My new Gateway computer will have XP Media Center installed. XP Home is not offered by Gateway.
I have no use for the Media Center Application. I Will NEVER attach a TV to a Computer. SOBER anyway.

This computer will be used for gaming and needs as much power as possible. Does Media Center use more
of the computer resources than XP Home/Pro? (This is not about hardware such as Video Cards and PROCESSORS but the Operating System.)

Should I switch operating systems to XP Home/Pro or just NOT use the Media Center Application?
Can the Media Center Application be disabled so it doesn't use any computer resources?
Is this even something WORTH worrying about? What could be gained by switching to XP Home or Pro?

New computer will have: Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core Processor QX6700 3.20Ghz
Intel 975X Chipset
4Gb Ram
300Gb Sata Hard Drive
Nvidia GeForce 8800GTX 766mb Video Card

Thank You in advance.

Media Center is the actual operating system therefore it can't be turned on/off...
There are features that can be disabled as in any OS...
Why not ask Compaq if XPPro is an option ? ?With all of that horsepower, either will do just fine.As has been said, it will not make a difference.
If the OS bothers you, get a DIFFERENT one.
BTW - seriously nice PC.
Can I have it?