Curse

eggrolls · Feb 06, 2008, 12:36 AM // 00:36

Your computer specs:
http://www.emachines.com/support/pro...es&model=T6520

How much are you willing to spend to upgrade? Also, how long until you buy a whole new computer?

Any upgrades you buy now cannot be carried over to a new computer, with the exception of the video card. That is because your computer uses DDR memory and a socket 939 (or 754?) CPU, which are no longer found in new computers.

Biggest impact on performance is the video card, since your current one is integrated. Since there is a PCI-e slot, you can put any modern PCI-e video card. Faster cards require more power, so you will be limited by how good your power supply is, unless you are willing to replace that as well.

Max memory is 2GB according to the specs. Memory is cheap, so probably worth upgrading.

Add a DVD-ROM if you need or want one. They're only like $20-30 anyways.

CPU would be the last thing I'd upgrade. They're harder to find than any of the things above. You might be able to find a dual core CPU, so if you have money to spare after the other parts (and still not satisfied with the performance), then upgrade it.

Toxage · Feb 06, 2008, 01:05 AM // 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggrolls

Your computer specs:
http://www.emachines.com/support/pro...es&model=T6520

How much are you willing to spend to upgrade? Also, how long until you buy a whole new computer?

Any upgrades you buy now cannot be carried over to a new computer, with the exception of the video card. That is because your computer uses DDR memory and a socket 939 (or 754?) CPU, which are no longer found in new computers.

Biggest impact on performance is the video card, since your current one is integrated. Since there is a PCI-e slot, you can put any modern PCI-e video card. Faster cards require more power, so you will be limited by how good your power supply is, unless you are willing to replace that as well.

Max memory is 2GB according to the specs. Memory is cheap, so probably worth upgrading.

Add a DVD-ROM if you need or want one. They're only like $20-30 anyways.

CPU would be the last thing I'd upgrade. They're harder to find than any of the things above. You might be able to find a dual core CPU, so if you have money to spare after the other parts (and still not satisfied with the performance), then upgrade it.

It depends how much my parents are willing to "chip in". The Circuit City at my local mall is closing so the majority of their computers are discounted at 20-30%. I will look this weekend to see what is left. If my parents aren't willing to chip in anything I would probably be willing to spend only like 200 $. I can't afford much. What would you recommend eggrolls upgrading my current computer or waiting to purchase a totally new rig?

Tarun · Feb 06, 2008, 01:14 AM // 01:14

A new computer after seeing the link of what your computer specs are.

Toxage · Feb 06, 2008, 01:22 AM // 01:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarun

A new computer after seeing the link of what your computer specs are.

Could you elaborate on this? What would you recommend for a new computer?

Narada · Feb 06, 2008, 09:38 AM // 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxage

Could you elaborate on this? What would you recommend for a new computer?

Unfortunately recommendations will again be limited by your budget. If you're on a $200 budget you'd be better off putting that towards upgrading your current one.

arsie · Feb 06, 2008, 10:20 AM // 10:20

For about $1000 you can get:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 (best dual core for Intel now)
nForce 650i motherboard (most cost efficient motherboard, imo. assorted brands)
nVidia GeForce 8800GT 512k vram (cheapest good card, assorted brands)
2gb of DDR2-800 ram (non-fancy ones, get a good brand)
SATA2 7200rpm 320gb Hard Disk Drive
Antec 550watt Power Supply Unit.
and all the other bits and bobs to build your box. (uh, no Blu-Ray)

That should be enough for you to play current games. I consider that this would be an "entry level gaming" rig for 2008. Its expandable to 8gb ram, and can support 2 video cards with SLI, and the motherboard can accomodate the current top CPUs. Wait a few more months for Quad cores to drop to current E6850 prices and you'll be laughing.

Why_Me · Feb 07, 2008, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by arsie

For about $1000 you can get:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 (best dual core for Intel now)
nForce 650i motherboard (most cost efficient motherboard, imo. assorted brands)
nVidia GeForce 8800GT 512k vram (cheapest good card, assorted brands)
2gb of DDR2-800 ram (non-fancy ones, get a good brand)
SATA2 7200rpm 320gb Hard Disk Drive
Antec 550watt Power Supply Unit.
and all the other bits and bobs to build your box. (uh, no Blu-Ray)

That should be enough for you to play current games. I consider that this would be an "entry level gaming" rig for 2008. Its expandable to 8gb ram, and can support 2 video cards with SLI, and the motherboard can accomodate the current top CPUs. Wait a few more months for Quad cores to drop to current E6850 prices and you'll be laughing.

You are aware that the q6600 is the same price as the e6850? Also, the e6850 is completely obsolete with the e8400 out now. He clearly doesn't have the money for sli, making a p35 chipset the best option.

Thats assuming your parents are willing to help you out. Cyberpowerpc is a good site for custom builts.

Otherwise, with your budget of 200$ the absolute best upgrade would be to buy a ati 3850 512mb. This is the best price performance card on the market, and can easily be bought for under 200$ after shipping and tax.

Narada · Feb 07, 2008, 11:29 PM // 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why_Me

Thats assuming your parents are willing to help you out. Cyberpowerpc is a good site for custom builts.

I got my first gaming laptop from them and it was absolutely great, but I'd like to point out that they have a pretty bad reputation for DOA hardware, crappy support, and delayed shipping time. They took a week longer than they said they would to get mine to me and my friend's almost took 4 weeks, plus there's plenty of nasty reviews if you do some Googling. In the two experiences I've seen from them there weren't really any real problems besides the annoyance of having to wait for the package, but I figured their reputation would be worth mentioning. They do price their products quite fairly if I recall though.