Repurposing an old PC?

[Trojan Horse]

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?

 

[Trojan Horse]

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?

 

[Trojan Horse]

I would but our TV is old and doesn't to my knowledge have USB support or networking etc. I would try and find the model but its a Sony KDL 42 something

 

[Trojan Horse]

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

 

[Trojan Horse]

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.

 

[Trojan Horse]

Aye this is why I'm asking if its worthwhile to upgrade.

Should I do 1x 512 and 1x2gb because I currently have 2 x 512

 

[Trojan Horse]

You could give PFSense a shot?

Thank you so much this is probably what the back of my mind wanted! Definitely going to check this out.. looks rather complicated but more fun learning time for me!

 

[Trojan Horse]

That's fine... tell me what you think.

I would purchase a set as well but saving for a 27" QNIX IPS

 

[Trojan Horse]

Might as well sell it then and be closer to that IPS

I would but nobody wants to buy an old PC lol

Also - great idea with the torrenting but I put my PC into power saver mode it turns my gpu clocks down to like 200mhz and my cpus clocks to 800mhz and uses like 30ws