eMachines desktops - good, bad, stay away??? help

csrMark · 10-25-2005, 11:43 AM

I'm looking for a new computer. I stumbled on a eMachines system at www.tigerdirect.ca . It looks like it might be a pretty good deal???

Are eMachines any good?

I am not a gamer but I want to get into some video stuff.

Here are some specs. It's $438 canadian for this system

Specifications

Operating Systems Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition SP1

Platform Learn More PC

Form Factor Tower

PCI Slots (Total) Learn More 3

AGP Slots (Total) Learn More 1

Expansion Slots 4

Processor Brand AMD

Processor Class Sempron

Processor Number 3000

Processor Speed DT 3000+ / 2.00GHz

Memory Type DDR

Total Memory 512MB

Interface IDE
Ultra ATA

Capacity 120GB

Optical Drive Type DVD±RW Dual Layer

Audio Description Integrated Audio

Graphics Description Integrated Graphics

Communications Description Integrated LAN Support

Data Transfer Rate 10Mbps
100Mbps

Power 250 Watt

Mouse Type Ball-Bearing

Buttons 3

Keyboard Type Multimedia

Keys 110

Front Speakers 2

**linderman** · 10-25-2005, 04:01 PM

Welcome to TSF:

Our oofice had four new emachines about 3 years ago / they were absolute JUNK (learned alot about fixing pc's though :) powersupply's,case switchs, cpu fans, video cards the whole gammit and their support is worthless !!!!) / the oldest one may have made one year of service / you would be far better off looking into one of the entry level Dell's around 400.00 US

goodluck

joe

**Barry_R** · 10-25-2005, 04:25 PM

I agree with Linderman if your going for the low end of the PC market I would get a Dell instead of a Emachine.

**oldmn** · 10-25-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry_R

I agree with Linderman if your going for the low end of the PC market I would get a Dell instead of a Emachine.

These machine normaly have the bare ninimum to run any thing.

**keymaker** · 10-26-2005, 01:05 AM

avoid emachine computers like the plague. if you want a good pre-built computer then check out monarch computers.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv

**Barry_R** · 10-26-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmn

These machine normaly have the bare ninimum to run any thing.

True but he is looking for a low end machine and a Dell is better than a EMachine.

Csrmark, You might want to save up for something with a bit more power though. A few hundred dollars gets you a much better PC.

**Resolution** · 10-26-2005, 12:35 PM

I think HP Pavilions use the same motherboards that are used in eMachines.

**oldmn** · 10-26-2005, 12:56 PM

I think you are right

I was looking for some parts for an emachine and they were listed as emac/ hp/ compaq. Most of these machines have bare minimum and every thing is build on the MOB.

ebackhus · 10-26-2005, 04:48 PM

Emachines... *has frightful memories of being a tech at B**t B*y and fixing those things all day* Those are PURE evil. A toaster can outperform one! We even had a sale going where if you bought ANY computer you could get an Emachine for $100. Ha ha ha!

As for prebuilts, I can only recommend Acer and IBM. Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony and all those others guys churn out crap. Sure, Dell may have great support but you rate a PC by how little support it actually NEEDS, not by how good the support is. Read the forums and you'll see plenty of Dell inquiries, and not just because they've saturated the market due to low prices, but because they are also low quality.

**oldmn** · 10-26-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmn

I think you are right

I was looking for some parts for an emachine and they were listed as emac/ hp/ compaq. Most of these machines have bare minimum and every thing is build on the MOB.

I forgot to mention GATEWAY it was there to.

**linderman** · 10-26-2005, 05:14 PM

Well I can truely say we have tried a pile of them and as for budget machines the Dell is cetainly tops in my book / we currently have seven of them and one damn good sized sever in our office / there have been no problems with them that have rendered them out of service for more than a few hours (video card, one bad drive ~ ~ blah blah) We have tried most of them / the worst was compaq >>> wow what a constant hosing that proprietary junk was !!! $$$$$$ wasted like rain

of course my dad, brother nor I work on Dell's (hehehe) we are custom PC lovers ~~~ but thats as far as we agree too !! LOL Dad & I are intel / my bother Steve = AMD

so no matter what / everybody has an opinion of whats good !!!

but one thing we could all agree on >>>> emachines are trash

regards'

joe

**oldmn** · 10-26-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linderman

Well I can truely say we have tried a pile of them and as for budget machines the Dell is cetainly tops in my book / we currently have seven of them and one damn good sized sever in our office / there have been no problems with them that have rendered them out of service for more than a few hours (video card, one bad drive ~ ~ blah blah) We have tried most of them / the worst was compaq >>> wow what a constant hosing that proprietary junk was !!! $$$$$$ wasted like rain

of course my dad, brother nor I work on Dell's (hehehe) we are custom PC lovers ~~~ but thats as far as we agree too !! LOL Dad & I are intel / my bother Steve = AMD
so no matter what / everybody has an opinion of whats good !!!

but one thing we could all agree on >>>> emachines are trash

regards'

joe

Well I guess 2 out of threes not bad.

of all the macines I have built #'s

only 1 AMD.
As far as Dells go you want to get past the basic machine (upgrade able).

Caoctane · 10-26-2005, 05:45 PM

I have had nothing bug GOOD experiences with my eMACHINES pc, its an emachines 2230 and cost me 260 pounds, not sure how much that is in dollars. my emachines is the only computer that never let me down, it even exeeded the lifespan of an 800 pound compaq computer, I havent used any other emachines model but my 2230 has never let me down, i have enountered problems, ive had to reboot due to viruses about 2 times due to carelessness, but it formatted and re-installed windows with all its driver etc in no time, no problems at all. I wud say go for it, but get a 2230.

ebackhus · 10-26-2005, 05:54 PM

Maybe the UK versions are better, kinda like US cars sold in other countries. All my experiences with EMachines are negative.

Caoctane · 10-26-2005, 05:59 PM

hmm maybe but I dont use my emachines anymore, i am currently on a self built computer with a motherboard which wont let me isntalled freaking sound drivers

sveltewings · 10-27-2005, 09:50 AM

run like hell they are cheap yes but they are not upgradable and they eat windows systems like they are going out of style worked as tech for MSN and nine times out of ten we had customers that had emachines. they are not upgrade able and they make excellent door stoppers and book ends.