Although eMachines has introduced some higher-end desktop computers into their repertoire, the company knows on which side its bread is buttered. That's why they still offer some of the best bargains in the computing world, and their new T3616 is no exception.

At these machines' exceedingly low price, you won't see a lot of cutting-edge components inside. That said, these desktop computers make for solid systems to send with the kids off to college or a great second machine for the home. a budget AMD Sempron 3600+ processor provides the central power, and while 2.0GHz Sempron doesn't stand tall in this age of dual core 64-bit CPUs, it's a decent enough processor for a budget system.

In addition, eMachines pairs that CPU with 512MB of 667MHz DDR2 memory. The RAM is fast, but the amount is a bit on the low side, even for the Windows Vista Basic operating system. There is a second RAM slot available, so you can add more memory later, but it might be a good idea to go ahead and pick it up when you purchase the system. It's an inexpensive way to really boost the overall performance.

Storage space is adequate for basic uses, with a 120GB 7,200rpm drive. This drive gives you enough space to house a lot of multimedia files and install applications. You can even create two or more partitions on the drive and have adequate amount of room in each.

The optical drive is even better. It's a SuperMulti DVD writer that supports burns to traditional DVDs and CDs as well as high-capacity Dual Layer media that lets you store up to 8.5GB of data or four hours of high-quality video on a single disk. This drive also support writes to DVD-RAM media that can be rewritten to up to 100,000 times, making it perfect for repetitive backups.

Graphics are integrated on the T3616 desktop computers, although it is NVIDIA's GeForce 6150SE, so performance will be better than with standard integrated graphics. That said, these graphics still share video memory with the main system RAM, so 3D gaming performance will be a bit stunted. Luckily, eMachines includes a motherboard with a PCI-Express slot so you can add a high-end video card later if you plan on gaming with your T3616.

On the other end of the multimedia spectrum, the motherboard also features six-channel high-definition audio, and eMachines includes a basic pair of USB-powered speakers with the system. They won't deliver surround sound, but they're not bad for listening to music or the basic Windows sound effects.

The black and silver mid-sized tower would look good on any desktop, and it offers two USB ports up front (with four more around back) for connecting high-speed peripherals easily. There's also a headphone and microphone jack on front for hooking up a headset for online chatting. Both a modem and a network interface are included so you can connect to the Internet via dialup or broadband. These systems don't offer a lot of extras such as a media card reader or Firewire ports, however.

Input devices are pretty basic: the standard two-button PS/2 mouse and only a few multimedia keys on the multifunction keyboard. There's a one-year warranty on parts and labor in case anything goes wrong with your system.

The software bundle includes Microsoft Works 8.5, so you at least get some basic office applications. The T3616 features BigFix, a troubleshooting program that can help you solve simple issues. Most of the other bundle apps are trial versions, however, so if you want to keep them for longer than 60 or 90 days, you'll have to buy the full versions.

The T3616 aren't cutting-edge workhorses, but it is a bargain-priced desktop computers that cover the basics fairly well. If you're looking for a second system for home or away, you don't have to look much further than the eMachines T3616 line.


Pro: Great price, good DVD writer
Con: Basic components and processor

Warranty
1-year limited