Topic: Very nice computer deal....

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

I was looking into upgrading my system and I ran across a pretty good deal so I thought I would pass it along:

Best Buy is selling an eMachines T2152 (2.3Ghz, 40DB, 256MB) system with a printer and 17" flat screen (not flat panel) monitor for $350.  Actually, it's $740 but there is $390 worth of rebates that stack up so your total long-term price is $350.

I was geeked for it, and was planning on picking one up tonight, but there is a technical issue that stopped me.

It has no AGP slot, and I have a brand new GeForce FX 5600 AGP card that I really want to continue to use.  

But if you don't care about the AGP slot, this is the best deal I've seen our there.  

I was SO disappointed when I found out I couldn't use my graphics card.  I'm still running Win98 on a 850Mhz/256MB system and was so much looking forward to a brand new system.  *sigh*

 

[IntgrSpin]

You can probably pick up a new case, processor, motherboard, harddrive, and memory for under $300.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/

 

[Elvis]

It was probably a celeron so theres another knock. Emachines top of the line system is pretty decent deal at  Best Buy.  It pretty much was last years dream system for only $250 more. It uses an nForce2 MB so it does have an 8x AGP slot for your GForce card. Save your mouse though the Emachines mouse isn't optical.    

[Sirgod]

I've also noticed with my wifes PC, It was an Emahine give to her by her sister, In order to cause me alot of Headaches.

But they don't have the Best Powersupplies. Both in wattage, and in Manufacturer.

stephen

[IntgrSpin]

I'd personally shy away from e-machines.

The cheapest way to a hot PC is usually to put it together yourself. They make it so easy these days. It's about as complicated as piecing together leggos.

Also, keeping specs in mind, it may seem like an e-machine is hot as they advertise P4, 2.4GHz, but they don't tell you that it is the older P4 with the 400MHz fsb (the new ones are twice as fast at 800MHz). Also they probably put in PC2100 RAM instead of the newer stuff.

If I were you, I'd keep my keyboard, mouse, monitor, modem, CD, and floppy, and put them into a new case, with new motherboard, CPU and memory.  

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

Looked at Tiger Direct but didn't see anything that meets what I want for cheap.

Basically, I have $350 allocated for computer system upgrades.   I can upgrade my existing system, or get a new one.  

It needs to have an AGP slot (which leaves out a lot of the low end systems) and I would really prefer at least 256MB memory.  In fact, I'd prefer 512 if possible.

I may buy the components at a local store here as a DIY project.



 

[IntgrSpin]

That'd definitely be best, as you can ask for direct advice from the shopkeep.  

[Elvis]

 

Quote:
 personally shy away from e-machines.

The cheapest way to a hot PC is usually to put it together yourself. They make it so easy these days. It's about as complicated as piecing together leggos.

Also, keeping specs in mind, it may seem like an e-machine is hot as they advertise P4, 2.4GHz, but they don't tell you that it is the older P4 with the 400MHz fsb (the new ones are twice as fast at 800MHz). Also they probably put in PC2100 RAM instead of the newer stuff.

If I were you, I'd keep my keyboard, mouse, monitor, modem, CD, and floppy, and put them into a new case, with new motherboard, CPU and memory.  

Emachines doesn't presently offer a P4 machine. Basically 2 choices Celeron or Athlon XP.  They don't offer the Barton core though. As far as power supplies go their machines come equipped with with a meager 250 watts.  Not enough by todays standards. The hard drives are made by Western Digital but they only run at 5400rpm with 2MB cache.

The motherboard is a good choice though, using the NForce2 chipset. Video is on board(GForce 4MX) but there is an 8x AGP slot. Sound is a bonus because the motherboard uses the Nforce 6 channel audio chip. Theres also 512M of 2700DDR and you would never want for hard drive space with 160G.  

The latest model of E Machine isn't the old model. As a bonus if you find one at CostCo they have a 6 month no question asked policy regarding their computers. Can't beat that.

With that being said, building one is probably the best choice but working 65 hours a week doesn't leave much time to build one.  With $350 to spend  I 'd start with this   motherboard and this  processor.  Add a couple of sticks of  DDR and a decent  hard drive  And then I would scratch up enough change for shipping.  

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

The problem with DIY is that I have a Dell Dimension 4100 and it uses a nonstandard power supply.  So I'll probably have to buy another case w/ps and that will eat $50-$100 bucks from my $400 budget.  

I'll guess I'll keep looking at Tiger Direct and Overstock.com for something.  If anyone has any other good suggestions for good places to keep an eye on, I'd like to know about them.

 

[hobbesmaster]

Try newegg for some good deals.  I just built a top of the line gaming system for under $1500....  

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:

The problem with DIY is that I have a Dell Dimension 4100 and it uses a nonstandard power supply.  So I'll probably have to buy another case w/ps and that will eat $50-$100 bucks from my $400 budget.  

