Official M-6862 & M-6864FX owners thread

Just figured since Best Buy had both these on sale for good prices back to back, I've seen a lot of new posters on here w/ one or the other in their sig as their new laptop. Since the gateway forum is full of P-series owners, I figured we could have a thread regarding these 15" semi-gaming lappies as well. Join in all! I have the M-6862 just cuz I don't like the FX styling personally as much, although the 6862 is a bit plain (just glossy silver). But yea, good stuff so far! I can play devil may cry 4! My old laptop couldn't even run the Vista "energy" screen saver at more the 5 frames per second! Big improvement!

 

So far I'm very pleased with my purchase.

I was contimplating on upgrading the memory to DDR 800 since it's only $75ish @ newegg. Also I see some people talking about upgrading the processor to the T9300 and wanted to be sure what this laptop can handle as far as FSB and die size. I see its 65nm/667fsb stock...I assume the MB/BIOS can't handle a 45nm/1066fsb...or as long as its Socket P it will suffice?

 

upgrading to DDR 800 is pointless as the chipset limits the memory FSB to 667 mhz. upgrading to a T9300 is a good choice, and the bios should be able to handle the upgraded processor. same for mobo.

 

Yea I tried to toy with overclocking and undervolting and freaked out that i broke the computer. Not sure if I'll give it another go or not, but it seems to be working OK again (if a bit hotter/louder than before even though i should be back 2 factory settings).

 

So only if I get the T9300 which is 45nm/800FSB could I run DDR800 @ 1:1? I really don't like the stock BIOS (extremely limited tweaking). There is a BIOS update on Gateways site for 32bit OS. I'm curious how that would behave for Vista64...Sure wish they would update the BIOS to include 1066FSB support.

 

no. you cant run the memory at 800 at all because the chipset (the thing that tells the cpu and memory how fast they operate, fsb wise) limits the memory FSB to 667mhz.

and it would take a lot more than a BIOS update to include 1066 fsb support. again, its a chipset limitation. physical hardware level not possible to change without changing the entire motherboard.

 

I'm also very happy with my M-6862. I was teetering between it and the ZT Element S1017i-15 for a few days but the Gateway won: $100 bucks less and the fact that there's a BestBuy 10 minutes from my house.

I haven't done any undervolting yet, but I tested out OCing the video card a bit (+100Mhz to both stock core and mem clocks). Got me 4257 in 3DMark06.

My only complaint is that AA performance on the HD 2xxx series is a downer, but gaming without AA is fine for a 15.4" display.

All in all, a steal for the price.

 

I just got the m-6282 today, so far I'm really impressed coming from a HP DV5-1002nr that I exchanged for it. Only cost me $25 bux more as well ($675 + tax). I only got a stock score of around 3600 with res set to 800x1200.

Just a question, how are you guys overclocking/underclocking. I'm assuming your using some sort of software?? Or is there a hotkey in the BIOS that does this?

Edit: I stole your sig, OP. Guess it won't show up until my next post.

 

imma get my m-6862 today! im happy. finally a good computer!

 

In case you guys don't know, the price is now $599 (at my local BB, YMMV). You may want to try to get a price match.

 

I just checked my local store too, $599.

 

Gonna get the PA to 599 as im on my 14th day of the window lol

That's a **** good adjustment! I paid $750, and I'm collectively getting $150 back! Already did 1 adjustment and got $75 back!

 

dude! that would be awesome! hopefully i can pick it up for that price

 

yea i think a lot of stores may be low on quantities cuz they're being clearanced out at that price pretty much. I was happy w/ the laptop at the $750 price, but at 599 Its unbelievable. That's like an entry-level price w/ integrated graphics. 599 you typically get a celeron, or pentium dual core, and like x3100 graphics at best

 

luckily my store doesnt even have the laptop on display (though they have it in stock) so i should be able to pick it up easy in 2-3 hours

 

did they have it at $599 as well? did u have em price check it?

 

I GOT IT! YAAAAY. i have it charging now. and it IS 599 (at least at my store) yippee hurray, i saved (MORE) money.

 

Got mine too, the store I went to had 4 in the lockup. Looks like all the stores in the Denver area have them in stock. What a sweet machine for $599.

 

This machine IS sweet! I can't believe I got it for $599. The screen is so big and bright! Vista, with 4 gigs of RAM, is a thing of beauty. The Sims runs almost maxed out. Couldn't ask for more.

