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Gadling gear review - Windows 7 on the Gateway L3103 Netbook

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Jun 28th 2009 at 11:00AM

Yesterday, I wrote about the new Gateway L3103u Netbook. This 11.6" machine just hit the shelves of your local Bestbuy, and offers a 1.2GHz processor, 2GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive in its $399 package.

One of the first things I did on the machine was dump Windows Vista Basic and install Windows 7 (release candidate). In my experience, Windows 7 runs smoother on most computers than Vista ever managed to.

The installation of Windows 7 went fairly smooth, and ran off a USB drive. Once fully installed, there were only 2 things that needed a manual update. For anyone considering purchasing the L3103, you'll want to do 2 things after installing Windows 7:

Use Windows Update to install the latest Radeon X1200 series video driver - no standalone driver package will install, and the only way to get a working video driver is through Windows Update (trust me, I tried everything AMD had to offer).
Install the WiFi driver - the WiFi card has an Atheros AR5B95 chipset, I tried multiple driver packages, but none of them worked. I finally found a working version though this obscure site.

Once installed, the Windows 7 performance index is 2.3 (CPU:2.3, Memory:4.4, Graphics:2.5, Gaming graphics:3.0, Primary hard drive: 5.7).

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Scott Jun 29th 2009 10:01AM

Would you mind running 3DMarks06 on this? I haven't seen on anything on how this gaming wise stacks up against the current netbooks and upcoming ion netbooks.

Thanks
Scott

Scott Carmichael Jun 29th 2009 10:38AM

I've done a test with it, but I don't think you are going to like the results :D

Actually, with a score of just 245 I'm pretty sure it means 3DMarks does not like running under Windows 7 - most tests only reached 1FPS, so there is obviously something it doesn't like, especially since the GPU had no problems playing a 1080p WMV file in full screen.

Scott Jun 29th 2009 8:22PM

Well I think that is an older ATI GPU so it doesn't support DX10 and some of the newer GPU effects (lighting etc) and both of those count against the 3DMarks score.

While it's not a gaming power house - it is about 2x the Intel integrated solution.

Sangkath Jun 29th 2009 2:44PM

Anyone know if the gateway LT3103u will support Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN card.??

Scott Carmichael Jun 29th 2009 2:46PM

Only if you can find it in a half length Mini PCI-E card. The card installed in the Gateway is half-size, and the full size slot is not installed.

There are some half length Intel AGN cards on Ebay, but I'm not sure they will work - plus you'll need to install a different antenna for N to work...

sangkath Jun 30th 2009 1:40AM

That what I thought so too. My gateway P-6831FX went dead so I decided to yank out the intel wireless wifi link 4965agn to see if it would work on my new purchases gateway LT3103u laptop. Only to find out that LT3103u mini wireless card has only 2 antenna connectors whereas on the Intel wireless WiFi link 4965AGN has 3 antenna connectors.

Don't know if it would work with just 2 connectors plug in to it..??? Any thoughts or ideas...???

Michael Jun 30th 2009 6:02PM

Any luck getting the touch-pad to work on windows 7? I want to be able to use the multi-touch gestures...any help on this?

Michael Jul 1st 2009 5:37PM

Never mind, I went to the ACER website and downloaded the Synaptics Touchpad Driver for the A0751h (sister netbook) and it works great! Everyone give that a try if you install Windows 7.

Janna Jul 1st 2009 10:17AM

Did you install 64 or 32 bit windows 7 on this? thanks.

Michael Jul 1st 2009 5:37PM

Windows 7 32 bit works great on this!!!!

Rob Jul 20th 2009 6:11PM

Why Windows 7 32-bit over Windows 7 64-bit? Doesn't the processor support 64-bit? Does the 64-bit version tax the system too much?

Daniel Coley Jul 1st 2009 8:12PM

Anybody have any idear on where the internal bluetooth is installed and what model. I am trying to avoid a usb adaptor sticking out the side. I see the acer 751 has a spot to plug in but I would think because of the AMD chip it may be in a different spot. Any way to add the second mini pci-e slot for SSD. I have had it for only a few days and are so far pretty inpressed. I am running windows 7, but I did an upgrade not a fresh install. I uninstalled all the junk first and installed the upgrade. I had zero problems. It great for 399

Scott Carmichael Jul 1st 2009 8:14PM

I'm resisting the urge to open it up and check for a Bluetooth connector. For the moment, I'm just using an Anycom USB adapter which sticks out a tiny bit - not ideal, but I'll live with it.

I'd love to have the second PCI-E slot soldered on, but that may be way too much hassle, plus I lack the SMD equipment for this.

Janna Jul 2nd 2009 8:07PM

I'm a newbie at this...I bought the machine and love it. Installed Windows 7 from a thumb drive, but none of the key drivers installed - wireless etc. HOw do I get these on to the computer. For some reason I can't access wireless. Silly question I'm sure but I'd appreciate any advice

Seth Jul 3rd 2009 10:40PM

Janna,

Check out the links that Scott posted near the end of this article.

Also, be sure to read what Michael wrote in his comments a few comments above regarding the trackpad drivers (to get all of the multitouch benefit, etc from this trackpad).

Good luck.

Janna Jul 2nd 2009 8:11PM

I can't access wired ethernet as well. I set this up as a dual boot. Perhaps if I did this as an upgrade rather than as a clean installation, Windows 7 would have found my drivers? Thanks for helping me with these elementary questions...

Joel Jul 9th 2009 9:09AM

I'm thinking about buying the Gateway - essentially just to check emails and use the internet while away from home and remote access my work computer from vacation in case of emergency. Given this "less sophisticated" use, is there any reason to take on the complexity of going from Vista to Windows 7.

Also planning to buy the USB adapter in conjunction with signing up for a data plan. Best Buy user reviews indicated some problems with Vista with the pay as you go Virgin Mobile plan so would be interested in hearing others' experiences with wireless plans, speed, etc. (not expecting to rely on hotspots).