AMD Sempron 2400+ CPU
128 Meg PC2700 DDR
40 Gig 7200 RPM WD
Lite-On 52X CDRW
56K V.92 Modem
10/100 Ethernet
5.1 Channel AC97 Audio
Up to 64 Meg Shared DDR 3D Video
4 USB 2.0 Ports
Socket A Motherboard
PC533ATA133/AGP 4X
2DDR/2PCI
Beige Mid ATX Case
$295 w/o OS
$399 w/ Windows XP installed

I used to be more in the loop of things but I dunno much about anything as far as the new stuff (processor ratings / what's good and bad).

I already have a Emachines T2042. It works but I don't like the celeron (slllooooow) processor. I doesn't do to bad but I would hate to see what it would act like playing any big games or anything. I did upgrade the ram it had 128 ddr so I left the 128 in and got a 512 also. I had gotten two 512 sticks of memory but it just wasn't worth the cost of both of them for the very little difference between the 640 megs of ram I have now and the gig I did have.

So I guess what I'm after is a better processor (faster) that can handle a bigger game like City of Heroes if I want to play (closest to seamless play as possible). I also would need to get a better video card than the Emachines has but I dunno if I can or not. I'm not sure if its integrated into the system or not. I was thinking maybe the other computer listed at the top might be better than the T2042 I have or possibly beef up my T2042. Looking for something better than I have for about 300-400 range.

Personally I would say no that is not a good deal, either configuration. Very minimal RAM, especially since you may use half of it for your memory card (shared memory). Minimal harddrive for what alot of home users put on their machines. By the time you add memory, an extra harddrive, and a decent video card, you'll have another 300 plus into it and it's just not that strong a system to begin with. The AMD Sempron isn't much better, maybe worse than your current system. Stick with your current until you can get a P$ or AMD 64 based system if you are going into heavy gaming.

The builder probably isn't making much money on the computer. It's heavily underloaded (processor and RAM are both skimpy).

You'd be better off cashing in on a Dell, I would think.

I have been seeing that the emachines power supply's are cheap and go out all the time? I have had mine (T2042) about two years on all the time and nothing has happened yet with it. Guess I got lucky with it so far.

I did end up getting a PCI video card (pny nvidia) it helped a little bit on speed with the system. But its will always be just a celeron. It works and I cant say too much because of the price of the system. But if you want to do more that just use the internet, homework, watch dvds then its not really the way to go.

I think I might build my next computer. Just most times with that it always seems more hassle than going and buying a pre built one.

I was given one eMachine back in '99 from my work. The power supply was weak. It died in less than 4 months - I plugged in the power cable (to the back of the computer) and BBZZZZZTTTT it smoked and shorted out (no fire).

If you build your own, expect to spend between $500-1000 for a moderate-quality, somewhat up-to-date rig. For something current, to build from scratch, you're looking at $1000-1500. If you reuse some of the drives and parts from your eMachine (I wouldn't suggest reusing all of them), by all means - you can possibly save a couple hundred bucks.

Just my 2¢

Any more, the only way a local shop can get you a better deal on a budget computer than Dell is by cutting corners. They will use inferior quality parts install a pirated operating system.

By inferior parts I mean unstable junk that will give you problems, outdated components, or parts that are not up to the task. A good example is the unrealistic 128 mb of memory shared with the video. It probably uses 16 or 32 mb of that RAM for the video card leaving yoy very little for Windows. Just because Windows will run on something like that (will XP even run on less than 128 mb?) does not mean that it will run well. You'll be disappointed when your new computer feels like the Celeron you had in 1998.

Slonaker

EDIT: When I talk about inferior components, I do not include AMD processors. They are an excellent value, and have given me zero problems for 10+ years.

The important thing to understand is this: When you buy computer parts in bulk, you get cheaper prices.

Dell buys parts by the tens of thousands, and by buying in bulk, they get stuff so incredibly cheap that they can pass the savings onto you (they can buy a CPU for $50 when you get it for $90 because they buy a crapload more than you would). If you built a system similar to what Dell has, you'd spend $200 more than what they're charging on the bare minimum because you can't get the prices they do.

I've been having good luck with my sempron 2400 asus a7n8x-e deluxe

I've got it 200x10 =2000mhz with 2-2-2-5 ram timings and a 6600gt video card, seems pretty compareable to the xp2600moble i had also on the a7n8x-e motherboard with 2-2-2-2-5 ocz ram running 200x15

I sold off my amd mobile system to fund an upcoming alienware laptop !!!