Post by: Gibdo Master on October 18, 2003, 09:05:02 PM
While you're here what do you think about this PC and its price tag. I really don't do any PC gaming so I don't need anything with a lot of power. In fact my current PC is a little over 2 years old and the main reason why I want to upgrade is so I can have XP (have ME right now) and so I can give my current computer to my parents. I wouldn't mind getting some more speed too but like I said the main reason is because of the operating system.
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 18, 2003, 09:09:22 PM
I would really suggest coughing up an extra $100 or so for something a little better, or maybe just a better brand. I normally suggest no-name brands, as they generally don't contain a lot of proprietary rubbish.
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 18, 2003, 09:13:38 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
I would really suggest coughing up an extra $100 or so for something a little better, or maybe just a better brand. I normally suggest no-name brands, as they generally don't contain a lot of proprietary rubbish.
Such as?
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 18, 2003, 09:28:47 PM
My general rule for buying store bought computers though is to find something with good specs, a low pricepoint, and is NOT a name brand.
For you, this would be:
2GHz processor (minimum)
512MB RAM
A decent video card.
Enough hard drive space to please you.
Even if you don't play games, a good video card is essential. It makes things look nicer in general, and will greatly increase the speed at which new windows load. It doesn't have to be top of the line, but there's no excuse for not having a Radeon 7500/GeForce2, or something.
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 18, 2003, 09:33:10 PM
Post by: Jdub03 on October 24, 2003, 07:00:40 AM
Post by: mouse_clicker on October 24, 2003, 11:25:16 AM
Our second eMachines is the whole reason I pieced together the computer I'm typing this message on now- great piece of equipment, although it doesn't seem to be able to play any game requiring DirectX or OpenGL. I think it's a problem with my motherboard or memory- either way I'll find out soon enough.
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on October 24, 2003, 11:39:50 AM
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 24, 2003, 12:46:25 PM
Post by: Uglydot on October 25, 2003, 12:41:07 PM
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 25, 2003, 04:41:57 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: mouse_clicker
although it doesn't seem to be able to play any game requiring DirectX or OpenGL. I think it's a problem with my motherboard or memory- either way I'll find out soon enough.
That doesn't sound like a motherboard or memory problem to me. Bad memory is usually seen through numerous unexplained BSODs, and frequent crashing. A bad motherboard will usually show itself in a similar way, although most often your computer simply will not boot if the motherboard is fried.
Nay, that sounds like a problem with your video to me. The most obvious thing I would suggest is making sure that your video drivers are up to date. If you are using the default Windows XP drivers, I would say that's the problem right there.
But I would really like to know more information. Specifically: Operating System, Video Hardware, and Driver Version.
Post by: mouse_clicker on October 25, 2003, 04:57:38 PM
Post by: manunited4eva22 on October 25, 2003, 05:07:15 PM
Post by: mouse_clicker on October 25, 2003, 05:11:05 PM
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 25, 2003, 05:27:42 PM
Post by: mouse_clicker on October 25, 2003, 05:30:28 PM
Although, someone on Rage3D did say he had a very similar problem being caused by some bad nforce drivers for his motherboard, which has an nforce 2 chipset, as does mine. He suggested I uninstall my current nforce driver and install a newer one. The problem was once I'd uninstall the old driver it would ask me to restart my computer, which I'd do. But when Windows would try to load, it couldn't because it was missing a driver file, forcing me to whipe my hardrive... twice. I gave up on uninstalling the old nforce driver and just installed the new one over it, but it didn't help at all.
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 25, 2003, 05:43:09 PM
Post by: mouse_clicker on October 25, 2003, 05:44:38 PM
Post by: Sirmorphix on October 26, 2003, 02:53:07 PM
However if you're not doing much with your PC, other than just surfing email etc then I'm not sure you really even need as much power as a 2.4GHZ machine.
Still if you were thinking of getting something powerful, you can still get one at a reasonable price. I was able to get a 3 Ghz P4, an ATI Radeon All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro, 1 Gig of Ram and 120 Gig HD plus tower and other crap for $1800 Canadian. Only took me about 2 hours of sort of watching TV and playing games to finish assembling it.
