My emachines W4620 review

I read some other reviews here and these influenced me to buy the W4620. I use mine solely for entertainment purposes. My work is very strict on internet usage. I work by myself in an evening shift. In my line of work, its either feast or famine. So, some days I work nonstop for 8 hrs and sometimes I get a break for an hour or so. Rather than get in trouble for innappropriate computer usage, I decided to bring my own.

PROS:
Great Performance
Great Graphics
DVD Burner
Integrated Wireless
$600
Best customer service ever

CONS:
No drivers on restore disc
Wish it shared 128MB rather than just 64MB


The Specs:

AMD Turion64 1.8 GHZ
512 PC 2700 SO-DIMM
ATI 200M (x300) video chipset with 64MB shared
80GB 4200 HD
802.11 wireless
NIC and modem built in
DVDRW
Built in 4-1 Media card reader
15.4" screen
USB/Firewire
Open PCIMA Slot

I think thats the main specs. The first thing I did when I got it was wipe it clean with a full reformat and add 512 ram to have 1GB all together.

OOOOOOHHHHH NNNOOOOOOO
I didnt know all the drivers were on a 4GB partition on thew Hard drive. I find out the hard way by loading XP PRO and wondering where the sound is. Through in the restore CD and still no drivers found. So, before you reformat this notebook. Copy all the drivers from the 4GB Partition on the hard drive.
Customer service with emachines was the best I have ever gotten. They are sending me a new set of restore discs with all the drivers and everything for free cause its only a month old. In the meantime, I used drivers from a gateway model that had the exact same specs. I am still out 2 drivers, but one is the NIC card which I dont use (thats why I got internal wireless) ans some other driver called SM Bus Controller. I dont know what that is so its no big deal, Ill install it when I get the discs.
I'm also involved with a UT2004 VCTF clan, so gaming is a must. The ATI 200m (x300) is awesome with the latest Omega drivers.

UT2k4: Played on maximun graphics settings at 800x600. Smooth as silk vehicles and all.
Half Life 2: Played on max settings at 800x600 looked great. Small studder every once and a while. Not bad at all.
DOOM 3: Played at medium quality at 640x480. Ran fine. any higher and it really lagged though.

My DVDs play great and it burns nicely.

This notebook exceeded my expectations for the price. I would recommend it to anyone. Just remember add 512 ram/back up those drivers and wipe it out in order to get rid of those useless programs.

 

GOOD NEWS! It is upgradeable to 128 in the bios!
Try that out and let me know how it works for you!

Ryan

 

yeah, you can set it to 128mb in the bios.

the ethernet controller is a bog standard broadcom gigabit ethernet controller, you can get the drivers here

 

emachines updated their w4620 support page. there are now driver downloads available.

 

Thanks for the info guys. It now works perfect. I even added a TV tuner card and watch TV on it. The built in wirelless gets great signals. While waiting for the kids at school, I pick up signals from across the street.

 

Yep...after reading this I called corporate and drivers were on their site 2 weeks later (previously the laptop was not on their site..after calling, that evening!)