Choosing a new computer...

Xurich · 06-06-2005, 05:08 AM

Hi, guys. I'm new to these forums.

I'd like your opinions. I've been wanting to get a new system for quite a while now, and I think it's finally time. I was torn between building or buying for a while, but now I think I'm going to go with buying. I've decided on that because I have absolutely no experience building computers, and I know very little about it. I am willing to learn (and I intend on doing so soon), but I don't have the patience to deal with my current system any longer, so I think I'll save building one for down the road.

As for buying one, I'm not exactly sure what to get. I don't have a lot of money to spend. Around $700 - $900. I'm leaning towards the eMachines T6212. My friends think it's a good system, but I think they're just tired of hearing me complain about my current one.

But compared to my current system, the T6212 is great.

Do you guys think it's a wise choice? I figure I can buy now and upgrade later if necessary. I've been hearing both good and bad things about eMachines, so I'm not quite sure. I don't want to buy a computer and have it be completely outdated in a year or two, because I probably won't be able to afford a large upgrade any time soon. I'd like to use this system for at least a little gaming. Do you think the T6212 is a bad choice? Do you think there's anything better out there that I could get for my money?

I realize that I'm a newbie, so I'd appreciate any guidance that you guys can give to me. Thanks.

penguinrusty · 06-06-2005, 06:13 AM

I wouldn't buy an eMachine. They're usually remade, or they just suck really bad. I had a friend whose dad's business upgraded to eMachines, and they all were broken, their network down, and their office in disarray (sp) within a week. If you're not doing gaming or anythingm that would be an OK system. I would go with a name brand, though. If you're going to buy, I would go with Dell. I would really stress building, though. I'm 14, and I built my own computer. It wasn't that hard. I'm sure you will be able to get a lot of help around here if you choose to go that route. Anyway, bottom line, God hates eMahcines.
Edit:I just noticed the specs on that compy. That actually looks really good for the prics, but the shared 128 mb vid card memory will make you cry. It would be a pretty good setup if you invested maybe $60 more into it.

**Praetor** · 06-06-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

They're usually remade

They used to be that way. Not really anymore.

Quote:

I would go with a name brand,

emachines is a namebrand

Quote:

but the shared 128 mb vid card memory will make you cry

but you dont even know the intention of the system

@xurich:
what is the intention of your new machine?

Xurich · 06-06-2005, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinrusty

I would really stress building, though. I'm 14, and I built my own computer. It wasn't that hard. I'm sure you will be able to get a lot of help around here if you choose to go that route.

As I said, I will probably look into building a system down the road. As it is, I know very little about building. I want to get off of my current system as soon as possible; my patience for it has run out, and I have no doubt that I'll be using it for a lot longer should I decide to build instead of buy right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinrusty

I just noticed the specs on that compy. That actually looks really good for the prics, but the shared 128 mb vid card memory will make you cry. It would be a pretty good setup if you invested maybe $60 more into it.

I've been using an Integrated 4 MB Graphics Controller for the past three and a half years. I consider the 128 MB Shared Video Memory to be an upgrade.

But I don't have a problem spending an extra $60 on something better. I just don't know what.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praetor

@xurich:
what is the intention of your new machine?

Well as I said earlier, I would like to use it for a little gaming. Probably nothing too hardcore. I'd like it to be able to run World of Warcraft without fault. A little photo and video editing as well.

penguinrusty · 06-07-2005, 02:24 AM

Praetor; correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't shared video memory take more memory from the computer's ram? Wouldn't that slow the computer and the graphics down? I saw a little disclaimer thingy about this in a dell ad, but I might have misinterpreted this as being bad when it's actually good.

That compy should be good for non-hardcore gaming and for vid and photo editing.

joshj · 06-07-2005, 02:28 AM

Yeh, shared video memory does use the RAM as it's memory, so it takes away from the RAM's usabilty.

damasta55r · 06-07-2005, 05:09 AM

That's the reason why upgrading the graphics card would really help in teh case of the t6212. I would recommend the 6600Gt for $150-200 PCI-Express. Or if you're on a budget, get a low-end nvidia 6600 or ATI X300.
Roger

penguinrusty · 06-07-2005, 05:41 AM

If he's not doing extreme gaming, the ATI Radeon 9250 or 9600 would both be great choices.

