**Official eMachines M68xx Thread**

[gweilo8888]

Originally posted by: LasombraB
I've read on notebookforums.com that one of the new laptops is a Gateway 7405GX, it replaces the eMachine M68xx.

I can confirm this - bought one today as a replacement for my M6807 (which has a broken hinge, will need to be sent back for repair). My wife gets the '07 when it has been repaired.

The 7405GX is noticeably faster, with the exact same hard drive that was in the '07. The eMachines looks cooler (flat silver lid for the GX is a bit boring). They've also slightly changed the power button, and the icons on the bar below the touchpad are different. There's two new rubber pads at the ends of the palmrest for the LCD, and the whole LCD mechanism feels much better - doesn't rock as much as the one on the 07 did. When I move it somewhere, it stays there.

The BIOS is obviously different to the eMachines, and the DVD drive is aligned better (doesn't stick out when closed, which the '07 did slightly). Biggest difference is the screen, which is quite reflective, but has a noticeably better contrast ratio than the 07's did.

Oh, and the network card seems to be different, as WinXP detected it as a new device after the HDD change - although I wonder if that's just cause the MAC address is different, or if they've changed vendor for the network cards?

Oh, and one last thing. Rejoice, rejoice! The Fn-F2 key combination now magically works for me! I guess there was some kind of BIOS / hardware malfunction causing that problem on my '07...

 

[thetxstang]

Originally posted by: PhantomGhost
I just noticed this, in System Properties, for system information it has the model as M6809. Does anyone else have this? thetxstang?

Mine still reports it's an M6805 in System Properties. I'm assuming you also have an M6805? If so, how strange yours reports it's a M6809 now. What does your CPU speed show?

 

[PhantomGhost]

Yes, I have an M6805, and it reported that until I sent it in, it still shows everything else correctly, CPU is Athlon 64 3000+ at 1.804GHz...but for some odd reason the model is reported at M6809. What did eMachines do?? First Picture It! now this? hmmmm...

 

[imported_haris]

gweilo8888 Where did you find the gateway model? I don't even see it on Gateway's website.

 

[gweilo8888]

My local Best Buy had it in stock and on the sales floor.

 

[TDiddy]

pdf
http://www.cyberscholar.com/ga...y/doc/sales_7405GX.pdf

 

[ThunderPC]

Originally posted by: gweilo8888

Originally posted by: LasombraB
I've read on notebookforums.com that one of the new laptops is a Gateway 7405GX, it replaces the eMachine M68xx.

I can confirm this - bought one today as a replacement for my M6807 (which has a broken hinge, will need to be sent back for repair). My wife gets the '07 when it has been repaired.

The 7405GX is noticeably faster, with the exact same hard drive that was in the '07. The eMachines looks cooler (flat silver lid for the GX is a bit boring). They've also slightly changed the power button, and the icons on the bar below the touchpad are different. There's two new rubber pads at the ends of the palmrest for the LCD, and the whole LCD mechanism feels much better - doesn't rock as much as the one on the 07 did. When I move it somewhere, it stays there.

The BIOS is obviously different to the eMachines, and the DVD drive is aligned better (doesn't stick out when closed, which the '07 did slightly). Biggest difference is the screen, which is quite reflective, but has a noticeably better contrast ratio than the 07's did.

Oh, and the network card seems to be different, as WinXP detected it as a new device after the HDD change - although I wonder if that's just cause the MAC address is different, or if they've changed vendor for the network cards?

Oh, and one last thing. Rejoice, rejoice! The Fn-F2 key combination now magically works for me! I guess there was some kind of BIOS / hardware malfunction causing that problem on my '07...

The Gateway BIOS works in the eMachines m68xx series. The naming convention is different for the BIOS versions, but they are compatible.

 

[MDE]

I went to exchange my M6805 at Best Buy because of the cracked hinges. Two different BBs told me that they would have to send it in to eMachines to get fixed and it would take 2-4 weeks. I said screw it and set up an RMA with eMachines, should take 2 weeks tops and they'll send a prepaid FedEx box to me.

 

[PhantomGhost]

eMachines is fast when it comes to service...I did the same thing, set up an RMA, it took a total of 6 days, shipping and all, it left my house last Thursday, and I recieved it yesterday(Wedenesday). I have to say I am very satisfied with eMachines speed of service. Also, gweilo8888 how much was the gateway 7405GX?

