Can you build a better computer?

[Jorenm]

Than this e-machine.

http://emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=ET1810-03

My mom just bought my nephews that e-machine because their old computer broke. I have a 8800gt sitting around and a copy of XP. Can you build a computer with better specs for $330 dollars?

 

[erf]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.311564

 

[Jorenm]

Would still need PSU\Case\dvd drive. I don't think I could get all 3 for $60. That also has a graphics card which I don't need.

 

[tiraides]

What do your nephews use their computer for?

For general web browsing and Flash-based games, that system is just fine.

 

[Jorenm]

Mostly just gaming. They do play a lot of trashy browser games and stuff, but I think they would play a lot more PC games if the system could handle it. I'd like it to be able to run Source games well, for example.

 

[erf]

AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103714

ASUS M4N68T-M AM3 NVIDIA Geforce 7025/nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131626

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134492

Western Digital AV-GP WD3200AVVS 320GB SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136498

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171028

Antec VSK-2000 Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129069

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289


Total = 326.74 shipped

 

[blackacidevil]

Would still need PSU\Case\dvd drive. I don't think I could get all 3 for $60. That also has a graphics card which I don't need.

Case could probably be reused, as well as the DVD drive (if they have one). PSU as well if its greater than 400W.

 

[engiNURD]

For $390 you can get a better CPU and 20" monitor from Dell:

Dell Vostro 220 Mini-Tower - $389
Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 w/VT (2.60GHz, 2MB L2, 800FSB)
Dell 20 inch Widescreen E2010H Analog Flat Panel Display
1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD On-Site Service
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz - 2DIMMs
Single Drive: 16X DVD-ROM Drive
160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Integrated Video, Intel® GMA X4500HD
No Media Reader
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio
Dell USB Keyboard and Dell USB Optical Mouse

Though, if they don't need a monitor, erf's build is fine.

 

[Jorenm]

AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103714

ASUS M4N68T-M AM3 NVIDIA Geforce 7025/nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131626

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134492

Western Digital AV-GP WD3200AVVS 320GB SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136498

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171028

Antec VSK-2000 Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129069

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

I like your build. I went with your recommendation except I dropped the hard drive down a notch.I have to make room for tax

I also will just pick up a case locally so I can check it out in person.

 

[Shadowssong]

Than this e-machine.



My mom just bought my nephews that e-machine because their old computer broke. I have a 8800gt sitting around and a copy of XP. Can you build a computer with better specs for $330 dollars?

Where do you see $330? I see $370..

And that thing is just a huge pos.. and I HATE how prebuilts use 1x2gb and 1x1gb stick which will not run in dual channel, why!!!???

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.311564
+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315680
+
whatever pos drive you want
=
Gaming PC for $430

Again, I don't see how you got $330, but if it was $370, spend a whopping $60 more and get something that isn't a huge piece of crap and will actually play games.

 

[tiraides]

What do your nephews use their computer for?

For general web browsing and Flash-based games, that system is just fine.

Mostly just gaming. They do play a lot of trashy browser games and stuff, but I think they would play a lot more PC games if the system could handle it. I'd like it to be able to run Source games well, for example.

For DirectX 9 or 10 games (especially those made after 2007), you'll need a decent video card -- the GeForce 9600GT or the Radeon HD4770 is the lowest I'd recommend for decent gaming performance.

What's the specific model number for the e-Machines PSU? Watts? 12V amps?

 

[defaultluser]

Than this e-machine.



My mom just bought my nephews that e-machine because their old computer broke. I have a 8800gt sitting around and a copy of XP. Can you build a computer with better specs for $330 dollars?

God damn, yet another machines with that stupid mixed DIMM configuration.

If you mix DIMM sizes, you cut memory bandwidth in-half. This is not good for a system using integrated graphics.

 

[OvrrDrive]

Not to mention the bloat emachines puts into the OS... It will take you several hours to clean it back up and even then you're likely to have remnants that make it unstable.

You could build less computer from name brand parts and it would still be faster.

 

[Jorenm]

Where do you see $330? I see $370..

And that thing is just a huge pos.. and I HATE how prebuilts use 1x2gb and 1x1gb stick which will not run in dual channel, why!!!???

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboB...t=Combo.311564
+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.315680
+
whatever pos drive you want
=
Gaming PC for $430

Again, I don't see how you got $330, but if it was $370, spend a whopping $60 more and get something that isn't a huge piece of crap and will actually play games.

Well that's not where she bought it from. She bought it from fry's and there's a restocking fee. Final budget after all that would be $330 to not end up spending more.

And yeah I know you could get better for just a bit more money, but the budget is pretty strict.

For DirectX 9 or 10 games (especially those made after 2007), you'll need a decent video card -- the GeForce 9600GT or the Radeon HD4770 is the lowest I'd recommend for decent gaming performance.

What's the specific model number for the e-Machines PSU? Watts? 12V amps?

Well I have an 8800 gt just laying on my desk, which will play anything at 1280x1024 easily. Probably will play anything at that res for the rest of time if consoles keep throttling pc gaming.