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Repurposing an old PC?

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse

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Joined
27 Jul 2012
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1,705
Hi there,

What are some good things to do with an old PC.

Like I've said previously I'm restoring an old AM2 Athlon 64x2 PC and going to use it as a server esque thing btu what are some fun things/useful things to do with it? If you can give me some general ideas I'd love to google them in my own time.. so basically some ideas I have:

  • Put Real VNC on it to actually use it w/o monitor
  • Automated Backup
  • Server storage
  • Get a TV tuner and stream 1080p to another PC?
  • 24/7 torrenting
  • Firewall?


Anyone got any other ideas? Just creating this list because there's gotta be more things you can do with a PC.. although these sound very good for me could I do them all at once? Have it automating backup whilst recording TV to another HDD and torrenting to another and using it as a firewall for my other devices?
 
Add a good sound card, a pair of Edifier studio speakers and change into music box?
If its small you can probably build it into piece of furniture so it doesn't stand out.
 
That's a good idea but I like my main rig to be the music box, already has 6tb, xonar stx and fidelio x1s... what are some good edifiers btw? (under 150 if possible)

Any other ideas?
 
Media box kinda thing, whack it in your living room/wherever and play movies etc on it?
 
Couldn't you just run like a DVI to VGA or HDMI or something like that cable to the TV?
 
That's also a good idea, but alas no... it's wall mounted ya see. Besides I like buying DVDs/renting em. Would hate to see a PC in my living room.

Any other ideas mate? Also how would going from 1GB to 2GB or even 4GB DDR2 benefit the PC? Should I bother the upgrade at £10 a 2GB stick
 
£10 for a 2gb stick? Bit pricey, although it's not too bad - I sold 3gb of my old DDR2 for £10, depends on what you'll use the computer for whether it's worth the extra 3gb of RAM. How about making it into a NAS?
 
Yeah ik its a bit pricey but can't find cheaper without warranty. £10 for a 2gb module with full lifetime warranty doesn't sound too bad to me but if you can find cheaper trust me please! :)

Well thats apart of my question, what will having more RAM benefit in? If I make it a NAS will more RAM affect what? thats ideally what I want to know.
 
A tenner is reasonable enough, the warranty is good though. If it's made into a NAS, I have no idea if more RAM will be useful, maybe put it up to 2gb but I'm guessing it won't need much more because all the computer will act as is an interface from the network to the HDD in the system
 
Yeah it's probably worthwhile upgrading to 2gb at least - would probably make a decent difference, and then make it into an NAS with a large HDD if you need it. Otherwise just flog it lol (if you have no other use, that 24/7 torrenter sounds nice :D )
 
Sorry for no response earluer, was a bit busy.
I am buying Edifier T1600 2.0 set for my rig.
It is cheap and have very good reviews, cost just 60£ here at OCuk.
 
I had the same problem with an old laptop,in the end I connected it up to my main TV, via HDMI, bought a cheap 3.5" usb 3.0 hard drive / caddy and use it for purely downloading. And just transfer whatever I want over to my main rig.
 
Linux box, streaming/media/firewall/torrents. Learn programming, use it as a server, if it has a screen debezel the screen and mount in a picture frame then use that as a digital picture album.

Failing that since this is overclockers see how far you can overclock it before it gives up, I vote LN2 !
 
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