 

[gweilo8888]

$1500 with TN sales tax at Best Buy.

 

[gtd2000]

Is anybody here leaving their m68xx on 24/7?

I've been doing this for approximately 4 weeks now and have had problems with the HD (pc locking up/HD clicking/Bluescreens etc) and Emachines are going to send me a replacement this week.

This problem only started this week and for some reason it seems to have temporarily disappeared?

The problem would normally occur after 5 mins when the screen would lock up then the HD would just keep "clicking" until I manually turned the system off.

The main reason I have been running the system 24/7 was due to downloading and old UK TV series on Edonkey2000 which as many of you may well know is extreeeeeemely slow.

It is my now understanding that notebooks are not designed to run 24/7 and I assume that is what has caused this problem?

I will be replacing the HD as a matter of course - what do any of you suggest for running the machine for extended periods of time while out of the house etc?

 

[CruisinGT]

Hmmm.... other than battery level indicators not working in Windows even after re-installing the OSes, has anyone noticed any differences performancewise, compatibilitywise or even BIOS featurewise on the new BIOS version (NSF04.P0) over the original BIOS version (0F02.P00). So far from what I gathered in this thread, it doesn't seem to be a very convincing upgrade... :disgust:

 

[ThunderPC]

Originally posted by: CruisinGT
Hmmm.... other than battery level indicators not working in Windows even after re-installing the OSes, has anyone noticed any differences performancewise, compatibilitywise or even BIOS featurewise on the new BIOS version (NSF04.P0) over the original BIOS version (0F02.P00). So far from what I gathered in this thread, it doesn't seem to be a very convincing upgrade... :disgust:

0f02.p00 doesn't work properly with SP2. Also some of the later ones are more Linux friendly.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: gtd2000
Is anybody here leaving their m68xx on 24/7?

I've been doing this for approximately 4 weeks now and have had problems with the HD (pc locking up/HD clicking/Bluescreens etc) and Emachines are going to send me a replacement this week.

This problem only started this week and for some reason it seems to have temporarily disappeared?

The problem would normally occur after 5 mins when the screen would lock up then the HD would just keep "clicking" until I manually turned the system off.

The main reason I have been running the system 24/7 was due to downloading and old UK TV series on Edonkey2000 which as many of you may well know is extreeeeeemely slow.

It is my now understanding that notebooks are not designed to run 24/7 and I assume that is what has caused this problem?

I will be replacing the HD as a matter of course - what do any of you suggest for running the machine for extended periods of time while out of the house etc?

I run Folding@Home on mine 24\7 and it's never given me a BSOD. It might be the eDonkey2000 software causing the problem, try running it without eDonkey and see if it still crashes.

 

[imported_Woody]

The 7405GX is noticeably faster, with the exact same hard drive that was in the '07.

How could it be noticably faster with the exact same hard drive? That's just your imagination I'm sure. You are talking about going from a 3000+ to a 3200+ of the exact same CPU on the exact same motherboard with the exact same RAM and the exact same graphics card.

It should be slightly faster going from the Athlon64 3000+ to the 3200+ but I highly doubt you would notice any difference except some slight jumps in benchmarking numbers.

 

[gweilo8888]

Originally posted by: Woody

The 7405GX is noticeably faster, with the exact same hard drive that was in the '07.

How could it be noticably faster with the exact same hard drive? That's just your imagination I'm sure. You are talking about going from a 3000+ to a 3200+ of the exact same CPU on the exact same motherboard with the exact same RAM and the exact same graphics card.

It should be slightly faster going from the Athlon64 3000+ to the 3200+ but I highly doubt you would notice any difference except some slight jumps in benchmarking numbers.

It seems noticeably faster on loading certain programs that have always taken a long time to load (Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, Paint Shop Pro 9, etc.)

There's no difference in hard disk or setup (since the hard disk was taken out of one laptop and placed in the other, fragmentation / programs / drivers installed are all identical). All I can say is I definitely feel a difference. Slight, but a difference nonetheless.

 

[thetxstang]

Originally posted by: gtd2000
...have had problems with the HD (pc locking up/HD clicking/Bluescreens etc) and Emachines are going to send me a replacement this week.

This problem only started this week and for some reason it seems to have temporarily disappeared?

