touch display and costs $150 more than the One ZX4970. The two 2.5-watt front-firing speakers beneath the One ZX4970G-UW308's display are surprisingly capable of pumping out sound at volumes loud enough for a few folks to hear music and dialogue in a small room.

With the exception of its HDMI-input, the One ZX4970G-UW308's port selection is roughly on par with the rest of its class. The left side of the system houses a pair of USB 3.0 ports, a multicard reader (MD/SD/MMC), and headphone and microphone jacks. The rear has four USB 2.0 ports, HDMI input, and a full-sized Ethernet port. Users need not remain tethered to their routers, though, since the One ZX4970G-UW308 also features integrated 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The included wireless mouse and keyboard share the same dongle.

The One ZX4970G-UW308 comes with a roomy 1TB, 7,200rpm HDD. Still, users with a preference for starting with a clean slate will confront a significant amount of preloaded software to cut through. These programs vary from useful (Microsoft Office Starter 2010, CyberLink Power DVD 10, Nero 12 Essentials) to flat-out bloatware (links to eBay, Skype, Amazon, Hulu, Skype), with some trialware (60 days of Norton Internet Security) and proprietary software (Gateway Power Management, Gateway Recovery Management) sprinkled in the middle. Gateway covers the One ZX4970G-UW308 with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

Performance
Although the One ZX4970G-UW308's 2.9GHz Intel Pentium G645 yields modest processing power, its 6GB RAM bolstered its performance on our benchmarks tests past most of its rivals.). The One ZX4970G-UW308's PCMark7 score of 3,008 points bested the rest of the pack by a sizeable margin, with the Acer VZ2650G-UG645X finishing in a distant second-place (2,232 points). Similar results were seen in its CineBench R11.5 score of 2.24 points, with the One ZX4970G-UW308easily outmaneuvering the Acer VZ2650G-UG645X (2.18 points) and, to a more pronounced extent, the HP 320-1030 (1.51 points).

In completing our Handbrake video-encoding test in 2 minutes 16 seconds and taking 6:08 on our Photoshop CS6 test, the One ZX4970G-UW308 proved itself capable of tackling the occasional casual photo- or video-editing project. Like the Acer VZ2650G-UG645X, it couldn't run any of our DirectX11 graphics tests (3DMark11, Aliens Vs. Predator) and its inability to cross 10fps in our Heaven benchmark tests (8fps with medium-quality settings in 1,366-by-768 resolution; 3fps with very high-quality settings in 1,920-by-1,080 resolution) make it clear that this is not a system designed for high-end gaming.

The Gateway One ZX4970G-UW308 ($598 list) is an affordable and well-rounded all-in-one desktop. While there are a few shortcomings that are entirely consistent with its price range and category, they're made all the more forgivable by virtue of a solid feature set that includes a full HD display, a 1TB HDD, and an HDMI-input. In an arena where value towers above other all else, few systems has as much to offer for so little. For these reasons, the One ZX4970G-UW308 takes over from the HP TouchSmart 320-1030 as our Editors' Choice for entry-level all-in-ones. The Gateway One ZX4970G-UW308 is an excellent value for users looking to save on space and money.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:

COMPARISON TABLE
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