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General discussion

Updating to a new Desktop Computer

Aug 5, 2005 12:49AM PDT

Hello everyone!

I'm currently in the market for a new computer. Reason? Because my current computer can't handle additional photo software and it's barely handling what's already on it.

I bought a new Canon Digital Camera and it came with software which is okay. I also like to play games on the computer...not the ''intense'' games, but games like Hoyle Board Games, Scrabble, etc.

My current machine is an EMachine T1905, with Windows ME, a 900MHz Celeron Processor and a 30GB Hard drive. This computer was given to me and it works fine. The memory is only upgradable to 256 MB, but I know I'll need something much more...especially in processor speed.

I don't want to spend more than $700-800 (of course, less would be even better) and would like a system that is upgradable.

What type of system would you recommend?

I don't want to build my own system because I'm not totally familiar with all that stuff, but I know enough to realize that I need something better. Happy

Please don't hesitate to ask me if I've missed something. Thank you all for your help.

Discussion is locked

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take a big look at this
Aug 5, 2005 1:00AM PDT
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Emachines T6522
Aug 5, 2005 1:01AM PDT

You can find it at Circuitcity
One of the best deals out there. Just search T6522 in these forums to get more info.

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EMachines
Aug 5, 2005 1:27AM PDT

Thank you Akonny and Jrmar07! I've been thinking seriously about getting another EMachine. Happy I know that both Circuit City and Best Buy will ship overseas. Happy

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Wait a minute guys!
Aug 6, 2005 9:34AM PDT

In the 3rd quarter releases of eMachines, the T6522 DOESN'T exist! It isn't even recognised by them as a product. It is essentially a T6520 with a socket 939 motherboard and is, to the best of my knowledge, produced exclusively for Circuit City! Now will Circuit City support it? eMachines doesn't acknowledge it exists! It's a great machine for the money, but I strongly suggest you ask Circuit City who provides supportHappy

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T6522
Aug 7, 2005 6:02PM PDT

I looked at EMachine website for this product, but it wasn't there. I definitely don't want a product that doesn't exist with the maker. Thank you Stonehkm....I thought I may have missed something. Happy

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T6522 Support
Aug 12, 2005 8:37AM PDT

eMachines is very slow on updating their website, the 6520 took almost 4 weeks after release to post on site.
I have a 6520 and now wish I had the 6522. Oh well!!

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Go with T6522 (only at circuit city)
Aug 5, 2005 2:05PM PDT

i bought this model ($699 after rebates) about 2 weeks ago and it is sweeeet. i have not played many game except diablo2 LOD and it handles it fine. as for applications such as word, it has no problem with them. the tuner card is greate and the best thing about it is the tv guide (lol). it also comes with fm radio.

my friend and i both got new computers he got a dell 8400, p4 630 ($1400), with the a dvd-r drive and a dvd-rom. we both burn dvds and the t6522 is so much faster. at first i was sceptical about the processor speed being 2.1-2.5gb, but it out performs the dell in my opinion.
well gtg ill get some more info on how this machine performs once i get my 6600gt pciE

oh and does anyone know for SURE that if you peel off the sticker on the back that has "QA" on it, if it voids the warranty??

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"QA"
Aug 5, 2005 4:17PM PDT

It is not legal to ''void'' a warrantee for just opening up a system, so if the company tries to give you this BS don?t let them. It is there responsibility to prove that you opening up the computer, and changing something caused the issue.

The old systems actually used to have a sticker that said ''void'' but they changed it to ''QA'' for i guess quality control.

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thanx
Aug 6, 2005 12:46AM PDT

thank for your help rpvitiello. at least i know i can look inside it now. If i put in a graphics card the warranty should be fine too, right?

when i put in graphics card i have to unistal integrated graphics drivers? if so how do i do that.

thanks,
clay

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Just put it in and you're done...
Aug 6, 2005 7:42AM PDT

Windows XP will recognize the new hardware and automatically disable your onboard graphics.

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i'm guessing you have an Athlon64 in there?
Aug 6, 2005 8:13AM PDT

just from your 2.1GHZ-2.5GHZ (GB is a storage ammount, GHZ is a measurement of operations per second (aka: speed, consider GHZ like horsepower and GB like trunk capacity if that helps))

i would expect it to easily outperform a Pentium 4 630
AMD's fastest CPU is the FX-57 (Athlon64 FX-57, AMD produces the Athlon line, including the Athlon64 and Athlon64 FX) and it's "only" 2.8GHZ

it's the fastest single cored x86-64 CPU in the world (well, fastest single core in the world, no stock x86-32 chip can touch it)

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sorry
Aug 7, 2005 7:00AM PDT

yea i meant ghz and it is athlon64

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I would suggest building your own from a barebone...
Aug 6, 2005 8:20AM PDT

this is what i've come up with for $400~

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856110032

that kit paired with the following hardware (it needs: CPU, graphics card (optional), RAM, Hard drives, optical drives, and software to make it complete)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104249
nice new Sempron64

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133143
TV tuner video card, with VIVO, and fairly able gaming ability

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227039
fairly basic 1GB DDR kit (you could also buy a single stick with 1GB on it, but it's $1-$2 more and from a lesser maker (the cheapest i've found that is))

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144184
nice BIG hard drive

and optical drives you could just take from the machine you have
also, if you have the ME install disk you could use it, or purchase XP from newegg for $90

that should do it
and that shouldn't break $500

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That's a very
Aug 6, 2005 9:52AM PDT

Old rig before you build it! Socket A and 32 bit? I don't think so. AMD Athlon 64 w/socket 939 mobo and PCIE slot. And there are eMachines T6212 refurbs out there for $499.95 and I own one. It has all of the above and easily upgraded. See this link....
http://www.refurbdepot.com/productdetails2.cfm?Product_ID=3890

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Umm..
Aug 6, 2005 11:14AM PDT

That computer is hardly old. There are plenty of good computers that have been built and are still being built on Socket A. Sempron 64 is not 32 bit, hence the 64 after the name. IMO, that's a very nice build, and if I had a spare $500 bucks or so I would build something similar. Very nice.

Why would you buy a refurb T6212 when you can get the T6522 for alittle more money? Much more worth it in my opinion. Better CPU, more RAM, larger harddrive, Media Center w/Tuner. The T6212 was so last quarter. Haha.

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Building Own Computer
Aug 7, 2005 6:10PM PDT

Thank you, but I'm not comfortable with building my own computer...I'm still learning more of the tech language. Happy I also looked at Newegg and they don't ship overseas, so that idea is scratched. Thank you for your help! Happy

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Building a Computer
Aug 13, 2005 1:24AM PDT

I have never built a computer, but am looking at that as an alternative to the higher-priced models on the market.

I need a great deal of memory (I'm writing a novel) for Word Processing and gaming.

Is it difficult to make the first time? Who could I get pointers from when something isn't working quite right?

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...building your own from a barebone...
Aug 23, 2005 11:43PM PDT

I understood the components well enough; however, how difficult is it to actually build?