Number Of & Purposes Of Computers You Have?

hippovsmouse

Member
Aug 2, 2014
43
0
16
I was just curious as to how many computers some of you have and what the designated purposes of these computers are, and why you have things set up this way?

For instance, maybe a home file server, then another machine for backups, then possibly another for a small multimedia pc, etc ?

Thanks for replies :p
 

JimmiG

Platinum Member
Feb 24, 2005
2,024
112
106
Main PC: Storage, backup, file storage, web browsing, audio production, gaming etc. etc.

Work laptop: Occasionally used at home when I need to VPN into work etc.

10" Convertible Windows 10 tablet/laptop: Light web browsing, gaming, Youtube etc.

For the TV, I'm just using a Chromecast so no need for a media PC.

Was considering getting a NAS but I rarely access my files from anything other than the main PC so local storage makes more sense (got about 10TB in HDD's and 1.1 TB in SSD's, mostly old movies and archived installers/ISO's of large downloads/physical media.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
I have many PCs, both desktops (most overclocked) and laptops (most with SSDs).

All to Nef my way to Past Lifer at ludicrous speed!

Edit: Oh yeah. I do DC on the desktops on the side.
 

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
141
106
Wife and I have desktops with similar specs, both have laptops (1 Haswell Celeron Chromebook, one Ivy Bridge Pentium Win10), and both of us have Moto X's (first gen). Our computing needs are pretty well met.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Main PC for gaming, work/study, watching TV series etc. Running Win 10 x64.

Living room PC for home theater and file storage / file server. Running Ubuntu 16.04.

I used to just store media files on my main PC, but the file server simplifies things a lot - now everyone at home can access the same files, set up private backups, and easily watch movies and shows from the 42" TV. And I no longer need any mechanical drives in my own PC. Also, setting it up was a fun project.

Samsung S4 and Asus ZenPad 10.1" for internet and studying when not at home.
 
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sm625

Diamond Member
May 6, 2011
8,172
137
106
I just realized that when I moved out of my old place, I left my windows 8 atom tablet behind. o_O I kind of feel sorry for the person who ends up taking that home and actually trying to use it. It is sad that a product can be so bad that it literally isnt worth taking the time to pack it.
 
Aug 11, 2008
10,451
642
126
I have a win 8 tablet, and find it quite useful for light surfing, nook books, and things like that.

Anyway, I have a desktop I use for light gaming, my wife has a laptop, and I have the win 8 tablet. Those are the only home computers I use regularly.

I have a core 2 duo I keep for backup, and a couple of single core old desktops that I simply have not gotten around to disposing of.
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
I have three laptops at home. Two are old work Mac book pros. One essentially works as a file server. The second is my dedicated "garage" laptop used for playing music and watching YouTube videos on how to fix stuff. The last Mac book Pro is for personal use, but I might open it once or twice a week to make an investment or research something...3 kids running around and a pretty active lifestyle doesn't afford me much internet time around the house.

I have a work laptop. Don't remember the last time I took that from the office.
 

yinan

Golden Member
Jan 12, 2007
1,801
2
71
5 basicallly.

1 laptop
1 production ESXi host
1 test ESXi host
1 desktop
1 NAS/Backup taget
 

Squeetard

Senior member
Nov 13, 2004
815
7
76
Core i3 htpc hooked to my TV.
Core i7 gaming/work PC in my office.
Android tablet for remote stuff.
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
4 desktops 3 for gaming/general use 1 for media server duties, 3 laptops for general Web browsing
 
Feb 25, 2011
16,994
1,622
126
PC for playing games. Laptop for work/school. Server for serving and VM-ing. iPad for reading. Netbook for running my CNC machine. RasPi for running my 3D printer. (Octoprint.)

