What to do with old systems?!

[acole1]

omg we are all gunna die because of our computers!! i 'spose you think we are all going to get cancer and die from cell phones too.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
Usually they're more trouble than they're worth. You could probably sell it for $50--maybe even $100. So, in effect, you're paying $50-$100 to keep it.

His systems aren't THAT OLD. I've got 4 pentiums in my house, lying around. I plan to give them a task sooner or later, hopefully some sort of distributed computing, Beowulf CLUSTER!?

 

[pkme2]

The Beowolf cluster is a interesting choice. Maui Community College built a working model last year with 10 computers.
It was a first for community colleges in Hawaii. It shows that a little college can compete with our Maui Research and Technology Park when it comes to super computers.

 

[johnnqq]

i would love to buy it...but i've never bought anything from another person and i don't really know how it works. (i don't have a windows 98 machine to play all my old games )

 

[TimeKeeper]

try craigslist.
you might be surprise how bad we have been spoiled, on the other hand, some people just need a PC to get their email and web browsing.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I know of several people that could use it. A lot of people could use that just for a basic e-mail machine.

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: acole1
omg we are all gunna die because of our computers!! i 'spose you think we are all going to get cancer and die from cell phones too.

There's no conclusive evidence either way on Cell phone usage so no I don't think cell phones will necessarily hurt us. Chemicals on circuit boards are accepted as causing cancer. There are acceptable amounts of this stuff before it causes a problem, but most of ust keep way too much of this crap around. There is a simple way to avoid it, get rid of it if you're not using it.... or pile them up all over your house your call, at least you have the facts.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: niggles

Originally posted by: acole1
omg we are all gunna die because of our computers!! i 'spose you think we are all going to get cancer and die from cell phones too.

There's no conclusive evidence either way on Cell phone usage so no I don't think cell phones will necessarily hurt us. Chemicals on circuit boards are accepted as causing cancer. There are acceptable amounts of this stuff before it causes a problem, but most of ust keep way too much of this crap around. There is a simple way to avoid it, get rid of it if you're not using it.... or pile them up all over your house your call, at least you have the facts.

I know arsenic is used to dope silicon for use in circuit boards, but there is no danger of it "coming off" if you have a bunch of computers around, because it is chemically part of the circuit boards' silicon. It isn't like rubbed on or something. As for other carcinogenic materials, I have no idea.

 

[MadOni0n]

i started reading about beowulf clusters, how to do you build one of these? =)

 

[pkme2]

If you want info on Beowulf Clusters, you can contact:

Mark Hoffman & Sandra Swanson

http://www.maui.hawaii.edu/

They were responsible in building the project. You could ask them to explain their construction and its purpose.

 

[xtknight]

I just gave my "old" P4 PC to my dad. Hand it over to the relatives as "hand-me-downs". Funny how I get the state-of-the-art PC and my dad gets the hand-me-downs, lol.

Or, if you don't want to give them away:
[*]Make a Linux router out of one of them.
[*]Have SETI run on them 24/7 until they die. They'd die of a good cause.
[*]Setup a minimal Linux on them and have fun with it.
[*]Mod some ancient arcade system around them and install MAME on them.

 

[Jeff7]

Either donate it, sell it, or recycle it.

Are old systems worth the electricity used for the amount of work accomplished, in terms of distributed computing applications?

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: tasburrfoot78362
I know arsenic is used to dope silicon for use in circuit boards, but there is no danger of it "coming off" if you have a bunch of computers around, because it is chemically part of the circuit boards' silicon. It isn't like rubbed on or something. As for other carcinogenic materials, I have no idea.

It's the fire retardants overall that are the issue. It's true that they are mostly inert if simply stored, but if they've been used and are at the end of their lives then there's been considerable heat and the stuff is simply ready to flake off. If it sits around the dust ends up in the air and is breathed in the same way that asbestos is.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: pkme2
It seems that the Salvation Army and all the charities here, have computers to the rooftops and can't get rid of them. It takes someone with simple computer skills to come up with a unique solution. If one has the time, he or she can develop a decent home business to recycle some of these dinosaurs and give them a new lease on life. The 17" CRTs at our recent swap meet were down to $10 obo. The swap meet had spare parts for sale for pennies on the dollar. Old hardware is so cheap because people can't find window drivers anymore. Linux has drivers that I thought were gone and buried. Well, I only suggested this as a possibility. Recycle into LINUX.

Yep. My local thrift shops won't take anything that is computer related, not even storage boxes.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Turn it into a classic gaming machine, and install all of the great classics on it.

 

[Kevlar Coated Tent]

I use a P3 450 in my room for web surfing, runs fine if thats all you want to do, of course anymore than that might b asking a bit much since its running xp lol.

 

[pkme2]

OK, so here is what's out there from a simple google search for you area alone:

http://www.catii.com/comp4kids.html
http://www.auw.org/community/stories/computers.asp
http://e-academy.k12.hi.us/recycle
http://www.youthfortechnology.org/frames.html
http://www.recycles.org/states/Hawaii/
http://starbulletin.com/2002/09/29/news/kokualine.html

...and that's just to start with from the first page of hits. Hawaii is considered quite afluent in terms of US states. you'll find many states have a much more organized re-use program. Africa is in desperate need of your used PCs because of restrictions placed on PC exports. Thanks for caring.
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It's true that there are recycle centers in Hawaii, but note. most are situated on Oahu. People on the outer islands, won't ship items because of packaging and shipping fees. Hawaii is quite affluent when it comes to computers. More computers are now found in Island homes because of Walmart and Costco. There is at least 1 computer in every house on my street. I get their handme downs for my students.
We have a definite problem disposing of the old hardware. Costco has the new AMD 64 with 17" LCD for $717 and selling out every few weeks. What happens to the old stuff? It ends up at the rubbish dump because the recyclers can't handle the tremendous outpouring.
I think there is a definite problem that can turn into a very serious situation here.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: foodfightr

Originally posted by: Missing Ghost
router
firewall
radius
web
ftp
samba/windows file server
printing
test machine
x console
game server

....the possibilities are endless, it's a computer! You will have a project for it someday. You just need more imagination.....
Hell you could even build an alarm clock with it if you wanted.... Every computer from the 386dx days and up is still useful.

Welcome to the forum missing ghost... I was really tempted to post something along the lines of a foot rest, but you did a stand up job listing some actual good uses.

:thumbsup:

Old parts may also be useful for:

HTPC's
or
PVR systems

Great list.