Building a slow comptuer

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ViperMagic

Platinum Member
Jul 7, 2001
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I'm looking into putting together a slower (cheap) comptuer to sit next to me to play MP3s and IM and the like while I'm playing games on my main computer (yeah I'm addicted to AIM. Shut up) I can get a PII/233, motherboard and 16MB of RAM (I'll need more, right?) from my friend for $15, but deskspace is an issue, so where can I get:

a small moniter, like 13"
a abbreviated keyboard, like without the F-keys, editing keys, and number pad

and will a 233 skip on MP3s or anything? Would 95 be a decently speedy OS to run on it?

edit: title sucked
 
amdskip

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
I'd say 300mhz+ and 128mb of ram or else those mp3's won't have very smooth playback. Probably wanna go with windows 98 as some of those programs being released may not work on windows 95.
 
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PsychoAndy

Lifer
Dec 31, 2000
10,735
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Ummm, sounds pretty jacked to me. I mean, if you're gonna get a computer jsut to use for IM and stuff, you might as well just get a used 15 inch and a real keyboard. i mean, just like put the keyboard on it's side so it's vertical and takes up less room, or put it in a crevice or something and pull it out when you need to type. If you're going to get a mini keyboard, you might as well not bother at all.
 
Geekbabe

Geekbabe

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 16, 1999
32,234
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www.theshoppinqueen.com
Why get a second monitor ? just get a switch, I mean you aren't going to be chatting on aim while in the middle of a 1st person shooter right ?
 
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LakerGod

Platinum Member
May 19, 2001
2,477
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Newegg has added many new keyboard brands to the catalog, a lot of them being very inexpensive. As for your comptuer, I think you can pull it off with the P2/233, but you'll probably have to up the RAM a bit.
 
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Electrode

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
6,063
2
81
Sounds like what you need is LINUX!

This amazing OS can turn a 486 into an MP3 uber-jukebox. And I don't mean 486 MHz. ;)

As for those keyboards, I've never heard of them. Get an imac keyboard, they're pretty small and have a full compliment of keys.
 
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ViperMagic

Platinum Member
Jul 7, 2001
2,260
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<< Why get a second monitor ? just get a switch, I mean you aren't going to be chatting on aim while in the middle of a 1st person shooter right ? >>



Accualty, I dont play MP that much, and I always end up pausing it to wait 5 mins for it to minimize, talk for 10 mins, then wait 5 mins to get back to the game
(I'm not addicted. Really)



<< Sounds like what you need is LINUX!

This amazing OS can turn a 486 into an MP3 uber-jukebox. And I don't mean 486 MHz. ;)

As for those keyboards, I've never heard of them. Get an imac keyboard, they're pretty small and have a full compliment of keys. >>



Sounds like a good idea. What flavor of Linux do you reccommend ?
 
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Electrode

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
6,063
2
81
Well, you probably need something thin to get the most out of that P2. Buh-bye mandrake.

I really want to recommend Slackware, but you need to know at least a little about Linux to get the most out of it. If you know your way around Linux, you should probably go with Slack.

If you're a linux newbie, I'd suggest... uh... erm... hmm...

Well, If you really trim away everything you don't need and only run the daemons you absolutely need, Mandrake might be OK.


Basically, all you'll need is X, blackbox, minimal gnome libs, XMMS, and gaim. That probably won't even fill your 16 megs of physical RAM, but if you run out, adding swap space is a breeze.
 
M

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
1
81


<< I'd say 300mhz+ and 128mb of ram or else those mp3's won't have very smooth playback. Probably wanna go with windows 98 as some of those programs being released may not work on windows 95. >>




300+ Mhz for an mp3+IM computer?? You must be crazy!

a mere 133 will be more than enough for those two functions, even with a mere 16mb of ram.
 
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ViperMagic

Platinum Member
Jul 7, 2001
2,260
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<< Well, you probably need something thin to get the most out of that P2. Buh-bye mandrake.

I really want to recommend Slackware, but you need to know at least a little about Linux to get the most out of it. If you know your way around Linux, you should probably go with Slack.

If you're a linux newbie, I'd suggest... uh... erm... hmm...

Well, If you really trim away everything you don't need and only run the daemons you absolutely need, Mandrake might be OK.


