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06-27-2008, 12:10 AM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Is this a Good Computer?
Hey everyone, for about 6 years I've been begging for a new computer. (I have a 7 year old dell that cost 300 dollars at the time of purchase...)
So basically I have been offered a 50/50 split with my parent's. So Of Course, I'm trying to find the best computer for the money. Here is the best one that I have found... http://www.emachines.com/products/pr...tml?prod=T5254 Although it has No monitor I can still use the one on my current computer. (it's lcd. Not worth buying a new one) This computer is #5 in CNet's top 5 computers and #1 One there Top 5 budget systems. What I need it for: Just basic games. (warcraft III and Diablo 2) I want to be able to run Zune, and firefox at the same time without a system restart.  So would you guys say this is a good computer for the price? Or should I invest another 200 or so for another? I would LOVE to keep it below $600. Thanks.
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06-27-2008, 12:15 AM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Large Walrus
Support Team
Jr. Staff Premium Member Super Zuner 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 1,862
Reputation: 260
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PSST.
Build your own. It's cheaper and you get better stuff. You can get a nice gaming rig for $600.
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06-27-2008, 12:20 AM
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#3 (permalink) | |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Quote:
And I practically know more about life on other planets then how to build another computer... I'm hopeless. Shortcuts are the answer.
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06-27-2008, 12:20 AM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Large Walrus
Support Team
Jr. Staff Premium Member Super Zuner
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 1,862
Reputation: 260
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Hmm..
I'll get you some shortcuts. *EDIT* Here's a few shortcuts, some like to call them links. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/tech/3452433.html, http://www.gamingparents.org/index.p...=180&Itemid=64 If they name specific parts and prices, go to newegg.com to get them 20-30% cheaper.
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06-27-2008, 12:27 AM
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#5 (permalink) | |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Quote:
Thanks.
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06-27-2008, 01:15 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Senior Zuner
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Vancouver BC
Posts: 1,275
Reputation: 122
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um.. I don't know about you, but that $400 comptuer isn't worth your money.
Believe me, there's a better way. According to your description, you can have many options Option 1 (cheapest) and will do what you want it to do. You only need $85. Here's the parts you'll need. 1)Amd Sempron LE1150 2.0ghz $29 2)Foxconn M61 MObo $34.99 after $10 rebate 3)Crucial Bullistix Tracer 800mhz $20 after $40 rebate You can just replace the motherboard and use everything that came with your old computer. It'll play diable2 and Warcraft 3 at acceptable FPS and run zune software without a hitch. Also tell your mom to wait for the rebates. You should only split the money for the actual price after rebates. There's no need to buy extra Operating system because you can recycle your old windows xp license. Just get a copy of windows xp disk, install it, call up MS and say you changed computer and please reactivate this computer. Option 2 value Budget $175 1) AMD Athlon x2 2.8ghz $87.00 2) Asus M2A VM $65 This setup will be capable of output 1080p videos to your HDTV, play video games at high FPS 3)Crucial Bullistix Tracer 800mhz $20 after $40 rebate You can just replace the motherboard and use everything that came with your old computer. It'll play diable2 and Warcraft 3 at very high FPS and run zune software without a hitch. It can also output 1080P videos to your HDTV and is HDCP compliant. Also tell your mom to wait for the rebates. You should only split the money for the actual price after rebates. There's no need to buy extra Operating system because you can recycle your old windows xp license. Just get a copy of windows xp disk, install it, call up MS and say you changed computer and please reactivate this computer. Option 3 - top notch gaming for dirty cheap: Budget $382 1) AMD Athlon x2 2.8ghz $87.00 2) Asus M2A VM $65 This setup will be capable of output 1080p videos to your HDTV, play video games at high FPS 3)Crucial Bullistix Tracer 800mhz $20 after $40 rebate 4)ATI 4850 graphic card $169.99 after $25 rebate 5)RaidMax 530W powersupply $40 after rebate This configuration will be an overkill for you ATM. It'll probably give you over 250FPS for Warcraft 3 and Diablo2. The graphic card is way overkill for basic HD videos. This graphic card will let you play all the games at very very high FPS for all of the game ( including the most demanding game, Crysis) on your LCD monitor. BTW, crysis might run about 80-100FPS on your comptuer with your old LCD monitor. Anyways.. This is way too much overkill for you, but if you want the ultimate gaming computer for $400 and under, then this is for you. Anyways.. any of these options will do what you want for price that's cheaper than the emachine you are planning to buy. If you think you're going to run out of harddrive space, you can buy one of these for cheap. Western Digital 500GB hdd $79 without rebates Anyways.. recycling is the key to low budget. You can keep your existing case, hard drive, floppy drive, card reader and dvd-rw drive.