 

any more confirmations. any in ohio

 

im located in columbus ohio, the easton store had it at 675 but the polaris store had it for 599 so there's where i went to get my adjustment

 

Back to $749 for the M-6862 on the website this morning None of the Gateways are sale priced at the moment.

 

I will probably keep this one and return my studio. gonna miss the wled screen at 1440x900 and the backlit keys but for almost $400 cheaper, its a tough decision.

 

spend the $400 on an xbox 360 or PS3 and boom, think of what you woulda ONLY had a laptop for previously lol

 

I'm a Gateway owner, and I still say keep the Studio. I got to mess around with a couple and love the screen and backlit keys. The build quality seems a bit better, as well. But, I guess you do have a point, $400 is a lot.

 

For all you M-6000 series owners that wants Bluetooth: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3905654&postcount=14

 

Wow, I paid the full $750 already thinking that was a ridiculous deal. Too bad my college is at least an hour away from any BestBuy, not to mention I don't have the receipt on me. Although I suppose the deal is over.

 

After comparing the 2 side by side, I decided to keep the Dell so no xbox with the extra $. You are right that the screen looks ALOT better and the quality feels better. Now to sell off the Gateway...

 

Yea. I hear ya there. I probably would have done the same thing, if I were comparing those two. At any rate, enjoy it!

 

524.99 on clearance at my local best buy!!!!!!!!!!! Only 2 left! Yikes! Maybe I can get one...

 

It seems that the m-6862 is not being sold anymore once BB sells out. Does anyone know if there will be a new laptop to replace this one, if so what is it?
All of the BestBuys near me are sold out.
thanks

 

there will prolly be a montevia refresh of the line w/ newer gpu's like the ATI 3450 or something. However the 3450 isn't as powerful as the 2600

 

question:

can we upgrade the cpu on the m-6862 like I've seen people doing with the FX series?

 

You can. -

 

Talk about being in the right place at the right time: I went into my local Best Buy tonight ready to pay the $799 web price and the scan came up as $524.95! Wow! Now I'm scanning these boards doing research on this model (6862) to make sure I made the right choice before I open the box. My store in Florida had about 10 in stock.

I thought this was a relatively new model so I'm still in disbelief at the bargain price. I wonder if I waited a few more days they would have paid ME to take one off their hands!

 

That is an insane price for the features. Open that bad boy and enjoy your purchase.

 

I haven't heard from anyone about battery life with the 6-cell or the 9-cell...Can anyone comment on this? I will probably go to best buy after work (after 2:50 pm EST) if it gets 3 hours with a 9-cell. It's either this or get the Asus M51TA-X1/2 from newegg. Has anyone purchased an extended warranty for this from best buy or gateway? How much was it?

 

The final price for this 424.99, after the 100 instant rebate for signing up for high speed internet.
The deal is listed right on best buy's weekly circular. You sign up in the store and it spits out a coupon that gives 100 off the 525 price.
You can cancel the signup service later when they call you.

What video drivers are people using?

 

http://notebookcritic.com/2008/09/01/review-gateway-m-6864fx/

That's my review - I should have kept it. This Acer stinks.

 

well, it only comes with the six cell, which is what i use. ive been tweaking the settings to see battery life, i can get 3 hours lowest brightness no wifi, which i use for schoolwork on the bus, or i can get 2 hours 50 min same settings but high graphic performance. (gaming on the bus). high performance high brightness no wifi lasts about 2 hours. lol. i dont know about 9 cell though.

 

Hi sigseg,

Q1: Why did you go with T7500? And what is the fastest CPU can this laptop handle?

Q2: Did you use AS5 or anything like that?

Q3: T7500 is 800 FSB ... but T5750 is 667 FSB!?!?

Q4: What Chipset does M-6862 have?

Q5: Did you change your BIOS?

Q6: I wonder if anyone has changed to XP Pro SP3? And are all the "Drivers" available for XP Pro?

Q7: Has anybody taken a picture of the unit with back panels removed? How is access to the parts that needs replacing?

Thanks,

G!

 

I replaced the 5750 with a 7500 which was a relatively painless process. I didn't have to muck around the BIOS or anything as the system seemed to automatically detect it. I'm not sure how fast the FSB is running, though I'm guessing it's still at 667. The CPU is relatively easy to access as it's located underneath the same panel as the RAM. The only tricky part for me was removing the heat sink as the thermal past used for the GPU held it on pretty tightly.

 

Hi bchreng,

Thanks for the info.

I was just talking with a friend of mine who sells laptops and knows quite a bit about them ... he said the highest CPU that this motherboard can handle is T7500. Now, I am not so sure what is the highest CPU that this mobo can handle. Because I saw earlier post someone suggesting using a T9300. But T9300 is a penryn!!!

