computer system upgrade

[longshot]

Are any of you guys out there computer wizards.I have a Emachines 420 (dont laugh please) i want to upgrade the cpu currently 2.66Ghz and install a graphics card.I am running 2.048Gb of ram so no probs there.I have been told it has a agp slot (i think thats the right term).I have searched the web and i am now more confused than ever.I dont want to go into clocking the cpu as i have been told Emachines are not very good systems.Can any one give me some suggestions (apart from putting the computer in a bin).

[kow_ciller]

What kind of video card do you want? And how much are you looking to spend?

[longshot]

What kind of video card do you want? And how much are you looking to spend?

Thats the thing there is so much choice i dont know what to go for.Prob 256mb for about a hundred pounds.My system is about three and a half years old so i dont know if i should just buy a new computer.

[Slingblade61]

My system is about three and a half years old so i dont know if i should just buy a new computer.

Yes, you should.
That's alot of mileage for an e machine.

[warbirdlover]

Yup, doesn't pay to upgrade something 3 years old....

[demon]

Doesnt the emachines have on board video? Your best bet is to build your own so you can upgrade it easily. You can use a few parts from the emachines though to offset the price.

[longshot]

Thanks for the help guys.I have found a sight where i choose what i spec i want and they build it.I think i will give them a call.

[demon]

Thanks for the help guys.I have found a sight where i choose what i spec i want and they build it.I think i will give them a call.

Try dell out, when I was a network engineer we used dell and the service is worth it if anything breaks. It will get fixed fast.

[longshot]

What do you think of these for specs.
CPU INTEL Core 2 Duo E6600 (2x2.40Ghz) 1066MHz PSB/4MB L2 Cache
Ram 2048 DDR 667Mhz
Motherboard Asus PLSD2 SE/C DUEL DDR ,S-ATA X16 VGA 3 PCI/3 PC1-E (4 SLOT FOR RAM EXPANSION)
6 USB PORTS
80GB HARDRIVE (EXPANDABLE TO 3 HARDRIVES)
dUAL LAYER DVD RW +cd x18
512MB GRAPHICS CARD PCI EXPRESS+DVI+TV OUT
SOUNDCARD Etreme 7.1 soundblaster
Onboard 10/100/1000 gigabit lan port
500W Quiet duel rail psu /case fan and cpu cooler
This is about the best spec i can manage with the funds available at this moment
We have Dell at work and they are always going wrong.But their support is good but my experiance with Dell has put me off them.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Anytime you start looking to upgrade the CPU, probably better to just buy a new computer. What kind of Graphics card is currently in the machine, and how much memory on the Graphics card? And what do you mainly use this for?

If I remember correctly, eMachines used to have reasonable GPU's in their startup machines, so likely that is not going to give you what you need, but not certain. I am guessing at 3 years I would just buy a new one as opposed to drop money in one that will likely only get you another year anyways, but if you have a really lousy GPU with something like only 64mb of memory, you may be able to do just a minimal upgrade to around 256mb for under $80-100 and get the results you want if you are not expecting highly intensive gaming out of the machine. May give you another year for minimal investment If you already have 256mb, or even 128mb, I would likely give up on upgrading as you are obviously asking for too much from the machine, but again, if you just want a slight performance increase, may still be an O.K. option.

Personally I have switched to doing almost all of my gaming on a console, so my machine, which is only a 3.2G with 1G memory and a ATI 9700 Mobility with only 128mb on the card, which is more than sufficient for my needs, which still does O.K. with Photography and minimal gaming. It still does a pretty good job with the gaming, but the new FPS Games would likely make it keel over and die.

If you want a decent place for information on a new system, here is a good place to start.
http://www.notebookforums.com/index.php?index

edit 1 - ... then again, in all likelihood I will be upgrading mine this summer. I try to get about 3 years out of mine, and April will be 3 years. Although I will likely opt for lighter than a 11 pound laptop, now that I game on consoles.