Basically, all you'll need is X, blackbox, minimal gnome libs, XMMS, and gaim. That probably won't even fill your 16 megs of physical RAM, but if you run out, adding swap space is a breeze. >>



Yeah? I've heard women making more sense than that. That Slackware, you think I'd (0 Linux/Unix expernece) be able to start gaim and whicheevr one of those was the MP3 player? Cuz if I can do that, I can probably learn more as I mess things up, thats how I learned Windows, after all!
 
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Electrode

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
6,063
2
81
Of course you would.

BTW, XMMS is "the one that's the MP3 player". It looks and feels exactly like winamp.
 
M

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
1
81
Lol.


I don't think you should be recommending Slackware to a linux newb, Electrode :)



Viper, I think Mandrake will be the best for you. its really easy to get started too.


When you install it, go to expert mode (do expert, even on your first time) and select only the stuff you'll need. IE, no servers, no documentation or development, only multimedia, internet, Gnome and/or KDE and maybe games (they are presented as categories, so its easy to select). Once you get into linux, you'll just have to explore a bit and you'll get used it. It'll take some getting used to the filesystem, but the window manager should take little or no adjustment.



have fun :)
 
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ErmanC

Senior member
Oct 25, 2001
439
0
0
I'd get a switch. If the new setup is close to your old one just get a switch for your monitor/keyboard so you only have to have one. I don't have a link for one right off, but they're pretty common. Some folks I work with have 'em and they work great.

my 2 cents

On a similar note....
I've been thinking of doing something similar to my old box. I was thinking I would get a basic video card with TV out, a sound card with audio output jacks and then run it all through my home theater system. That way I can play MP3's and surf the internet through my stereo/television. Has anyone ever tried this?
 
J

jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,918
9
81
a mac keyboard will work as long as it has a usb connector.

also how fast of a 486 do you need to get smooth playback? the slowest computer i have at home is a pentium underclocked to 133 and it plays mp3s just fine
 
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Electrode

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
6,063
2
81
Yes, the iMac keyboard should work just fine. It's a regular USB keyboard, with quincunx keys ("command keys") in place of the CTRL keys, and apple keys instead of windows keys. Old imac keyboards have an out-of-spec power button that, if pushed, will bluescreen Windows. Not sure of the effect it has on *NIX, if any. Newer ones have an in-spec power button that does nothing on a PC.

Of course, most of this is just stuff I have heard over time. I know that mac USB keyboards work on PCs, but the rest is fuzzy. Anyone here who us using such a setup, please post your experiences. :)
 
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dakata24

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2000
6,366
0
76
you can get a linkskey 2-port kvm with cables for $48 ($10 shipping + tax if applicable) from newegg.. or a 4 port IOGear compact kvm (layout is similar to the linkskey 2/4 port products) for $104 ($8 shipping + tax if applicable) which also includes the cable.. not sure about this model, but while reading up on kvm's, many people recommended getting an iogear kvm.

edit: what version of win95 do you have? wasnt usb support implemented in win95 osr2?
 
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Orsorum

Lifer
Dec 26, 2001
27,631
5
81


<< Ummm, sounds pretty jacked to me. I mean, if you're gonna get a computer jsut to use for IM and stuff, you might as well just get a used 15 inch and a real keyboard. i mean, just like put the keyboard on it's side so it's vertical and takes up less room, or put it in a crevice or something and pull it out when you need to type. If you're going to get a mini keyboard, you might as well not bother at all. >>



I'd say just get a cheap KVM switch for $30 or so, max. Then get a small tower and you're set.
 
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
One other note on using the iMac keyboard: You'll want to use Win98 rather than Win95 (if you go Windows) due to lack of proper USB support in Win95. Linux USB support should be fine for the keyboard, but I can't really comment here since I've never used USB under Linux.

Good luck!
 
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jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,918
9
81
you know, if you're going to be running linux, you won't even need a keyboard, mouse, monitor, or kvm for that computer. the beauty (some would say curse) of the x window system is that it's network oriented so you can have output go to your main computer
 
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ViperMagic

Platinum Member
Jul 7, 2001
2,260
0
0
I think I'm not going to get a KVM, thats not really the route I wanted to go...

I think i'm eitehr going to use the iMac keyboard and a trackball or one of those trackball/keybaord combos. I dunno
 
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