(eMachines ET1331G-03W) would this be a good start for a gaming pc

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astesprit

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Jan 5, 2010
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eMachines ET1331G-03W comes with AMD Athlon II X2 Dual-Core Processor 2.7ghz 6gb ram 750gb hard drive
. would this be a good start or should i start from scratch
 
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wa1
Yes, it's okay if u want that machine, but absolutely u must upgrade your PSU and graphic card later if u want some decent gaming... :)
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I have been reading about Emachines in the past having burnt motherboards within 2 years that had a BESTEC power supply. The 1331g has A DELTA Electronics DPS 300AB-39c (the unit I bought has it).

Are these a better quality power supply? I mean for just using this unit for regular non gaming stuff.

I searched for some opinions on this on google. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything about the Delta PSU's being an improvement.

I purchased my unit from tiger direct as a refurb for a good price (349) and they have REVONATE as the tech support for the refurb units sold. They told me that they should last 2-6 years at least unless you have a power surge. I have an APC surge protector with battery back up so that won't be an issue.... I hope.

Certainly from what I have heard, It can't hurt to upgrade the power supply, but for now I am not upgrading the video card just yet so....

Thanks for any input.
 
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Mine was '80 certified' so yes they are definitely better. (little oval gold sticker with an 80 on it)
It's the same one found in the Gateway, Acer, HP, compaq in most instances.
Hell the HP we have downstairs from 2006 has a Bestec 350 watt in it and it's running an x800xl.
Not a hiccup yet.
If the machine works OK and you have no need to replace it then don't.
Just periodically clean the dust bunnies out from in and around the mobo and fans and you should be fine.
 
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Yes, mine has the 80 plus sticker too. I found the website of those guys who do this testing for the 80 plus progam. They had some data on this actual unit. Apparently if the unit 80% or higher efficiency then it gets a good rating...I guess. So that makes me feel a bit better...
 
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While we are on the hardware subject on the Emachines ET1331g, My computer came with a Seagate 7200.12 750gb drive. I wanted to purchase a second drive and went to Tiger Direct to buy it (they have always had great service for me) and purchased the drive there. I was amazed at all the negative reviews on this drive...Has anybody else had problems with Seagate drives? particularly this model?
 
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I've read there were problems with an earlier version (7200.11) that had bad plates/platters but that the newer 7200.12 corrected the problems. I've read some think it's slow for a 32 meg cache unit - which honestly I found to be an eye popper when I first found out about the cache size, because my first thought was 'this POS drive will be the first thing to go" and had my eye on a WD Barracuda 1TB 32mb cache 'Black Edition'. That was no longer needed!
The Seagate 750/7200.12/32 has been a perfect running drive for me so far.
Some folks say it's not as fast as the Barracuda and lags behind slightly in tests
but I have not yet had any slow downs on any games...
especially with the SATA and 6 megs of ram
It is by far the quietest hard drive I've ever owned and fast at that.
(And if it ain't broke it ain't gettin' replaced)
It's liveable.
 
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I have discovered a hang up with this model. I'm trying to install a second DVD (Blu-Ray) drive. The first drive must be removed to allow the second drive to be inserted into the slot below it. Unfortunately, after removing the case and the screws from the DVD drive, it CANNOT be removed from the tower. It is stuck to the point that I think it was welded in at assembly.

And if you can believe this, when I called Wal-Mart's E-Machine "tech support" (read: Indian index card reader) number on the case, I was told that opening the case voided the warranty and for them to assist me that I would need to pay $199. I was told to take the "damaged" computer to a local technician. Freakin' ridiculous.

If there is something obvious I am missing on what should be simple and straightforward, someone please let me know. Has anyone else tried to add a another dvd burner and succeeded?

Is the front of the PC tower removable? It looks like a design flaw.

Or I'm just an idiot...
 
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I have not tried to replace the dvd yet but noticed that when I tried to add a second hard drive, it seems that I would of course have to add a second SATA cable but also that I would have to be creative to fit the cord into that casing that the hard drive sits in.

If I were to replace the dvd I think I would have to remove the other panel on the opposite side to then remove the front bezel....But I don't know...I bought mine as a refurbished unit from tiger direct, so they are supported by Seneca data and the told me they would walk me through taking the case apart or upgrading over the phone.....more than Emachines offers ....but it might only be for 90 days....

but,,,,How do you get the DVD out?
 
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I replied to the wrong thread at first...my apologies,....
My thought is that you have to unscrew the other side panel to gain full access to the front bezel to unhook it...I wondered that myself...I haven't tried to do it yet since I didn't need to replace the DVD....I would like to get a faster one....have no use for LABEL FLASH....cant even find the disks that work for that technology....

My Emachines is refurbished and sold through Tiger direct and is supported by Seneca data. At first I Called emachines just to purchase a restore disk (I just wanted to have a permanent one) and they would not even talk to me....same indian cue card reader perhaps....very abrupt....but seneca will help with all technology questions RE this unit...
Emachines support IS ridiculous....

I would try taking the side panel off...
 
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The front bezel is really easy to take off.
Take off the side panel (the normal one...don't try to take off the other side)
Look inside the front near the hard drive. There are 3 plastic tabs that have to be pushed in, then you carefully pull that side away.For the other side...look under the hard drive cage at that side and you'll see another tab hiding where the audio/USB cables connect to the front. Push that tab to pop the lower half out...then very carefully wiggle the front bezel off.
There is a plate covering the 2nd drive bay that you will need to remove.
The idea of switching the HDD SATA with the cable for the drive is what I had to do. It all works.
 
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I just have to say wow on all this great info about et1331g-03w it's hard getting much indepth details on this system. But I was also thinking of upgrading my processor and when i checked my motherboard for the model it was MCP61PM-GM Rev: 2.4 now I'm guessing the 2.4 is like the updated mother board from like 2.1 and the 2.2 versions (correct me if I'm wrong) well i cna't seem to find out how much watts the 2.4version can hold I read in the fourms that the 605e was compatible so that a plus but what about the 610e also I read in a forum that the et1331g-03w can hold a quad phenom? I know that the am2 socket mobo went up to 89w but wish i can tell how much watts this mobo can handle (if not the same) can anyone help
 
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I found this site very helpful too. I am sure someone has info on that board...I have the et1331g with 235e dual core processor....september 2009...got it through tiger direct refurbished...great unit but hard to get info from emachines or gateway site...had to search the internet,.,.
 
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The mobo can handle up to 95 watts.
The bios was fresh as of October 2009
I've still considered changing the processor,
but my machine runs so well I'd hate to jeopardize that.
It does all I need it to.
 
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So with what you said I can upgrade to a AMD Phenom II X4 925 and be ok?
 
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