Gateway introduced two new gaming rigs today: the FX6800-01e and FX6800-05. Both computers feature Intel’s latest chip, the Core i7.

The  Gateway FX6800-01e includes a 2.66 GHZ Core i7 processor (automatically accelerating to 2.93 GHz on a single core), ATI Radeon HD4850 graphics with 512 MB of video memory, 3 GB of RAM, a 750 GB SATA II hard drive, an 18× DVD±RW DVD burner, gigabit Ethernet, a 15-in-1 memory card reader.

The faster higher end Gateway FX6800-05 features a 2.93 GHz Core i7 processor (with acceleration up to 3.2 GHz on a single core), 6 GB of RAM, ATI Radeon HD4870 X2 graphics, 1 TB of hard drive storage plus an 80 GB SSD, an 18× DVD±RW DVD burner,a 15-in-1 card reader, HDMI 1.3 output, and 1,000 Watt power supply.

Both rigs include 8x USB 2.0 ports, Firewire, WiFi b/g/n, Blu-ray players, a whole mess of ports and Vista Home Premium (64-bit).  The FX6800-01e will start at $1,250 and the FX6800-05 will go for $3,000.  Both machines should go on sale any day now.

[DigitalTrends]