06-06-2005, 05:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Xurich New Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pennsylvania, United States Age: 20 Posts: 5	Choosing a new computer... Hi, guys. I'm new to these forums. I'd like your opinions. I've been wanting to get a new system for quite a while now, and I think it's finally time. I was torn between building or buying for a while, but now I think I'm going to go with buying. I've decided on that because I have absolutely no experience building computers, and I know very little about it. I am willing to learn (and I intend on doing so soon), but I don't have the patience to deal with my current system any longer, so I think I'll save building one for down the road. As for buying one, I'm not exactly sure what to get. I don't have a lot of money to spend. Around $700 - $900. I'm leaning towards the eMachines T6212. My friends think it's a good system, but I think they're just tired of hearing me complain about my current one. But compared to my current system, the T6212 is great. Do you guys think it's a wise choice? I figure I can buy now and upgrade later if necessary. I've been hearing both good and bad things about eMachines, so I'm not quite sure. I don't want to buy a computer and have it be completely outdated in a year or two, because I probably won't be able to afford a large upgrade any time soon. I'd like to use this system for at least a little gaming. Do you think the T6212 is a bad choice? Do you think there's anything better out there that I could get for my money? I realize that I'm a newbie, so I'd appreciate any guidance that you guys can give to me. Thanks.

06-06-2005, 06:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
penguinrusty Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grass Valley, CA Age: 17 Posts: 577	I wouldn't buy an eMachine. They're usually remade, or they just suck really bad. I had a friend whose dad's business upgraded to eMachines, and they all were broken, their network down, and their office in disarray (sp) within a week. If you're not doing gaming or anythingm that would be an OK system. I would go with a name brand, though. If you're going to buy, I would go with Dell. I would really stress building, though. I'm 14, and I built my own computer. It wasn't that hard. I'm sure you will be able to get a lot of help around here if you choose to go that route. Anyway, bottom line, God hates eMahcines. Edit:I just noticed the specs on that compy. That actually looks really good for the prics, but the shared 128 mb vid card memory will make you cry. It would be a pretty good setup if you invested maybe $60 more into it. __________________ "Weighing in at an extremely portable 42 pounds (lbs) is the Lappy 486. Finally, a computer for your lap. By Compy." -StrongBad AMD Athlon 64 4800+ X2 DFI LANParty NF4 SLI-DR 2gb Geil Value RAM Maxtor 160gb SATA hdd Hiper Type-R 550 watt PSU Aopen DVD burner ATI X1800XT Last edited by penguinrusty; 06-06-2005 at 06:15 AM.

06-07-2005, 02:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
penguinrusty Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grass Valley, CA Age: 17 Posts: 577	Praetor; correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't shared video memory take more memory from the computer's ram? Wouldn't that slow the computer and the graphics down? I saw a little disclaimer thingy about this in a dell ad, but I might have misinterpreted this as being bad when it's actually good. That compy should be good for non-hardcore gaming and for vid and photo editing. __________________ "Weighing in at an extremely portable 42 pounds (lbs) is the Lappy 486. Finally, a computer for your lap. By Compy." -StrongBad AMD Athlon 64 4800+ X2 DFI LANParty NF4 SLI-DR 2gb Geil Value RAM Maxtor 160gb SATA hdd Hiper Type-R 550 watt PSU Aopen DVD burner ATI X1800XT

06-07-2005, 02:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
joshj Silver Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 19 Posts: 176	Yeh, shared video memory does use the RAM as it's memory, so it takes away from the RAM's usabilty. __________________ Athlon64 3700+, EPoX EP-9NDA3+, 1GB 2-3-2-5 DDR400, BFG 7800GS OC @ 505/1.46, 250GB, 160GB, 120GB, DVD, CD-RW, 570W Skyhawk PowerOne, WinXP Pro

06-07-2005, 05:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
penguinrusty Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grass Valley, CA Age: 17 Posts: 577	If he's not doing extreme gaming, the ATI Radeon 9250 or 9600 would both be great choices. __________________ "Weighing in at an extremely portable 42 pounds (lbs) is the Lappy 486. Finally, a computer for your lap. By Compy." -StrongBad AMD Athlon 64 4800+ X2 DFI LANParty NF4 SLI-DR 2gb Geil Value RAM Maxtor 160gb SATA hdd Hiper Type-R 550 watt PSU Aopen DVD burner ATI X1800XT

06-07-2005, 05:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
damasta55r banned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hawaii Age: 18 Posts: 71	That's the reason why upgrading the graphics card would really help in teh case of the t6212. I would recommend the 6600Gt for $150-200 PCI-Express. Or if you're on a budget, get a low-end nvidia 6600 or ATI X300. Roger

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