I'll guess I'll keep looking at Tiger Direct and Overstock.com for something.  If anyone has any other good suggestions for good places to keep an eye on, I'd like to know about them.

 

This need not be a killer.  As I understand it the Dell powersupply is a standard ATX wired backwards (for motherboard power only).  You should be able to look up instructions to convert it to a standard wiring pattern.  Of course this requires you to be confident in your ability to do such rewiring or know someone you trust to do it for you.

 

[Sirgod]

Quote:

Quote:

The problem with DIY is that I have a Dell Dimension 4100 and it uses a nonstandard power supply.  So I'll probably have to buy another case w/ps and that will eat $50-$100 bucks from my $400 budget.  

I'll guess I'll keep looking at Tiger Direct and Overstock.com for something.  If anyone has any other good suggestions for good places to keep an eye on, I'd like to know about them.

 

This need not be a killer.  As I understand it the Dell powersupply is a standard ATX wired backwards (for motherboard power only).  You should be able to look up instructions to convert it to a standard wiring pattern.  Of course this requires you to be confident in your ability to do such rewiring or know someone you trust to do it for you.

   

That's true, If you can read the blue Prints off of the Basic powersupply, all you have to do Is very gently remove The brass/Copper , whatever they are Doohickey's which are housed in the Plastic. then readjust them for a Proper Power supply. It's actually pretty easy to do.

stephen

[Maxillius]

Get an HP.  HP's are great, I've bought 2 of them  Funny thing though, my girl's grandparents have an HP with a PIII and WinME on it, and I *think* it's 700-ish MHz, and it runs like a turd, but my old 400MHz Celeron with XP on it *still* runs like a dream!!  HP's tend to make their bottom-line machines better.  My Athlon XP 2400+ runs hot but doesn't give me much trouble.  Keeps my room warm too

[Storvick]

I found soem pretty good deals at pricewatch.com when I went to upgrade my computer.  

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

Quote:
Get an HP.  HP's are great, I've bought 2 of them  Funny thing though, my girl's grandparents have an HP with a PIII and WinME on it, and I *think* it's 700-ish MHz, and it runs like a turd, but my old 400MHz Celeron with XP on it *still* runs like a dream!!  HP's tend to make their bottom-line machines better.  My Athlon XP 2400+ runs hot but doesn't give me much trouble.  Keeps my room warm too  

Thanks everyone for your advice.  

Actually, I did end up buying a bottom-of-the-line HP system.  Well, 2nd to bottom of the line.  But it was onyl $450 and it still beats the snots out of my original system.  

I will have to raid the old system for goodies (like the floppy and DVD drives).  But all and all it ended up cheaper and better to go that route than to try and upgrade.  The goofy nonstandard power supply and odd form factor of the case made the difference.  Plus taxes --no taxes when I ordered from HP.

 

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

I was looking into upgrading my system and I ran across a pretty good deal so I thought I would pass it along:

Best Buy is selling an eMachines T2152 (2.3Ghz, 40DB, 256MB) system with a printer and 17" flat screen (not flat panel) monitor for $350.  Actually, it's $740 but there is $390 worth of rebates that stack up so your total long-term price is $350.

I was geeked for it, and was planning on picking one up tonight, but there is a technical issue that stopped me.

It has no AGP slot, and I have a brand new GeForce FX 5600 AGP card that I really want to continue to use.  

But if you don't care about the AGP slot, this is the best deal I've seen our there.  

I was SO disappointed when I found out I couldn't use my graphics card.  I'm still running Win98 on a 850Mhz/256MB system and was so much looking forward to a brand new system.  *sigh*

 

[IntgrSpin]

You can probably pick up a new case, processor, motherboard, harddrive, and memory for under $300.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/

 

[Elvis]

It was probably a celeron so theres another knock. Emachines top of the line system is pretty decent deal at  Best Buy.  It pretty much was last years dream system for only $250 more. It uses an nForce2 MB so it does have an 8x AGP slot for your GForce card. Save your mouse though the Emachines mouse isn't optical.    

[Sirgod]

I've also noticed with my wifes PC, It was an Emahine give to her by her sister, In order to cause me alot of Headaches.

But they don't have the Best Powersupplies. Both in wattage, and in Manufacturer.

stephen

[IntgrSpin]

I'd personally shy away from e-machines.

The cheapest way to a hot PC is usually to put it together yourself. They make it so easy these days. It's about as complicated as piecing together leggos.

Also, keeping specs in mind, it may seem like an e-machine is hot as they advertise P4, 2.4GHz, but they don't tell you that it is the older P4 with the 400MHz fsb (the new ones are twice as fast at 800MHz). Also they probably put in PC2100 RAM instead of the newer stuff.

If I were you, I'd keep my keyboard, mouse, monitor, modem, CD, and floppy, and put them into a new case, with new motherboard, CPU and memory.