Does Anyone Have/Use More Than One Computer?

[ZZZAAA]

I know this is a hardware forum so some people might have tons of builds but I was wondering if the average person has any use for more than one computer. I just got back into the tech/gaming world sort of and I just configure possible PC builds all day. Can anything productive come from these PCs or am I just wasting my time?

 

[Sheep221]

It really depends on what you want to do with them. If you do ask yourself if you should own more computers, that means you don't really need more than one computer. In this sense you may be thinking of deploying more idle computers to some distributed computing projects or mining some crypto currencies, but neither of these are worth enough to justify buying a computer and leave it on all the time just for this purpose. Average person does not need more than one computer and I own 4 computers, 3 desktops and 1 laptop.

 

[thesmokingman]

Do you have a need for more than one of anything?

 

[Billb2]

Personally:
One for computing.
One for playing music.
One for the workshop.
And a laptop.

If you have to ask if you need another computer - you don't.
If you really needed one you wouldn't ask, you'd just get one.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you need (want?) more than one, then have at it!

I've got multiple PCs, just because. Ok, I do some DC (distributed computing) with several of them during the Winter months. Which is kind of fun. I've been cutting back during the summer, they heat up my apt. too much.

 

[Ventanni]

I own three. I cannot say I actually use any three of mine in any productive way. The laptop sometimes as a laptop should be used, but that's uncommon.

My main Core i7 PC is use as my everyday surf the web, steam, and game all at the same time PC. Despite working on its 5th year of age, it's hardy, quite fast even by today's standards, and suits me well.

My laptop I mostly use as an HTPC machine to my TV. While this does fulfill a useful function for me, it's not anything that can't be done by a $35 Google Chromecast. Actually, the Chromecast would probably work better since I would control everything on my phone. Sometimes I'll bring it out to the living room to play EverQuest with my roommate since that's where he plays, and on even rarer occasion I'll move it over to my main PC to act as a third monitor, but that's rare.

My third Core 2 Quad PC I have absolutely no need of, but fulfills a long, deep seated hobby of mine that I share with many others on this forum to play Frankenstein with old parts. But otherwise it has the same function as my main Core i7 PC just, umm, a heck of a lot slower, rofl. Ironically while writing this, I'm currently on my Core 2 Quad PC, my main Core i7 machine is sitting in the corner, and I'm messing around updating the computer with my current games for whatever reason. And once reality sets back in that a Core 2 Quad and mechanical hard drive are no match to a Core i7 and 850 EVO, I'll go back.

 

[ZZZAAA]

I've noticed we might be nearing the end of moore's law and I was thinking people would not have to upgrade their PCs so frequently anymore and that they would go through computers like any other utensil that has wear and tear. While I was building my first i7 pc, I wanted to buy two of them so I could use one after the other since I was so enamored by the technology and looks. I held off because things are still advancing especially on the GPU front. In my 10+ years of PC building, I have never used all my HDD slots and ports so its hard to justify having more than one computer at a time. That and I can only use one mouse and keyboard with my two hands. Anyway, I was just wondering why some people had so many PCs in this forum...

 

[MongGrel]

Still have 3 myself, but a lot of things are leftover gaming rigs from the last 10 years of building my own for over 25 years.

The main rig I still use for most things in general, the wife doesn't even use one of the old gaming rigs other than household things and doesn't even use it that often these days.

The third one is a HTPC rebuilt for the master bedroom.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Most people I know have a computer/laptop and then a secondary device like a tablet, smartphone, or kindle.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Anyway, I was just wondering why some people had so many PCs in this forum...

Well, one of my original reasons, was my fun experiences with LAN parties over at a friend's place when I was in my early 20s.

I decided, when I got my own place, to built two as-identical as I could get rigs, for gaming, for my friend(s) to come over and LAN up with me.

A few times, some friends came over, but we never really played LAN games, mostly, just surfed the web, watched some YouTube, and chatted, while his GF did whatever on one other PC I had.

But for some reason, I've still stuck to the "buy two" urge. I currently have two overclockable Skylake rigs (both dual-cores).

