I need help building/upgrading my PC (eMachines T2824)

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Dio1080

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I need help upgrading/building this computer, the emachines T2824. Just to let you guys know, I don't care for gaming on my PC, that is what video game systems are made for and don't care for watching HD movies or HD T.V., I have flat screen for that. I like to rip and store music and videos on my PC. Besides that, I got this computer in 2004. I was thinking of buying a new one, but don't know if it is cheaper to buy a new PC or build or upgrade it. I mean, if it is out of date, I'll buy new parts if I have to, I just want to be prepared for college this fall. Somebody please help me. Note to also include Windows Vista in mind. I'm thinking about get it to replace XP. Price range $1000 or less. Please be cheap as possible.

P.S. My major is computer science to become a computer programmer, I need to have a good computer.

Here are the specs of the eMachines T2824

Processor

* Processor manufacturer
* Intel

* Processor type
* Celeron D

* Clock speed
* 2.53 GHz

* Installed processor qty
* 1

* Max supported processor qty
* 1

RAM

* RAM installed
* 256 MB

* Memory specification compliance
* DDR266/PC2100

* Memory speed
* 266 MHz

* RAM form factor
* DIMM 184-pin

* RAM technology
* DDR SDRAM

System

* System type
* Personal computer

Video Output

* Video Output / Graphics Processor / Vendor
* Intel 845GV

* Video output form factor
* Integrated

* Video output type
* Graphics adapter

Display (Projector)

* Display type
* None.

* Display (projector) diagonal size
* 17 in

* Max resolution
* 1280 x 1024

* Viewable screen size
* 16 in

Service & Support

* Service & Support type
* 1 year warranty

Optical Storage

* CD / DVD type
* CD-RW / DVD-ROM

* CD / DVD read speed
* 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD)

* CD / DVD rewrite speed
* 24x

* CD / DVD write speed
* 48x

* Optical storage interface type
* IDE

Storage Hard Drive

* Hard drive interface
* ATA-100

* Hard drive installed qty
* 1

* Hard drive size
* 40 GB

* Hard drive type
* Standard

* Spindle speed
* 5400 rpm

Audio Input

* Audio input type
* None

Interface Provided

* Interface
* 5 Hi-Speed USB RS-232, 1 Serial IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP), 1 Parallel Generic, 1 Mouse Generic, 1 Keyboard Line-out, 1 Audio Line-in, 1 Audio VGA, 1 Display / video Phone line, 1 Modem Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX, 1 Network

* Connector Type
* 4 pin USB Type A, 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), RJ-11, RJ-45

Storage Hard Drive (2nd)

* 2nd hard drive type
* None

Optical Storage (2nd)

* 2nd optical storage type
* None

Storage Controller (2nd)

* 2nd storage controller type
* None

Modem

* Modem
* 56 Kbps Fax / modem

Audio Output

* Audio output form factor
* Integrated

* Audio output type
* Sound card

* Sound card name
* Integrated AC97

* Speaker (s) Type
* Right / left channel

* Speakers qty
* 2

Cabinet (Chassis)

* Cabinet form factor
* Tower

Cables (Details)

* Cables
* 1

Cache Memory

* Cache
* 256 KB L2 cache

* Cache per processor size
* 256 KB

Card Reader

* Card reader
* 8 in 1 card reader

* Supported flash memory cards
* Microdrive, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, SmartMedia Card, Memory Stick Pro, CompactFlash Card

Mainboard

* Chipset type
* Intel 845GV

* Data bus speed
* 533 MHz

Networking

* Data link protocol
* Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

* Networking
* Network adapter Integrated

Dimensions & Weight

* Depth
* 16 in

* Height
* 14.1 in

* Width
* 7.2 in

Video Input

* Video input type
* None

Bay Provided

* Expansion bays
* 2 (1 free) Front accessible 5.25" x 1/2H, 1 (0 free) Front accessible 3.5" x 1/3H, Internal 3.5" x 1/3H

Storage Floppy Drive

* Floppy drive type
* None

Service & Support Details

* Full contract period
* 1 year

* Service & Support details
* Limited warranty, Technical support

* Service included
* Parts and labor, Phone consulting

Input Device

* Input device
* Mouse, Keyboard

Power Device

* Power device type
* Power supply

* Power provided
* 250 Watt

Printer

* Printer type
* None

Video Memory

* Video memory
* 64 MB

* Video memory technology
* Shared video memory (UMA)

OS Provided

* OS provided
* Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Storage Removable

* Removable storage native capacity
* None

* Removable storage type
* None

Slot Provided

* Slot provided
* 1 (0 free) Processor Socket 478, 1 (1 free) Memory DIMM 184-pin, 1 (1 free) PCI, 1 (1 free) SD Memory Card, 1 (1 free) SmartMedia Card, CompactFlash Card, Memory Stick Pro

Storage Controller

* Storage controller form factor
* Integrated

* Storage controller installed qty
* 1

* Storage controller interface type
* ATA-100

* Storage controller type
* IDE

Software

* Software type
* BigFix, Compuserve, RealPlayer, Cyberlink PowerDVD, Microsoft Works 7.0, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Money 2004, Microsoft MediaPlayer, Microsoft Encarta Online, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Norton Antivirus 2004 (3 months subscription)

Publish these specs on your Web site

Somebody please help me, I have basic knowlegde, but not enought to solve this. Also if you can, give me a price list and a site where I can buy some of this parts for cheap.
 
You could build a pretty nice computer for $1000, if you know how to build. Upgrading that Emachines will leave you with only the Emachines case, mouse, KB, monitor, because everything else is outdated.
 
To use the case you would have to get a microATX board. The case does at least use an ATX power supply, though.
 
If you just want a no-nonesense upgrade, I would recommend getting more memory, larger hard drive, a video card, and possibly a new larger power supply.

Memory: PQI Power Series 1GB DDR SDRAM - $78.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141198

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 320GB IDE - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148139

Video Card: Diamond X1300 256MB PCI - $110 - $25 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814103016

PSU: Coolmax 450W - $34.99 - $15 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159044


With that $300 upgrade, you should be opened to alot more for that PC. Of course with a whole new system, you could do more, but that's not in your price range.
 
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