How is this computer?

[PyrrhusIV]

My friend has an absolutely terrible computer, he cannot play any game past 2002, and lately has wanted to play the same games as me. I told him I would build him a computer fo $400 or less, but his family said "no". Now, he isnt an extreme gamer, but he would like to atleast play the games.

I found the computer below on TigerDirect.com and it looks amazing!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...848&CatId=1881

It comes with 2 Speakers ( Probably poor quality) a 17inch LCD Screen, a keyboard, mouse, and the computer itself. The spec's are:

Sempron 3100 (1.8 ghz) Socket 754 ( I think, had to guess on the socket type )
512MB RAM (Can add 512 more for $20.00... mobo supports 2GB)
EIDE HDD 100GB 7200 RPM
Integrated Audio
Nvidia 6100 128MB GPU (Admittedly, the weak point)
300w PSU

Although it only has 2 RAM slots, He will only need 1GB of RAM, and if he wants in the future 2GB is optional. I've researched on Tigerdirect and if he wants a better processor in the future, he can get a cheap $110 2.2 ghz Athlon 64. Finally, the most encouraging, it does have a PCI-Express slot, ensuring his weak GPU can be upgraded, and along with a cheap PSU, make that computer respectable...

So, do you think it is worth it? and, should he buy it, considering it is refurbished?

Edit: for the extra Shipping, a free printer is included.

[turtle]

My friend has an absolutely terrible computer, he cannot play any game past 2002, and lately has wanted to play the same games as me. I told him I would build him a computer fo $400 or less, but his family said "no". Now, he isnt an extreme gamer, but he would like to atleast play the games.

I found the computer below on TigerDirect.com and it looks amazing!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...848&CatId=1881

It comes with 2 Speakers ( Probably poor quality) a 17inch LCD Screen, a keyboard, mouse, and the computer itself. The spec's are:

Sempron 3100 (1.8 ghz) Socket 754 ( I think, had to guess on the socket type )
512MB RAM (Can add 512 more for $20.00... mobo supports 2GB)
EIDE HDD 100GB 7200 RPM
Integrated Audio
Nvidia 6100 128MB GPU (Admittedly, the weak point)
300w PSU

Although it only has 2 RAM slots, He will only need 1GB of RAM, and if he wants in the future 2GB is optional. I've researched on Tigerdirect and if he wants a better processor in the future, he can get a cheap $110 2.2 ghz Athlon 64. Finally, the most encouraging, it does have a PCI-Express slot, ensuring his weak GPU can be upgraded, and along with a cheap PSU, make that computer respectable...

So, do you think it is worth it? and, should he buy it, considering it is refurbished?

Edit: for the extra Shipping, a free printer is included.

Well, it sounds good to me. As long as it isn't completely proprietary there shouldn't be any problem with that computer system. It sounds like it would be enough to run most games at minimal graphical settings and with the possibility of upgrading it sounds like a solid system to me.

[Incinerate_IV]

Thats a pretty good deal, especially with that LCD monitor, I say get it!

[Timmius]

Pretty good deal, even though it is a pretty slow pc. And do get that extra RAM.
By the way, what are you planning on using it for?

[PyrrhusIV]

Pretty good deal, even though it is a pretty slow pc. And do get that extra RAM.

The only thing in which I could think you mean is slow is the Processor, but 1.8ghz for a sempron is decent enough for now. Though he may want to get a Athlon 64 2.2ghz of the same socket, though I think that is not within his current budget.

By the way, what are you planning on using it for?

My friend (And possibly his family) will be mostly using it for basic home applications, the majority of time spent on the Internet & Microsoft word etc. He does want to start gaming more,but this isnt meant to be some good computer. It is meant to be a computer which can play most games at Low or Medium. The best thing about it though, is that it potentially can be a very good system, if upgraded correctly.

[hunter260859]

seems like a solid pc i secound that he should get extra ram and a better processor later on

[Titus]

Yea sound like a good deal, upgradeing the ram wold be a plus, because I have this friend who bought a computer and its not the best and he only has 256mb and I keep telling him to do upgrade.What its like 40 bucks for a 512mb stick of ram. Oh and a 256mb card like a 6200 or 6600 would be good ive seen both for under or around $150. $160. what ever is budget is. :original:

[Spiff]

Yea it wont be much good for many upcoming and new games, but for word processing/internet browsing it'll be grand, and itll run the vast majority of current games without too much trouble (though the extra ram would certainly help in that respect).

For desktop applications though you dont really need much more than 512 unless youre doing a serious amount of high demand multitasking

[rayzzz]

get a better GPU and processor and ram. all ive got to say

[Spiff]

I dont see why, considering its not intended to play games with..? It'll play games, as he says, at low - medium for quite some time yet, as far as i can tell the biggest factor is cost

[NobleNick]

I told him I would build him a computer for $400 or less, but his family said "no". Now, he isnt an extreme gamer, but he would like to atleast play the games...

So, we want acceptable performance now, and an upgrade path, at the lowest possible price.

I am running a Sempron machine with a speed something near that, with an ATI 9800 Pro (AGP) card. (I guess that video card is now solidly in the mid-range categry.) RTW works great up to Large unit size and high details/shadows/everything. Haven't tried Huge unit sizes yet. If he gets a video card on par with the 9800 Pro, then he should do alright.