Originally, I used card tables, to put the PCs on, but thankfully, a relative of mine took me to a furniture store closeout, and I ended up with several very nice computer desks. They assembled them for me, and delivered them, and they have slide-out keyboard trays, and cubbies for the PC tower.

So, of course, I've got PCs for all of my desks, and some laptops for the bedroom and travel purposes, and a HTPC for the TV in the bedroom. Plus more PCs, just because I like to swap some of them out, and work on them / reconfigure them. Just for fun, I guess.

Been thinking lately of selling some of the computer desks, and getting a couch, but that hasn't gone much further than the thinking stage.

Edit: So, OP, I'm calling you out. How many PCs DO you have? From what you've posted on this forum thus far, you have an FM2+ 860K rig, and at least a Z170 mobo.

Expressed interest in an AM1 rig:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=38233089&postcount=4

Bought a Z170 mobo:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=38230564&postcount=9

Bought a 6700K:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=38230783&postcount=5

Owns an 860K and 270:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=38231145&postcount=58

 

[ZZZAAA]

I have about close to three complete rigs. One intel and two AMD's. Sorry for the half-hearted thread here. I just wish I could find some kind of use for having more computers. Man these things are really cool. I'm thinking about picking up another one when zen comes out. These things eventually DO break, rite?

 

[ZZZAAA]

O yea, the intel one is an i7 housed in a carbide 240 corsair asus everything and am waiting for the 1080 launch. The other is as you mentioned a 860k with 270 lots of rosewill and the oldie is the 555be (b55 x4) with a 6970. I should put this up in my sig or something...

 

[lehtv]

We just had a similar thread a while ago, FYI:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2470265

 

[ZZZAAA]

Oh shiz did not see that. Mods go ahead and delete close do as you will!

 

[piasabird]

I have 2 working computers at present that I own. Both of them are hooked up to a TV so I can use them to watch TV shows from the Internet. I do not presently have a Cable TV subscription. My Son who is about 35 also lives with us and has his own computer as well. I also have a tablet and smart phones that sometimes use my WIFI.

 

[Burpo]

I sit between 2 every day, and use both via a switch(1 monitor). One is main rig and I surf , sell on ebay & burn dvd's & blu-ray's. The other is for video edittng and burning dvd/blu-rays. When I have a lot of work, I have both burners running full tilt, and switch back & forth between PC's via switch easily. I can't do what I need to do (daily) without both of them. :\

 

[Tannerblast]

I have one main computer, laptop, phone, tablet, and a second computer. I use my main computer and phone 99% of the time, laptop for lower end gaming at friends', and then my second comp is for friends to use when they come over.

 

[velillen]

I have a few. One gaming PC I only game on. My laptop which I use daily for internet, ect. An unpaid server. Htpc in the living room. And another htpc that is in my bedroom.

Other than the gaming PC all get used pretty much daily.

 

[Sheep221]

Well, one of my original reasons, was my fun experiences with LAN parties over at a friend's place when I was in my early 20s....

I was always wondering how many rig you DO have installed right now.

 

[Raduque]

I have my main gaming laptop and a Windows 10 2-in-1/tablet. I use my laptop most of the time and my HP Spectre x2 when I'm away from my desk but not travelling.

I also own an Android tablet.

I have a media storage server/transcoder machine. Used to have HTPCs but they have been replaced by Rokus and consoles.

 

[DaveSimmons]

My home office has:

- a work PC with all of the stuff like Visual Studio, Office, Skype, etc. running.
- a music jukebox PC with just foobar2000 and a couple of other media apps
- a gaming PC with just games

I can't combine the work PC + jukebox because so many apps and events generate dings and bloops that would drive me mad trying to listen to a song. The work PC is connected to the same receiver as the jukebox (instead of $10 speakers) so it only makes noise when I switch to it.

I could possibly combine the gaming + jukebox, but the jukebox is a very quiet mITX while my gaming PC has more fans running.

 

[ZZZAAA]

Close thread as pointed out by lehtv

 

[ZZZAAA]

Close thread as pointed out by lehtv