So, yeah, stuff.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
2-dedicated to a TV and also used as a TV monitor. Watch Internet based TV, Youtube, Taxes, Banking, Korean-Dramas, web browsing, Newspaper, Upload storage for Phone pictures. Son has one general Purpose Computer. He uses it for gaming, browsing, Computer technical skills training. Wife has a tablet. We all have smartphone computers also.
 

nsafreak

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2001
7,093
3
81
4 PCs in total. Main PC for audio/video/photo editing, gaming, browsing, etc. Server for DNS duties, game servers, teamspeak server, file server & Plex. Laptop for on the go stuff. HTPC for well, HTPC stuff :)
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
Main laptop for gaming
Large tower for fileserver and video transcoding
Windows 10 tablet for ultra portable work and bed/couch/bathroom browsing
Two backup laptops (Dell 17", Gateway 15") in my closet.

Android tablet, Droid Turbo 2 and a Moto 360.
 

master_shake_

Diamond Member
May 22, 2012
6,425
292
121
6 in my rack
pfsense
pxe
capture from dvr
cd/dvd ripping, downloads, encoding, network windows install, etc...
windows home server
file server
1 for gaming
1 for day to day.
 

hippovsmouse

Member
Aug 2, 2014
43
0
16
Main laptop for gaming
Large tower for fileserver and video transcoding
Windows 10 tablet for ultra portable work and bed/couch/bathroom browsing
Two backup laptops (Dell 17", Gateway 15") in my closet.

Android tablet, Droid Turbo 2 and a Moto 360.

tower for fileserver and video transcoding seems like a strange combination in one box - seems like file server and backup would be more logical in the same box? (not sure)


6 in my rack
pfsense --firewall

cd/dvd ripping, downloads, encoding, network windows install, etc... --general work/slave computer

windows home server
file server

you have 2 separate boxes for a windows home server and a file server? don't they do th same thing and fill the same purpose?
 
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Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
tower for fileserver and video transcoding seems like a strange combination in one box - seems like file server and backup would be more logical in the same box? (not sure)

It's real-time, on-demand. I run Plex on it, and it transcodes videos OTF to stream them to devices that can't handle the native streams/containers (Xbox One, Rokus, etc). It does backups too but it's mostly just a general file storage box - I have 18 terabytes of storage.
 

Conroe

Senior member
Mar 12, 2006
324
32
91
We have 3 gamming rigs and a HTPC.

The E1-2400 pc I have in the kitchen is just for music and recipes, but it hung on POST yesterday. I'll try different RAM then junk it. I have my Xeon 5450 rig sitting unused now. I may put it in the kitchen. But then a Bluetooth adapter would do 90% of what we use it for with a phone anyway.
 

master_shake_

Diamond Member
May 22, 2012
6,425
292
121
tower for fileserver and video transcoding seems like a strange combination in one box - seems like file server and backup would be more logical in the same box? (not sure)




you have 2 separate boxes for a windows home server and a file server? don't they do th same thing and fill the same purpose?

well yeah but you never put all your eggs in one basket.
 
Dec 10, 2005
28,878
14,129
136
Laptop - ~5 years old, only use it for work. If it dies, I won't be replacing it.

Desktop - Just did a complete overhaul. I use it for gaming, web browsing, photo editing, watching videos, and other general purpose tasks. It also my main repository for my files.

HTPC - The main part of the system will be ~2 years old in the summer (when I stripped out the older Athlon II X2 processor + board and put in a Haswell Pentium). Hooked to my TV, serves as a Blu-ray player, watching internet stuff on my TV, Kodi for the DVDs I've ripped, etc...
 

NAC

Golden Member
Dec 30, 2000
1,105
11
81
1 main PC for basically everything: video editing, photography work, all data storage as well as casual use by everyone in the family.
1 old laptop I use for listening to audio books at night. I could use my phone or a tablet, but this is slightly more convenient.
1 ipad for surfing in bed.
1 laptop as HTPC
and if you count my wife and two daughters: 3 more laptops - 1 each

Lotsa stuff I never got rid of but never use:
about 4 laptops I think
most of a PC
3 monitors
wires, wires, wires