I just bought a Gateway tonight

I got it from Best Buy.

It is the 7330GZ. Here are the specs.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4042927

Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor 532 with HT Technology (3.06 GHz)
1MB L2 Cache
533MHz FSB
512MB of 533MHz DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1.5GB)
15.4" Widescreen Ultrabright TFT WXGA LCD
Intel Extreme 2 Graphics with 64MB of shared video memory
PC2001 Compliant AC '97 Audio with built-in speakers
80GB HDD
Double Layer DVD Writer (write speeds) - up to 2.4 Double Layer DVD+R, 8x DVD+/-R, 4x DVD+/-RW, 24x CD-R, & 10x CD-RW
Double Layer DVD Writer (read speeds) - up to 24x CD-ROM & 8x DVD-ROM
6-in-1 Digital Media Manager - supports Compact Flash, Micro Drive, MultimediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, & Memory Stick
56K V.92 Fax Modem
Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi Wireless LAN Adapter
Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 4 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, Microphone In, & Headphone / Audio Out

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I'm not so sure about the RAM as stated in the above specs. I think what I really have is PC2700 SDRAM, not the PC4200 ram with the 533 mHz speed. Can someone verify this?

Also, if I do have the PC4200 RAM, the Best Buy people just installed another 512MB of PC2700 SDRAM before I took it home. Would these different RAM chips work together? The System info says I do have 1 GB of RAM now.




And lastly, I did a search for the 7330GZ, and it seems no one has bought one (here). No one likes the above specs?

 

It is suppose to be PC 4200 (533MHz) that comes in the laptop standard. As far as if that additional PC 2700 slowing down the original memory that came with the machine, I'm not for sure. I would ask Gateway what memory chip they recommend adding on to your laptop and see what they say. You don't have to state you already upgraded, just get the recommendation.

 

I also bought a new 7330GZ from a local BestBuy store.

Their ad states that it has PC4200 DDR

Here’s the URL
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat39100050016&id=1118839115082

At the time I bought the unit I asked the sales rep at BestBuy about upgrading the ram
with a 1GB strip, he said that because the memory is so fast and new they were out of stock at that time, and I should try the Gateway website to see if it may be available at Gateway.
When I checked on Gateways site for the specs on the unit, it states that it has
512MB DDR (1x512MB), 533MHz, DDR Expandable to 1.5GB of ram.

Here’s the URL

http://www.gateway.com/home/products/ret/ret_7330gz.shtml

Saying ( Memory 533MHz ) is the same as saying ( Memory PC4200 ).

So I used Gateways Memory Locator Applet to see what memory upgrades were available,
After putting in my serial number it kicked back info stating

Gateway Memory Locator

Gateway makes it easy for you to locate the correct memory for your system.

No Gateway Certified Memory Upgrades Available
There are currently no certified Gateway memory upgrades available for this serial number. If you are unable to find Gateway Certified Memory for your serial number, you may chat with us or browse our online memory store for other options.
Memory Upgrade Information

System Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Motherboard Part Number: 4997

Type of Memory Modules (shipped):
512 MB 333 MHZ DDR SODIMM Memory Module


Number of Memory Slots on Board: Not Available
Maximum Amount / Type of RAM that can be Installed: Not Available

Please Note: The Gateway Memory Locator will provide memory module options based on the configuration of your system when it shipped from Gateway. If you have changed your system since it was originally shipped from Gateway, please chat with us or call us to find an appropriate memory solution.


The Long Answer / Page Down For The Short Answer

I to was now confused, so I placed a call to Gateways customer support.
I asked the Tec what memory he showed I should have in my unit he said
512 MB 333 MHZ DDR, I then asked why the BestBuy and Gateway sites are stating it has 533MHz DDR, he said he didn’t know so I asked if there was a way to check the memory’s speed using the O.S. He had me look in system information then in bios setup to no avail. If someone knows of a program that can do this please post it, I for one don’t

