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help me beat an eMachine: hardware suggestions

X

xSauronx

Lifer
ok, sis and her fiance (soon to be wed) are looking for a computer

saw these two in best buy, and was wondering if i could do any better for the money:
649.99
Intel® Pentium® 4 processor 2.0GHz, with 400MHz system bus for a powerful CPU-to-memory connection
512KB L2 cache memory for efficient system processing
256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 2.0GB
60.0GB Ultra DMA EIDE hard drive
16x DVD-ROM drive; 40x10x40 CD-RW drive
Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 3D, with 32MB shared video memory
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet card
V.92 high-speed fax modem
6 high-speed USB 2.0 ports (2 on the front bezel); 1 each parallel and serial ports; 2 PS/2 ports
Premium multimedia keyboard, amplified speakers and 2-button wheel mouse
Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled

and
629.99
Intel® Celeron® processor 1.8GHz, with 400MHz frontside bus for a powerful CPU-to-memory connection
8KB L1 + 128KB L2 cache memory for efficient processing
256MB DDR SDRAM for multitasking capacity, expandable to 1.0GB
60.0GB Ultra DMA hard drive
DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive (16x DVD-ROM, 8x8x40 CD-RW speeds)
Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics, with up to 64MB shared video memory
Integrated 10/100Base-T networking interface
V.90 high-speed fax modem (data/fax only)
Polk Audio stereo speakers with PowerPort technology
6 USB 2.0 ports; 1 parallel, 1 serial and 2 PS/2 ports
Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled


now, i was thinking of doing an athlon xp1800 box (hadnt decided on a mobo)
with 256mb pc2100
60gb HD
16x dvd
40/12/48 cd/rw
a radeon 7500 (not costly, but better than integrated graphics, and ii figued itd be nice for dvd playback too)
17" monitor
xp

think i should just tell em to get the p4 box? free shipping on both the built pc's, and they come with a little extra software

or could someone suggest what i could put together to give the performance of one of the above at a better price? looks tough to me, generally dont like emachines but that p4 system looks pretty good at 650 bucks
 
I generally refuse to compete against eMachines because if you DO manage to your profits are slim and you had to use really crappy hardware to do it, which in turn you have to support when everything goes wrong (and it will).
 
I always try and beat prices for people too, but they get bulk on their stock, they get it dirt cheap, and they can sell it dirt cheap.. you can't always beat prices on computers like that.. i've tried before and can't do it.. it's the quantity they buy in. i'd tell them to buy the p4 box..it's a good price. 🙂
 
help me beat an eMachine: hardware suggestions: one heavy hammer 😀
I don't like emachines.:frown:
 
Dude get a Dell, check those bargains sites for more details

example
Choose Desktops >Dimension >Customize Dimension 4550 as such: 2.66GHz Pentium-4, XP Home, Basic Audio. 128MB DDR, 1-yr Warranty, Works, No Monitor, 64MB DDR GeForce4 MX, No Speaker. Your total will be $719 - $50 off $699+ coupon can be found at certain sites - $100 rebate = $569 with free shipping.

Other specs include: 30GB Drive, 48x CD-ROM, Integrated 10/100 NIC
 
yes yes yes i know emachines suck, i know people who have had them, and they suck

but, i did not know there was an emachinessuck.com site....

not that im surprised, and ill definitely send them to it, thanks for the heads up on ibuypower.com too
 
My brother-in-law has a E-machine. told him not to buy it. he did anyway, a 366 celery machine. Well now 2 year later it's still running. Plus he upgraded it with 2 30gig HD's a 32x cdrw, a SBLive and doubled the menory to 64 meg. all on the stock 150watt power supply..... The darn thing just keeps on running, he laughs at me every time I shake my head at it.
 
Originally posted by: mikable
My brother-in-law has a E-machine. told him not to buy it. he did anyway, a 366 celery machine. Well now 2 year later it's still running. Plus he upgraded it with 2 30gig HD's a 32x cdrw, a SBLive and doubled the menory to 64 meg. all on the stock 150watt power supply..... The darn thing just keeps on running, he laughs at me every time I shake my head at it.
Click to expand...