[longshot]

I have decided on the spec after a lot of research and taking my buget into account.Heres what i am having built
Gaming case with auto fans
Motherboard Intel DP 965 LT 965 Chip set DDR 800MHZ CORE 2 DUO
Memory (Quad core supports) DDR2 2.48 GB DD2/800 Dual channel memory (system can support upto 8Gb)
HDD 320GB SATA 11 16MB Cache 7200rpm
CPU CORE 2 DUO E6600 2.4Ghz x2 L2 cache
FAN Intel LGA CPU FAN AND HEATSINK
Pro wiring with thermal compound on the Cpu
256 Mb Graphics card x16 (card boosts to 512mb using part of the systems ram)
Should be a good system and very quick.

[JEFF4i]

Don't listen to Sling, you don't need another computer yet.

You can get a really nice graphics card for AGP still, not quite as nice as a PCIE, but will still run any game on pretty good settings. You're processor isn't too bad, but an upgrade would be notable. Get something from AGM, not Intel, as they are better(usually). Make sure it's a dual core, and 64 bit. Simple math, a dual core, 64 bit processor, that is technically 2.66GHz, like yours, will be nearly for times faster, just because of the technology. Yours is a single core, 32 bit.

On a graphics card, NVidias are nice because they have a lifetime warranty, and if it breaks, and it's discontinued, they are known just for sending you a new one that will work on your computer. You might even get a free upgrade there.

Your RAM is good, but, I'm guessing it's 333 not 400, which won't hurt you to upgrade in the future. Of course, you can treat this as a step process. Instead of just buying a new computer, slowly build a new one. Like a golf bag, don't go out and buy all 14 clubs(or more) at once, buy them individually. You will need to upgrade your RAM eventually, but then you'll need a new motherboard.

Essentially, I'm saying just make it into steps. It's what I did with my computer, and she's a beast, guess what. It's a 4 year old HP, but the truth behind it, not really the HP I bought, just a stepped up gradually.

Oh by the way, mine is:

2 GB 400 RAM
NVidia 7800 GS(I need to get a PCIE eventually though)
AMD 3800+ 64 Bit Dual Core
And other stuff, but I won't get too deep into it. Needless to say, I upgraded gradually, and she's a beast.

[Pa Jayhawk]

256 Mb Graphics card x16 (card boosts to 512mb using part of the systems ram)
Should be a good system and very quick.

Everything sounds fine. Although, if you are a gamer and that is your reason for upgrading, the GPU (Graphics card) should be one of your primary concerns. If it is not much more, I would bump this up towards the max on purchase. It will give you at least a couple years to not have to deal with it.

If the price is within reason, I would go with 512 on the card. If you share resources with your system it will make it a little faster, but it is in no way the same as having 512mb designated to just the card, as it comes at the expense of system resources.

Again, it is just thinking in the future. 256mb should be fine, but down the line you may be looking for a new GPU. If this is primarily for games, the GPU is the most vital concern in a new system.

edit 1 - there is another side to this as well. Assuming you are doing a desktop and not a laptop, in a year or so, the upgraded GPU will likely be dirt cheap and you will be able to upgrade a desktop for not much more than you will pay for the difference in cost. Just keep that thought aside if you save the money now. Laptops are another story. If you game on laptops get the best GPU you can.

[JEFF4i]

Aye, like Jayhawk said, if you're a gamer, make sure it's a nice graphics card. My 7800GS isn't top of the line, but the sucker runs things like F.E.A.R. on all high settings, which is commendable.

[longshot]

Aye, like Jayhawk said, if you're a gamer, make sure it's a nice graphics card. My 7800GS isn't top of the line, but the sucker runs things like F.E.A.R. on all high settings, which is commendable.

I went with the best graphics card i could i needed to stay within my budget .I have spoken to the company making the pc they said i could upgrade any item i want and it would not affect the 3 year warrenty they would also supply the item to me.
The motherboard and cpu were the second best available i could not afford the E6700 or the 975 Xtream motherboard.With the system running at 800Mhz and being Duel core it should be pretty good the only weakness is the graphics card which i will upgrade at a later date.I added an extra 1Gb of ram which is a 800Mhz DDR2 for £82 i thought that was pretty cheap.Also the system i have at the moment i am given to my daughter so there was no point upgrading it anyway.