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06-27-2008, 01:37 AM
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#7 (permalink) | |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Quote:
Thank you so much! I'm considering option 2. So my power supply on my dell will work with option 2 correct? Why would I need a power supply just to add a graphics card as seen in option 3? Oh, and one more thing. All I would do is connect my old hard drive to the new motherboard. So why would I have to contact Microsoft? I didn't know they could detect that.
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06-27-2008, 01:40 AM
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#8 (permalink) |
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Senior Zuner
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Vancouver BC
Posts: 1,275
Reputation: 122
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Um... give your dell model number and I'll look it up for you. Earlier dell computers has special powersupply which are not compatible. In which case, you'll have to buy a separate powersupply. A 250W-300W ($20-30) will be more than enough for you if you pick option 2. For option 3, you must use a 400-500W powersupply or else the ATI 4850 won't run properly.
BTW, " There's no charge for awesomeness" - Kung Fu Panda. LOL
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06-27-2008, 01:47 AM
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#9 (permalink) | |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Quote:
Otherwise this looks AWESOME! I might just do this. =D
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06-27-2008, 01:54 AM
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#10 (permalink) |
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Senior Zuner
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Vancouver BC
Posts: 1,275
Reputation: 122
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I've done the research. Unfortunately, you'll need to add a powersupply to your shoping list because the one in your computer is a 350W ATX v1 powersupply. You'll need a ATX v2 powersupply for current motherboard. So i've chose a very good powersupply for very cheap price.
Sunbeam 480W Powersupply $16.99 no rebates So your total including tax but after rebates should be somewhere around $200. Just give your parents $100 bill and call it a deal. Let them take care the rest. The assemly process is very easy. All you need is a philip head screwdriver to uninstall and reinstall everything. The whole process excluding the shipping times should take about 30minutes for newbs and 5 minutes for me. Good luck with your purchase.
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06-27-2008, 01:58 AM
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#11 (permalink) | |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Quote:
So if I do do this and everything goes as planned, Do I just re-connect my old (windows xp) hard drive to the new mother board and power up? or am I going to need to re install it? Im going to amuse I need a new fan as well. My current fan barely keep my computer cool right now.
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06-27-2008, 02:13 AM
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#12 (permalink) | |
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Senior Zuner
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Vancouver BC
Posts: 1,275
Reputation: 122
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Quote:
I'll outline everything for you. 1) backup your data. If you don't have a lot of data, i suggest you burn all of your data to a dvd-r disk. 2) Obtain a copy of windows xp. I could help you get a free copy of windows xp disk. Since you already have a legit windows xp, it's legal. So don't worry. Just PM me if you don't know how to do it. 3) Read the user manual for all of your computer components you've received and make sure you understand it. If you have any question, you can ask me or people on Zuneboards. I'm sure they'll help you. 4) Find a philip head screwdriver. If you don't know what it looks like, the bit looks like a plus ( + ) sign. 5) Unplug your power cable and move your PC to a well lit area for disassembling. 6) Open the computer case 7) Unhook all the cables 8) Take out the screws to the old motherboard (mobo) and take it out 9) Put the new motherboard in 10) screw the new motherboard with the screws provided onto the case 11) Install the 2 sticks of ram into the motherboard ( takes like 5 seconds) 12) Take out the old powersupply and put the new one in 13) Connect all the cables 14) Close the case 15) If you followed the 14 steps above and follow the instructions on the mobo manual, you won't mess up. If you did mess up, you should blame yourself, not me because these steps are very easy to follow and do. After installing the hardware: 1) Put the windows xp disk in the dvd or cd drive 2) Follow the on screen instruction 3) Delete your old partition 4) Create a new one using all the space 5) Install windows xp 6) Install all the drivers for your motherboard 7) Install everything else you want
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06-27-2008, 02:24 AM
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#13 (permalink) | |
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Zune Guardian
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 738
Reputation: 74
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Quote:
Just a couple questions that popped up. 1.) The motherboard that you suggested comes with the required drivers on cd's. Those DO work for XP right? 2.) I'm really tempted just to buy a new casing. Since they come with Fans, power supply, and look really cool for a fairly low price, would you suggest it? Here are two cases I REALLY like! Both have power supply. And Im willing to pay that extra money for that amazing case. =D
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06-27-2008, 08:49 AM
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#14 (permalink) |
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Experienced Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 854
Reputation: 39
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go to newegg.com and look a barebones computers and then ask me or sum other techies about compatible parts
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