ADN

Since I have an E-Machine (Gateway), the hardware components are all one right? Meaning, can I upgrade my video card, sound card, etc. or do I have to replace the entire motherboard and all that crap in order to get funky with the computer?

Never fucked with an EMachine, but generally speaking, proprietary machines have hardwired components.

Not a bad thing.......unless you want to tweak it!

In all my technical prowness, I don't think that aside from simply knowing or cracking the case open, that you can tell if a machine has intergrated parts or not...I mean, in the case of a laptop you know, but a desktop...Hmm...

I think that a surefire way to tell if you have intergrated video is to simply look on the back of the case...If your video card is on the motherboard, I don't think that it will align on the PCI slot....It will plug up in the back w/the rest of the ports, same goes with the audio...

Download and install this little app...

http://www.ayhja.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=348&t=13609

It's a full diagnostic program that you can get free of charge...I like it alot...It should give you some really good information about your machine, as well as a printout you can share with others to help you with issues you may have...

I'm getting the feeling that an E-Machine is a typical Gateway... you want an upgrade, buy a new computer.

Well, I'm guessing that's how it's gonna go, seeing as Dell machines are similar in that instance (eg propietry(sp) Power connectors etc)
Audio and other PCI additions should be easy enough to add though..
And probably your HDD..

Based on statements you have made in the RAM thread and elsewhere it sounds to me as though you have some coin burning a hole in your pocket and no shortage of free time. Those are two key ingredients in researching, and comparing the parts as you assemble your own system from scratch from the ground up. The added bonus is that the knowledge you gain during this process is not easily attained by asking questions in help rooms or reading manuals. There is no substitute for rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty.

The 1st step is to define what you want your system to be good at. A home media center PC and a Xtreme Gamer system will be quite different. Although they may share some components they will be much different overall.

The 1st component you should make your decision on is the processor/Motherboard combo. This is probably the most difficult of all the decisions because there are so many variables for both parts of this combo ie: Intel/AMD, 32bit/64bit, DualCore/SingleCore, PCIx/AGP, SLI/no SLI, etc etc etc. Everyone will be willing to chime in with their opinions, but since it is your money and the system you will have to live with, the decision is ultimately yours.

Three website you could probably spend 2 days each at reasearching and still barely have scratched the surface of all the info contained therein are:
Tom's Hardware
Hard OCP
AnandTech

Even if you do not have both of the key ingredients mentioned above, you do have a hunger for knowledge that would be well served by doing some reading and investigation at the above mentioned sites. One day in the not too distant future, I can guarantee you will be thinking seriously about getting a new computer. Having the knowledge you gained at the above sites you will not be satisfied with the commercially available, cookie-cutter, disposable systems you have been getting up to this point and will want to build your own.

good luck and godspeed
cheerio
emanon

Thanks, I will look into the sites and see if I can figure it out.

What I am wanting is a nice media center for the home. I want something to watch and burn movies on, but still play games on. Kind of an all around good computer. Having something leaning in any one singular direction will become worthless too quickly IMO. The reason I asked in the forums was because I don't know what pieces with fit with other pieces. I don't know what the extra slots in the tower are for and I don't want to go buying parts that will not fit into the big red motherboard. Do I have spare money to upgrade... sure do. Do I have the desire to... sure do. But, what I don't have the desire to do is trial and error it to death. Thats why I posted the picture of the inside of my tower. So someone could break it down and explain to me what the 3 open white things are right above my modem. In simple terms.. what can I put there and what would be the best to get (I know opinions vary, but in general)?

Ok, here is a picture of the inside of my tower: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4157/1000713ne1.jpg

What I want to know, in baby terms if you can because I am new to this, is what the 3 white slots above the modem are for. AYHJA said an AGP card, so that means I can install a graphics card? I just slip it in and go? If so, any thoughts on a good one? If not, what does that mean?

The picture you have taken has the serial number MS 7207 on the motherboard. I gather it is the MSI motherboard here: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/ ... hp?UID=702

To answer you question then:
The first white slot above your modem card is another standard PCI slot (you can plug a Creative Labs soundcard into this for example).
The second white slot (the longer one) is a PCI Express x 16 slot (you can plug a fancy uber powerfull graphics card into this one for example).
The third white slot (the tiny thin one) is a PCI Express x 1 slot (ummm... kinda useless as far as I know, can't think of something functional that you could plug into it).

Looks to me like you have the basis for what could be a potentially powerfull games system. All it needs is 1GB+ of ram and a good graphics card. Somewhere in the BIOS you should be able to change a setting that lets you use a PCI Express graphics card rather than the inbuilt thingo you are using now.

AWESOME.

Does anyone have a graphics card they prefer over the rest that I can plug and chug in there? I will tackle the BIOS thing when I get to it.