Hello ATOT my name is JoeKing

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Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
I have one, wife has a laptop and netbook, daughter has a laptop.


However, I am in the process of building myself a new to me computer and after digging through my old computer parts it occurs to me I could easily build 3 or 4 more 1.5-2.5 GHz machines. I have too much stuff. FS/FT+craigslist I guess. I'll want to keep a machine on the shelf in case mine goes down, but I don't need all this stuff.
 

1sikbITCH

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
4,194
574
126
5 of my own, 6 including the wife's laptop.

1. Gaming computer,
2. One that I only use as a tv tuner during football or Nascar parties
3. HTPC in the bedroom
4. Older computer in my work room
5. HTPC in my workout room
6. Wife's laptop.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
44
91
7 or 8 but that's including my fathers mac, a netbook and 2 notebooks. Computers that I own myself... 3 or 4 but only 1 of those is running.
 

Lean L

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2009
3,685
0
0
12 compus

1 main laptop
1 main desktop
1 misc local server (http, ftp, remote desktop)
5 other laptops
1 IBM xSeries that I am repurposing for a workstation
1 Dell hosted on Campus (file sync, http, mysql)
1 backup for the campus server
1 desktop sitting in my closet

at least another 2-3 in parts
 

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
3

My laptop which I use in bed.
My HTPC which I use to watch movies.
My main computer to play games, or bullshit around with.
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,970
2
76
www.manwhoring.com
in this house... 8. used to have 13, of which 3 didnt work. have since donated all non-functional computers as well as a functional or two.

i also want to make a file server. looking at around 4 TB of space, raid5 array.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: kranky
One desktop. The laptop belongs to work.

yup. and I really don't want more than one, but I guess the kids will need their own eventually... my stash... get your own.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
For those of you who actually sit down in front of 3+ computers. How do you spread yourself amongst them?
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,303
14,715
146
4.

My desktop

My wife's desktop

My laptop

A Sony Vaio Pentium 200MMX that mostly collects dust.

BTW, I am Fu King. Call me tomorrow.
 

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
106
1 iBook G4
1 Toshiba laptop (stepfather's)
1 HTPC
4 desktop pcs (active use)
2 desktop pcs (inactive, being used as glorified doorstops, but still functional)
 

Lean L

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2009
3,685
0
0
for all you peeps with htpcs, why did you choose to use a pc over an xbox? it seems more logical to use an xbox and then have a low power server, you don't have to keep the client on 247 or worry about boot times. It's also more scalable
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,970
2
76
www.manwhoring.com
Originally posted by: iamanidiot
for all you peeps with htpcs, why did you choose to use a pc over an xbox? it seems more logical to use an xbox and then have a low power server, you don't have to keep the client on 247 or worry about boot times. It's also more scalable

why not have a low power HTPC with server built in?
 

Lean L

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2009
3,685
0
0
Originally posted by: Fayd
Originally posted by: iamanidiot
for all you peeps with htpcs, why did you choose to use a pc over an xbox? it seems more logical to use an xbox and then have a low power server, you don't have to keep the client on 247 or worry about boot times. It's also more scalable

why not have a low power HTPC with server built in?

we might have different views on low power. I can't play high quality avis with my low power 800mhz via server. Plus, you prolly need some sort of a vid card to play hd videos which translates to more power usage. low power server ~ 13 watts. most v cards will kill that number

And again scalability, you can have multiple xboxs stream off one server

For the price the Xbox is the best method of multimedia output, $250 computers cannot play back HD content as well as an xbox
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,970
2
76
www.manwhoring.com
Originally posted by: iamanidiot
Originally posted by: Fayd
Originally posted by: iamanidiot
for all you peeps with htpcs, why did you choose to use a pc over an xbox? it seems more logical to use an xbox and then have a low power server, you don't have to keep the client on 247 or worry about boot times. It's also more scalable

why not have a low power HTPC with server built in?

we might have different views on low power. I can't play high quality avis with my low power 800mhz via server. Plus, you prolly need some sort of a vid card to play hd videos which translates to more power usage. low power server ~ 13 watts. most v cards will kill that number

And again scalability, you can have multiple xboxs stream off one server

you dont need a video card to play HD. and your "low power server" specs dont include the hard drive in that estimate.

go with a low power AMD dual core on a 780G chipset, and you have a low power HTPC. has hardware decoding of HD video, and enough power to soft decode 720P and maybe 1080P.

the chipset + proc will be around 20 watts at idle. or less.
 

Lean L

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2009
3,685
0
0
It does include the hard drive. I have an external enclosure that shuts down automatically for my 1tb media drive then a 2.5" laptop drive for the main drive.

How are you getting 20 watts or less for an amd dual core?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L..._CPU_power_dissipation

I don't see a single AMD processor under 25 watts, and that's a turion
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: iamanidiot
It does include the hard drive. I have an external enclosure that shuts down automatically for my 1tb media drive then a 2.5" laptop drive for the main drive.

How are you getting 20 watts or less for an amd dual core?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L..._CPU_power_dissipation

I don't see a single AMD processor under 25 watts, and that's a turion

Keep in mind that these chips will underclock and maybe even undervolt themselves when they aren't being stressed.
 

Lean L

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2009
3,685
0
0
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: iamanidiot
It does include the hard drive. I have an external enclosure that shuts down automatically for my 1tb media drive then a 2.5" laptop drive for the main drive.

How are you getting 20 watts or less for an amd dual core?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L..._CPU_power_dissipation

I don't see a single AMD processor under 25 watts, and that's a turion

Keep in mind that these chips will underclock and maybe even undervolt themselves when they aren't being stressed.

It's not going to make that huge of a difference. Most of these technologies just reduces the mulitpliers by 1-3.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,124
12
81
I am in the middle of replacing two old Dell laptops and a Shuttle desktop with two MacBooks and a G5 Power Mac. I still have a Shuttle set up for the kids. So, at this moment, I have seven (7) functioning computers (and a NAS) in my house (not counting my uncles iBook that I am working on).

LOL - The G5 is dual monitor, so I have 8 monitors/screens (not counting the iBook).

MotionMan
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
3. a desktop, a netbook, and an old athlon xp tower that works, but im not using it at all right now.
 

1sikbITCH

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
4,194
574
126
Originally posted by: Leros
For those of you who actually sit down in front of 3+ computers. How do you spread yourself amongst them?

Since you asked, mine all have specific tasks. 2 are HTPC's in different rooms, or more accurately media servers. I have a lot of movies and tv shows stored and when I am working out or in bed I usually watch my saved content rather than stuff on tv. I don't run my Directv through the computers, though. I just switch inputs on the monitors.

In the basement my gaming computer is my main PC as well, but then I also have one in my workshop. I build a lot of models, and I like to pull up pictures of the models so I can compare paint jobs and get other ideas. Then when I realize I need more paint and supplies I just order it right there. I also sometimes stream content to that computer as well while working.

Finally I have one more that only gets turned on a few times a year, and serves as nothing more but to stream a tv feed to this monitor so that the people in the back of the room and at this table can see the game without having to twist around to face the large tv. The computer and monitor were free. All I bought was a $15 tv tuner off Ebay and the wall mount.
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
1 Desktop and 3 laptops. I really only use the desktop and one of the laptops, but it's always good to have spares.

KT
 

NiKeFiDO

Diamond Member
May 21, 2004
3,901
1
76
1 desktop (PC), 1 laptop (MAC)

I don't really feel the need for a file / media server. ever.

(Although it would be fun to get a Mac desktop someday...but it's SO MUCH $$ )