As far as the Thermal Paste and being tough to take off .. what did you do ... scraped it out or what ... Procedure!?!? Also, did you have to reapply the Thermal Paste to the Heat Sink, GPU!?!?

BTW, did you dab some on your CPU also or not.

Did you by any chance take any pictures while you had the unit all opened up!?!?

Thanks,

G!

 

Hi kki000,

Q1: Did you ask for Self-Install kit for HSI deal? Or for a Professional Isntallation?

Q2: And how long does it take for your Order to hit the HSI network so you can CANCEL it?

Thanks,

G!

 

I swapped out the CPUs before I ever powered the notebook on so I don't know if it made a difference or not. The thermal past pretty much stuck onto the heat sink, leaving only small, trace amounts of residue on the old 5750. That was fortunate for me because all I had to do from there was just swap out the CPUs. If I had to scrape it off, however, I guess I would've had to use arctic silver or something.

For the GPU, half of the thermal paste stuck onto the GPU and the other half remained on the heat sink. I just left it like that and hoped that the heat would eventually melt the thermal past a bit and cause it to fill in any gaps of air that remain. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but I didn't have any arctic silver on me.

Unfortunately, I was in a hurry that day and didn't get to take any pictures with the heat sink removed. Like I mentioned earlier, the CPU and GPU are located right next to the RAM modules so you don't have to take apart the entire notebook to upgrade it. I can take a picture of that general area and upload it if you'd like.

 

Hi bchreng,

Thanks for your detailed answer.

As far as picture ... do you think might help anyone with any details ... if so and when and if you have time load it up ... if it won't be of major help ... then don't waste your time.

Q1: Does anyone know what kind of WARRANTY ... Gateway has? Since I am sure no-one paid for BB Warranty?

Q2: Has anyone tried loading XP Pro on this unit? IKf so, where did you find all the Drivers for it? Also, any drivers for Bluetooth?

Thanks,

G!

 

Hello there! I'm considering getting a Gateway M-series laptop for school (Gateway M-6847, 6881, and 6827 are on sale at my local stores), as I remember the very first home computer my family bought back in 1992 was very reliable. I was hoping to ask someone so excited about their Moo-laptops as to what makes Gateway M laptops so great.

1. How reliable are Gateway laptops? My sister and I have been having persistent problems with our Pavilion laptops, and the Compaq Presario I had before that was shot in about a year and a half. It'd be great to have a laptop that makes it pass the two year mark with little or no hardware problems.

2. I heard that the design for the M series is flimsy. Is that true?

3. What makes you choose them over other laptops, like VAIOs or Toshibas? The design? Price? Customer service, or gaming abilities?

 

I had a T7500 from a broken laptop. No the T7500 is not the fastest this machine can handle. It's the PM965 chipset so it can handle much faster processors then T7500.

Here is the link to the chipset
[ http://www.intel.com/products/notebook/chipsets/pm965/pm965-overview.htm ]

I would guess any cpu on this list that has 667 or 800mhz FSB would be supported by this laptop

[ http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/specifications.htm?iid=prod_core2duo+tab_spec ]

Assuming it can manage to cool it .

I did remove gateway's whiteish stuff and applied AS5 to the CPU. Be careful to properly reapply the thermal putty that is used on the GPU.

Surprise! Gateway M-6862 is PM965 chipset, so quoting directly from intel:

"800 MHz Front Side Bus support"

Intel PM965.

No

No idea. Vista doesn't bother me that much once you disable UAC.

This part is very well designed everything that needs access is under a lid.

 

Hi sigseg,

THANKS A LOT man ... sorry about my redundant Q's ... in haste of typing I did repeat myself.

You have a good point about being "careful" not to go too high on the CPU due to "Cooling Design" ...

Since T5750 is 34Watt ... I guess as long as I stay with 34 Watt one I should be OK!?!? That would be T7700. But, I am not planning to do it for a while anyway ...

Right now on NewEgg a T7500 is about $250 ... almost half the price of the laptop. So, I will wait till prices drop another $100 or more.

Thanks,

G!

 

No problem.

You should be ok. It's really senseless to upgrade the CPU right now as the machine is plenty fast and a CPU costs about 50% of what the machine costs. Down the road when you can find CPUs from dead laptops on ebay for peanuts is when you pickup your T7700 or even faster and give it a go.

Right. Unless you have a T7500 from elsewhere buying a new CPU for this machine is silly at this time.