I don't see anything in the LCD monitor specs that makes me think this is an outright dog: Contrast ratio of 450 looks O.K. Response time of 12mS seems a bit high; but that is just in comparison to other monitors I have been looking at lately. I am not familiar with the brand name, which always makes me hesitate a bit. I would read the fine print on how many dead pixels the monitor can have and still be considered good enough to dump on your friend.

I *am* familiar with the eMachines brand name. They ship their machines with tamper-evident seals, and with a firm policy: You open the cover, and their support for your machine ends. Period. If you EVER have a problem, your choice is: Give up your machine for the weeks it will take to ship it and get it fixed; or try to fix it yourself (which instantly releases eMachines from ever speaking with you about it again). My neighbors bought eMachines, and were not happy with customer service.

Notice that the price shown is after rebates. Multiple rebates. I have done a lot of these. I am meticulous about following the instructions EXACTLY, my wife double-checks my work, we mail before the deadline, keep full copies of everything we mailed, and follow up on companies that are slow to pay or initially deny payment. Still, I only actually cash in on 3/4 of the rebates, and it takes months to get those. And you still have to front all the "before rebate" money. Be careful.

My bet is that the thing about the the Athlon64 is a red herring: I would be surprised if you could just swap out the Sempron and stick an Athlon64 into the same slot EVEN if the socket is the same, and have it work right. I just would not count on it.

Being a refurbished machine is not a problem: I would expect to have fewer problems with a refurbished machine.

The biggest short term problem I see is the PCI-express slot, because it probably means that there is no AGP slot, which means, if he wants better video performance NOW (which he will), he is going to have to buy the more expensive PCI-express cards. I am not at all familiar with the price-performance curves for these newer cards; but just off the cuff, I'd guesstimate that his $500 machine will cost $650. Oh, let's not forget the $20 to upgrade to 1GB RAM. Now we are at 670$ plus shipping. We are pushing $700, PLUS he has to break the tamper seal to install the video card...

Let's see... A Celeron and ATX MOBO for $70; CPU fan & Heatsink for $20; 200GB HDD for $70, 450W P.S. for $60, DVD/CD R/W drive for $40, and a decent (enough for RTW) AGP video card off eBay for $70. 1GB of RAM for $60. Cheap speaker set for $15. Case for $40, keyboard and mouse for $15. That's $460. If he needs a monitor, add in a second-hand one in for $60. That is still only $520, and I haven't even broke a sweat on how to cut costs (most of the prices are from local retail stores, not eBay, etc.). You probably had a better machine in mind for the $400 you were going to spend. (Yes, Celeron is a piece of junk; but, then, so is the Sempron in the eMachine.)

I think his family is too risk-averse to not let you build one for him. For the $700 total that he would have to front, if his family is willing to accept the risk, go for it. But maybe your friend could show them how much they are REALLY going to pay, and point out that by letting you build a machine for them, they have $300 cash in reserve to fix any of your screw-ups. There is clearly less risk in letting you build him a $400 machine, even if you do have body oder, dye your hair lime green and have tongue, eyebrow and nose rings.

[Timmius]

*cut*

The biggest short term problem I see is the PCI-express slot, because it probably means that there is no AGP slot, which means, if he wants better video performance NOW (which he will), he is going to have to buy the more expensive PCI-express cards.

PCI-e card are actually quite a lot cheaper. typo?

I am not at all familiar with the price-performance curves for these newer cards; but just off the cuff, I'd guesstimate that his $500 machine will cost $650. Oh, let's not forget the $20 to upgrade to 1GB RAM. Now we are at 670$ plus shipping. We are pushing $700, PLUS he has to break the tamper seal to install the video card...

I don't understand. The machine costs $350. So what $500 machine that costs $650 do you mean?

[PyrrhusIV]

Hehe, for a better GPU, he can save up a little cash & buy a 6800 XT (Nvidia) for $100 on Tigerdirect. Currently the 6800 GT (Which is not much different than the XT) can run most games on Highest settings, atm.

My bet is that the thing about the the Athlon64 is a red herring: I would be surprised if you could just swap out the Sempron and stick an Athlon64 into the same slot EVEN if the socket is the same, and have it work right. I just would not count on it.

Same socket, will almost always work. If not, researching a mobo takes all of 5 minutes.

Oh, let's not forget the $20 to upgrade to 1GB RAM. Now we are at 670$ plus shipping. We are pushing $700, PLUS he has to break the tamper seal to install the video card...

I am thinking of just buying him a 256MB chip, He wont quite have 1GB, but he will have enough memory. Besides, he can always switch it LATER on.
Also, the 6100 will play most games on Low-Medium... Heck, my 64MB Geforce3 200 can run RTW at Medium-high settings. And I only have 256 RAM and a 1.7 Ghz Processor (My old computer, not my new one).

Let's see... A Celeron and ATX MOBO for $70; CPU fan & Heatsink for $20; 200GB HDD for $70, 450W P.S. for $60, DVD/CD R/W drive for $40, and a decent (enough for RTW) AGP video card off eBay for $70. 1GB of RAM for $60. Cheap speaker set for $15. Case for $40, keyboard and mouse for $15. That's $460. If he needs a monitor, add in a second-hand one in for $60. That is still only $520, and I haven't even broke a sweat on how to cut costs (most of the prices are from local retail stores, not eBay, etc.). You probably had a better machine in mind for the $400 you were going to spend. (Yes, Celeron is a piece of junk; but, then, so is the Sempron in the eMachine.)

I really dont understand what you are saying here, I have already put out a computer. Besides, i'm going with AMD as his processor, as they are 90% of the time cheaper.