So off to BestBuy I go, I ask the head Geek Squad supposed computer genius what memory is supposed to be in my unit, he tells me PC4200 just like it states on the BestBuy web site, I then ask him why the Gateway Tec would say it comes with 333MHz
DDR after all they built it! He tells me that they are wrong and it comes with PC4200.
So I ask him to call Gateway witch he does, the person on the line confirms that he is correct that it comes with PC4200. He then hands me the phone with a Geek Squad type of smirk on his face probably thinking this would end the discussion He’s Rite I’m Wrong. So I ask the Gateway person on the phone how she knows PC4200 is in my unit, she says it’s on Gateways website, I then ask her if she’s familiar with Gateways
Memory Locator and if she would enter my serial number into the system, being obliging
She enters it. I ask her what it says “O-My I’m Confused” I ask her again what does it say
She says “333DDR”; I then ask could the Memory Locator be wrong, “Maybe” she says.
I then ask if she would try another serial number to see what happens, “O.K” so the head Geek Squad Genius gets the serial number off of the demo unit in the store and she enters it in, I ask what does it say “Same Thing 333DDR” so I ask in your opinion being that you work at Gateway what memory should use in my unit “The 333DDR” was her reply.
I asked her to inform the head Geek Squad Genius as to what she recommends should be installed. After he got off the phone he asked me what I want to do, I told him I don’t want the unit and want to return it for a refund. He said fine but there will be a restocking fee of 15% of the unit cost $165.00 I said let me get this straight you want to charge me for returning a computer that has been misrepresented by Gateway, BestBuy, and your
Sales staff, his reply was “The computers not defective so I have to charge a restocking fee” The Geek Squad Genius instantly turned into a Geek Squad Idiot.
I said I know it’s not defective it’s been misrepresented as having PC4200 memory not 333 memory. The reason I bought it is it’s suppose to have PC4200 Memory.
He said “IT HAS PC4200 MEMORY OUR WEBSITE SAY’S SO”.
I asked to see a manager. The manager tried to get me to pick out another comparable unit in the same price range there was none. Then the manager said if I could prove to him that PC4200 isn’t in the unit he would give me a full refund. Another call to Gateway Tec support that evening confirmed that both websites are in error 333MHz DDR is what is in the unit, gave me a case number and the phone number to their corporate office that I called yesterday. The woman I spoke to said (In Nasty Tone Of Voice) that there’s nothing she could do at this time I should call back in 24 hours and check with her about the status of my claim.



The Short Answer

The 7330GZ Gateway computer Does Not have PC4200 DDR

The 7330GZ Gateway computer Has PC2700 DDR

Also PC4200 operates at 1.8V and PC2700 operates at 2.5V Guess what would happen if you were to plug in PC4200! That’s why the Geek Squad put PC2700 into your unit.



Both Gateway and BestBuy are false advertising, using bait and switch and most of all

Committing Fraud on there websites and the Geek Squads know it.

I for one am not going to let this happen to me. All I want is to return something that is not what it is suppose to be for a full refund.

 

Easiest way would've been just opening the RAM cover, and looking at the RAM, or running a progarm like cpu-z...

but I am not very surprised at your experience with gateway's website, their tech support, sales support or what not, not having any accurate information.

 

What I can say is you guys just made a bad choice. I had a bad experience with this company..very poor tech support and worst ever product.

 

A bad choice it was not, as long as you have the service plan.

 

search cpu id or cpuz on google, thats a cool app that give you a ton of info like how many sticks or ram and what type are in your computer, as well as detailed L1 and L2 stats, processor code name, etc. I work at Best Buy and i keep this on my flash drive to help me know for certain what type each computer has.

 

HEy PlEASE RESPOND TO THIS DAM POST.. i bought the 7330gz yesturday and i need to know what brand/kind of network controller and ethernet controller is in it you can find it in device manager.. seems like when i reformated to win 2k3 and then tryed using the xp drivers on there website i dont have wifi or ethernet.. and i reformated back to xp pro and same issue so if you could please give me the name of those 2 things thanks.

 

Google for a program called 'Everest'. It should tell you what kind of memory is really there without opening the case.

 

dude i need the network controller and the ethernet controller names not what size of ram... lol please respond asap

 

Everest will give you that as well. http://www.lavalys.com/

 

that did not help me at ALL. i found the ethernet driver after the 60th driver.. but i still need the wifi b/g ( http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Gateway/5000Series/102582/102582sp2.shtml) i'm pretty sure its that card but cant find drivers anywhere

 

that did not help me at ALL. i found the ethernet driver after the 60th driver.. but i still need the wifi b/g (http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile...102582sp2.shtml) i'm pretty sure its that card but cant find drivers anywhere

The wireless driver used in the gateway 7330gz laptop is the same driver used in the 6000 series. You can find it at this link
http://support.gateway.com/support/...latform=10022&model=10543&os=10406&type=10095. Download driver "D00268-001-002.exe". Hope this solves your problem.

 

I'm having the same problem. Can you tell me what driver you got to work for your ethernet. Thanks