what can I do with an extra PC?

[amheck]

I have the 3 PC's listed in my sig. The Abit based system was my main system until Christmas, when my bro-in-law gave me the Intel board based system. So, now I have kind of an extra PC.

Just thinking of ideas that I can use this PC for. Anything cool besides folding?

Thanks!
Aaron

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: amheck
...now I have kind of an extra PC.

Just thinking of ideas that I can use this PC for. Anything cool besides folding?

Is "folding" cool now?
DDR3 with an E8400... All dressed up and no place to go. :laugh:

* Back-up PC
* Linux box
* Give one away
* Keep components that are compatible with your Abit rig and sell off the rest

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.ezlan.net/WHS.html

 

[amheck]

ha, re: folding. Is it not? I really never got into it. Didn't know if it was still in or not. I'm guessing by your comment maybe not so cool anymore. Linux may be a good idea! Or maybe a hackintosh, although I have no idea if that will work with my components.

Jack, I do also have an HP EX470 (mediasmart server with WHS) but your comment gave me an idea. One of the employees at my wife's small business was asking about exchange. Maybe I could look into Windows Server with Exchange/Outlook for them (although that's going to involve another learning curve)

 

[JackMDS]

Exchange does not work on WHS, you need Windows 2003 SBS, or just pliam Windows 2003.

This page have links to trial versions that can get you started.

http://technet.microsoft.com/e...exchange/bb288493.aspx

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: amheck
ha, re: folding. Is it not? I really never got into it. Didn't know if it was still in or not.

Scroll down to "New FAH results on possible new Alzheimer's drug presented"

There should be more stuff like this soon because most of the proving of the technology model is over.

 

[Denithor]

F@H is very good to run, especially the new GPU client.

And wowsers, your bro-in-law is much more generous than mine!

 

[yh125d]

Personally I'd make it a 6TB torrent rig/file server

 

[Lalakai]

donating it is always a good thing.

you can also experiment with possible case or cooling modes. get imaginative and see how far you can push the envelope.

along with donating it, talk with friends and see if there is interest in any of the older style games. i have fond memories of some games that will only run in dos or window 3.0

................dang, think i just "dated" myself. :Q

 

[JTsyo]

Already have a DVR? If not, you can use the PC as one with a bit more hardware.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

"What can I do with an extra PC?"

Multitudes. Myriads. Mucho.

Here's some ideas, one or more of which may have already been noted in this thread by others.

File and backup server -- Whether you use an extra Win XP, VISTA or even Windows 2000 Pro license -- you can build a server system (and consider a RAID5 disk array for data integrity.) You would need to create a household LAN, share folders on the server, and give access to the shared folders for your main workstation and other machines. In my setup, I have regular, scheduled backups going to the server from my workstation, and I periodically back up the server itself to a hot-swap drive -- two levels of data protection.

DVR -- Already mentioned.

Home Control -- I haven't dabbled in this for several years, but you can control household lighting and link security cameras to the computer.

And of course there's probably more, like building your own web server, etc.

 

[videogames101]

F@H

/thread

 

[Zap]

How about selling it on Craigslist?

 

[darkmandaddy]

I have a bittorent machine that I can't fill up 500gb with, so I'm good.
How hard is it for someone that self-taught windows xp, share folder, and internet to be able to do a windows home server with raid 5 ?
What about DVR ?

I'm really illiterate, if I do from instructions, unless you can make a youtube video for me to understand, I'm super smart.