Post by: ThePerm on October 26, 2003, 03:47:33 PM
Post by: enigma487 on October 27, 2003, 04:06:28 AM
Post by: Uglydot on October 27, 2003, 11:22:25 AM
Edit:I suck
Post by: kennyb27 on October 27, 2003, 03:37:03 PM
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 27, 2003, 06:23:25 PM
By the way you can check out the PC I got by clicking here. I feel it's pretty good but the memory is on the sh!tty side. I will be upgrading that to 512MB though. Also for some reason on that page it says the hard drive is 80GB but it's only 40GB. I got it from Best Buy as part of a package deal where you get a monitor and printer with it. It cost me $802.47 after tax but there are $250 worth of rebates on it. By the time you count in the rebates and the memory upgrade for $85.99 (that's before taxes and the S&H is free) from Crucial it will only have cost me $638.46. Not to bad considering I paid a little over a thousand for my old computer and that was after rebates.
Now I just have to hope and pray no one comes in here and tells me I got a crappy computer and paid way to much for it. If I did though I would like to know since it's not to late to send it back.
EDIT: Oh and this is the monitor and the printer I got with the package deal.
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 27, 2003, 06:38:59 PM
Quote
I opened the thing up and there's quite a bit of empty space.
You act like that's a bad thing lol...
Just took a bunch of sleeping pills, so I am about ready to collapse, and I didn't read your full post, but I just noticed that. That statement is like saying that you bought a flute, but it seems sort of shoddy because it has lots of holes in it.
I will tell you whether it was a good or bad deal tomorrow.
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 27, 2003, 06:47:41 PM
Anyway I look forward to your review.
Post by: robofish on October 27, 2003, 09:14:57 PM
Post by: kennyb27 on October 28, 2003, 01:27:30 PM
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 28, 2003, 01:33:16 PM
As a way of testing that theory, I checked a Canadian retailer that I knew had a custom system option on their site, and I configured a more or less equivalent computer. It's missing a printer, but it comes to about $820 Canadian after tax. A printer could be had for about $40, bringing it up to about $860, which is around $575 US. Considering that I am sure that Compaq assembled their PC from parts built by the lowest bidder, and got deals on quantity... meaning that they got a FINE commission on the computer they made you.
That being said, I think that once you upgrade your memory, your computer will be serviceable, but it won't be anything to brag about to your friends.
And most certainly do NOT tell them how much it cost you.
Post by: manunited4eva22 on October 28, 2003, 02:57:40 PM
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 28, 2003, 05:22:19 PM
Again I want to thank you Grey Ninja for looking that stuff up. One thing I should point out is that on that custom set up it has 128MB memory. After I upgrade that to 512MB like I will be doing with the PC I have it would probably cost about the same keeping in mind the $250 worth of rebates I have.
Oh, and just for comparison this is my old computer:
Compaq Presario
700 megahertz Intel Celeron
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache
512MB Memory
20GB Hard Drive
CD-RW Drive
DVD Drive
Post by: GoldShadow1 on October 28, 2003, 05:24:29 PM
Post by: Gibdo Master on October 28, 2003, 06:23:02 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: GoldShadow1
My brother's eMachine is constantly freezing for no reason at all. That's all I have to say.
What OS does he have?
Post by: enigma487 on October 30, 2003, 05:51:44 PM
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 30, 2003, 05:54:42 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: robofish
I'm looking at getting a Sony Vaio laptop. All my friends in the electronics area say that Vaio laptops are high quality. Do you people with computer knowledge agree or disagree? And why?
I don't know about the Laptops, but a friend of mine bought a Vaio Desktop. I had the experience of repairing it when the hard drive died on it, and I was rather impressed with it. The case was a bit of puzzle to get open, but once I did figure it out, I found that it was fairly convenient to open and service, and the components where of fairly good quality. Mind you when she bought it, it was pretty close to being top of the line.
But I would have to say from that experience that Vaios are of fairly high quality. (Despite a faulty hard drive)
Post by: mouse_clicker on October 30, 2003, 05:59:38 PM
Quote
What OS does he have?
eMachines generally come with Windows XP preinstalled, and I doubt anyone who owns an eMachine would know enough, or even care, to install something else.
Post by: Grey Ninja on October 30, 2003, 07:39:59 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: mouse_clickerQuote
What OS does he have?
eMachines generally come with Windows XP preinstalled, and I doubt anyone who owns an eMachine would know enough, or even care, to install something else.
Older ones came with Windows Meh.
Post by: DarkRockerX on November 01, 2003, 09:22:11 AM
I might even consider about getting an eMachine.
Post by: mouse_clicker on November 01, 2003, 10:04:10 AM
Post by: Grey Ninja on November 01, 2003, 10:07:21 AM
