They also have the Gateway SX2800 model (without the "-03" for $330. Plus there Bing Cashback has 8% off at tigerdirect.

Can anyone see the difference between SX2800 and SX2800-03? The longer mfgr numbers are not identified by Gateway, and the only difference I can see is that one is 'lightning fast' and the other is 'staggeringly fast' (both at the same speed!) - and that one invites the buyer to upgrade to W7 at no particular discount. Thanks.

I am looking at this again, possibly a bit seriously for general business use in a very small office. The system gets pretty decent reviews, even this past summer. The video outputs appear to be VGA and HDMI. I would need to run two monitors: I presume one would be VGA and one HDMI=>DVI. The integrated X4500 appears fairly decent, but I do not see resolution ratings. Can anyone suggest the adequacy of the stock system to run two screens for business (not gaming!) use?

BTW, Gateway seems to suggest that SX2800 series is eligible for W7 upgrade, cost unclear but possibly free - however it is not clear that refurb units would qualify. Anyway, the upgrade would only be to W7 Home Premium, and I would think that W7Pro XP mode would be needed for compatibility of obscure business software.

#3, not sure about the video issue, but I bet it could handle it. Worst case is you'd have to add a $20 card to support another monitor if it doesn't work out.

As for the W7 issue, if you can, try your obscure software on it. My experience has been pretty positive with running old stuff on it.

Thanks #4. A $20 graphics card I probably could add, but with total 220W PS I couldn't add much more! I'm unsure about a Q8200 at all, actually. I like the idea of potential (future) utility of 4 cores, but I sure don't run much (or anything) optimized for that! I'd wonder whether a faster dual core unit might be more effective short term. (What I'd really like is for i5 PCs to hit $599.) I have some stock trading software - obscure niche but still essential - in versions that admit to being wholly incompatible with Norton 2009! Operating systems since the Boer War seem suspect. I still like this, though. I could add a warranty extension, I suppose.

i dont like xp and i hate the fact that you have to purchase 7 ...

The Windows 7 upgrade should be free. I ordered a refurb eMachine on Cyber Monday (it didn't say it was eligible for free Windows 7 upgrade on tigerdirect but I applied online at e-machine anyway) and my upgrade was process free of charge.

Number 7, thanks. I have addressed the question to Gateway and hope to hear promptly. J&R also sell this new, for about $85 more but with a full warranty. That would be a better deal if the W7 upgrade is not included with the refurb.

I read that the graphics chip supports DirectX 10 and OpenGL 2.1; the system specs claim 32MB shared, but I assume that can be productively tweaked upwards.

(Next day) I was overly optimistic about obtaining any relevant response from Gateway through any communications channels short of smoke signals. I had read the endless reports of utter inability to obtain any meaningful technical support, but erroneously thought that they might at least answer a straightforward and simple pre-sales inquiry to sell half a dozen systems. I was wrong, and have now lost interest in dealing with this firm.

Update: I did not expect any direct answer about the W7 question from TigerDirect, and so had not first addressed this to them. However, I did try them just now, and immediately received a response in which the agent seemed, at least, knowledgeable and confidant - that (their) refurb products are not intended to include W7 upgrade eligibility, and certainly not to count on it. I would say that support from TD has certainly come a long way in the past couple of years.