Toshiba Satellite X205-S9359

Toshiba's latest desktop replacement gaming rig doesn't look much like the hardcore gaming systems we're used to seeing. It has an attractive, if not demure, flared red finish that's more typical of a guitar than a computer. The hardware is definitely of the specialist variety; this $2,399 notebook features Nvidia's GeForce 8700M GT graphics card with 512MB of VRAM and 320GB of storage. That combination of features and price is enough to put the X205 on any gamer's short list.
 
Because the 17-inch system features a widescreen display (1680 x 1050 pixels and 720p native resolution), the chassis feels much smaller than that of comparable gaming systems, like the Asus G2S-A1, though the X205's actual footprint is only slightly smaller at 16 x 11 x 1 inches. At 8.6 pounds, the X205 is no lightweight, and the AC power adds 2.2 pounds for a total weight of 10.8 pounds.
 
Though the keyboard's shallow key depth and spongy feel are drawbacks, the spacious layout and full number pad are definite pluses, especially if you'd like to use the notebook for more than just gaming.
 
Toshiba has kept the rear of the system free of connectors, which we could appreciate after dealing with hard-to-reach ports on other notebooks. Four USB ports are on the right, and two more are on the left, along with VGA, S-Video, and HDMI ports. You'll also find a FireWire jack, a 5-in-1 card reader, and and Express Card slot. But the system lacks a DVI port.
 
The X205's combination of GPU, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor, and 2GB of DDR2 RAM (with an additional 1GB of Intel Turbo Memory) garnered strong test results. The system notched 5,244 on PCMark05 and 13,279 on 3DMark03, while real-world gaming performance proved the X205 is no slouch.
 
It's rare that we see a system at this price point scream through 100 frames per second on F.E.A.R.; the X205 averaged 101. With settings maxed, the machine still managed an impressive 51-fps average. Company of Heroes showed a smaller increase, averaging 55 fps with DirectX 9. Under DirectX 10, the X205 averaged about 25 fps. Gaming on this system is a pleasure, especially when you're listening to the beefy 4.1 Harman Kardon speaker setup.
 
One primary disappointment with the X205 is that Toshiba opted for a 720-pixel display rather than going for full HD. It's a slightly puzzling choice, since the company is also emphasizing the rig's video capabilities by including an HD-DVD drive and external HDTV tuner. That's not to say the display is a failure; at its native 1680 x 1050-pixel resolution, DVDs (HD and standard) looked excellent, as did every other app we tested.
 
The X205's overall level of performance and plentiful feature set overshadow the less-than-ideal screen. We'd like to see 7,200-rpm hard drives, but at this price we're impressed enough to have 320GB of storage in addition to system specs that will keep us gaming for some time to come. This one's a keeper.


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