The problem would normally occur after 5 mins when the screen would lock up then the HD would just keep "clicking" until I manually turned the system off.

gtd2000, I just wanted to let you know that I experienced the HD clicking/BSOD issues you described. Just like you said, it wasn't all the time, but when it started, it would wreak havoc on the system. On my M6805, the HD clicking would be accompanied by an overly warm laptop (does yours do that too?).

I had a replacement HD sent to me (didn't fix the problem) and ended up having two logic boards replaced as well. With the second logic board replacement I was sent a new AC adapter and have never had the problem since. I'm beginning to suspect the problem was with the original AC adapter all along, though I can not prove so. Just wanted to give you a heads-up in case the problem persists after you've replaced the HD.

 

[gtd2000]

Originally posted by: thetxstang

gtd2000, I just wanted to let you know that I experienced the HD clicking/BSOD issues you described. Just like you said, it wasn't all the time, but when it started, it would wreak havoc on the system. On my M6805, the HD clicking would be accompanied by an overly warm laptop (does yours do that too?).

I had a replacement HD sent to me (didn't fix the problem) and ended up having two logic boards replaced as well. With the second logic board replacement I was sent a new AC adapter and have never had the problem since. I'm beginning to suspect the problem was with the original AC adapter all along, though I can not prove so. Just wanted to give you a heads-up in case the problem persists after you've replaced the HD.

Thanks for the advice on your experience with the M6805

The weird thing was that it did it continuously for one day (boot into windows, run OK for 5 mins then tick, tick, tick and system lockup) - but then the next day it seems to be back to normal. Having experienced HD failure last year (same ticking sound) it's not a good feeling

What made them decide that it might be the AC adapter?

I'm basically hestitant to leave the machien running 24/7 now...even after I replace the HD.

The laptop is never really warm though - this might be a bit naughty but I actually tilt my notebook using a PC game box (raised an inch or so at the rear) so that it is at an angle and allows air to flow freely underneath the unit.

 

[Mermaidman]

Best Buy has the Gateway replacement advertised this week:
Gateway 7405GX, $1250 before $150 rebate

 

[ThunderPC]

Try $1250 AFTER $150 instant rebate

Edit ... well in my market anyway. No mail in rebate here

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: ThunderPC
Try $1250 AFTER $150 instant rebate

Edit ... well in my market anyway. No mail in rebate here

Go to BB's web site and add this to your shopping cart. The price shows as $1250. In addition, there is a separate $150 mail-in rebate. Unfortunately, now on back-order.

 

[thetxstang]

Originally posted by: gtd2000
What made them decide that it might be the AC adapter?

I'm not entirely sure, but I belive it may have been due to my explaining to eMachines' tech support that the AC adapter would get exceedingly hot whenever it was plugged in (which was true). Maybe the service guys got the notes and elected to replace it just in case. The replaced AC adapter still gets pretty toasty but nothing like the original did.

Please keep us updated on your system's status. Here's to hoping that your machine's problem really is just the HD and nothing more.

 

[gweilo8888]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman

Originally posted by: ThunderPC
Try $1250 AFTER $150 instant rebate

Edit ... well in my market anyway. No mail in rebate here

Go to BB's web site and add this to your shopping cart. The price shows as $1250. In addition, there is a separate $150 mail-in rebate. Unfortunately, now on back-order.

Has anybody who'd already bought the laptop had a word with Best Buy about this yet? As you can imagine, I'm pretty upset that less than five days after I bought it, they've suddenly discounted it by $200 plus over what I'd paid. You don't expect a brand new model to be discounted so quickly... I'm planning to have a chat with my local store manager about this, and see if they'll credit me the difference and/or re-run the receipt to allow me to use the mail-in rebate, perhaps in exchange for me buying the extended warranty.

If anybody else has had any luck with this, I'd love to know how you did it!

 

[imported_haris]

Here's a good question: Now that Gateway has "their" model available from their website. If I wanted to take advantage of Best Buy's replacement coverage in the future, are they (Gateway) going to be selling their laptops in Best Buy? It's great that Gateway is continuing the AMD laptop line, but it's gonna suck if I'm forced to exchange my laptop for an Intel based machine which may not give me the best value for the buck.

I decided to check Bestbuy.com before posting: website already answered my question. They have the new model posted now. Oh well, at least now I know I'll be able to upgrade shortly.

 

[srodick]

I looked at the link and, except for the logo, the 7405GX looks like the identical machine as the M68xx.

What do you want to bet that Gateway rebrands the entire eMachines lineup and the EMachines brand goes away?