Wow, I'm amazed... at the shop I work at we get at least 1 per week with a burnt out power supply... lol

Just tell them for the buck, the emachine may be good, but later when their powersupply dies on them and fries their mobo and shocks the crap outta their hard drive they'll come crawling to you.. (seen this happen 3x)

honestly, if you want to beat e-machine, just tell the facts...

1) Cheap parts - more prone to break down
2) Bad customer service - who wants to talk to a machine or someone who doesn't care about your problems?
3) Bad performance - self explanatory

I could go on, but I'm tired... sleep beckons the Kreno... night all...
 
Originally posted by: mikable
My brother-in-law has a E-machine. told him not to buy it. he did anyway, a 366 celery machine. Well now 2 year later it's still running. Plus he upgraded it with 2 30gig HD's a 32x cdrw, a SBLive and doubled the menory to 64 meg. all on the stock 150watt power supply..... The darn thing just keeps on running, he laughs at me every time I shake my head at it.
Click to expand...

My bro bought the same one (I assume). As of one week ago, every single part that came in the e-machines case has died. Some have taken other components with them. 😉
 
What's so HARD about beating an eMachine??😕

$629 (1.8GHz) vs $385 (2.0GHz):Q
$42 Inwin L545 w/ Powerman 180w PSU
$99 Fry's Celeron 2.0GHz / Shuttle Combo
- Shuttle MV42N w/ Built-in Video, Sound, & LAN
- Intel Celeron 2GHz Bare CPU
$10 Heatsink
$59 256MB of Fry's Corsair PC2700 @ 333Mhz
$58 60GB Maxtor @ Fry's
$49 Sony 40x12x48 CDRW
$8 Floppy
$20 Mouse / Keyboard Combo
$40 Windows XP COA

$649 (2.0GHz / 60GB) vs $624 (2.4GHz / 80GB & Black Acrylic Case)😎
$199 MSI (SIS chipset) mainboard w/ P4 2.4GHz Combo (Fry's Bi-Monthly special)
$59 256MB of Fry's Corsair PC2700 @ 333Mhz
$54 WD 80GB 7200rpm Hard Drive 8MB cache
$76 RADEON 9000 ATLANTIS 64MB DDR TV VIVO @ newegg
$70 BLACK AMS GMONO MID-TOWER CASE
$59 BLACK SONY SPRESSA 40X/12X/48X @ mwave
$43 BLACK LITEON 16x DVD Model LTD-163 @ newegg
$14 BLACK Floppy Drive @ mwave
$10 BLACK Mouse / KB Combo
$40 Windows XP COA


Monitor? read
$385 Dell E171FP 17-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor
$263 Dell E151FP 15-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor
$132 VIEWSONIC 17" E70B (BLACK)

Printer?
$29 Canon i320
$89 Canon i550

Speakers?
$23 Logitech Z-340
$29 Altec Lansing ATP3
 
Originally posted by: NaughtyusMaximus
Originally posted by: mikable
My brother-in-law has a E-machine. told him not to buy it. he did anyway, a 366 celery machine. Well now 2 year later it's still running. Plus he upgraded it with 2 30gig HD's a 32x cdrw, a SBLive and doubled the menory to 64 meg. all on the stock 150watt power supply..... The darn thing just keeps on running, he laughs at me every time I shake my head at it.
Click to expand...

My bro bought the same one (I assume). As of one week ago, every single part that came in the e-machines case has died. Some have taken other components with them. 😉
Click to expand...

I rest my case...

Optimistic - damn... Emachines = pwned! 😀
 
Ditto on explaining to them that crappy parts=crappy machine.

People don't understand what all they are getting really. All they see is 2.0GHz, (they don't see celeron, or don't know what that means) and the pricetag. Nevermind the generic parts that are inside..and "powerful intel 32MB shared graphics" that quote should be an oxymoron. Powerful, and integrated graphics don't belong together, at least not until nv30 goes nForce...then we'll see...
 
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