What to do with an Old Win 2k PC?

alostpacket · November 16th, 2011, 06:50 PM

Just curious if you guys have ideas for what I could do with a system like this?

Some options I considered:

1) Selling it -- would anyone pay for this? I have a 15in crappy LCD that works with it.

2) HTPC -- is it even close to powerful enough?

3) Donate / Recycle (possible last resort)

Quote:

OS: Win 2k Pro (Could put XP pro on it I think)

Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1600+ (1.5Ghz actual clock speed)

Memory: 256MB DDR memory ( I think I can up that to 768)

Storage:
C:\\ 20GB WD - 7200RPM (EIDE ATA-100)
D:\\ 40GB Maxtor - 7200RPM (EIDE ATA-100)

(probably have more 40GB drives sitting around somewhere)

FSB: 266 MHz

Graphics (AGP): nVidia Corporation GeForce4 Ti 4200

Sound: Onboard (probably have an old SB laying around I coud toss in if need be)

Motherboard: Asus K8V SE Deluxe (I think) Socket A (462) No idea what the MB is I have the K8VSE on a different computer, got my setups confused.

North Bridge: VIA KT266/333

South Bridge: VIA VT8233
And a bunch of empty PCI slots. It's also very noisy....

lunatic59 · November 16th, 2011, 06:53 PM

We just went through a change going from XP pro workstations to Windows 7. Frankly the older models similar in spec to yours are bound for the recycling yards.

You *could* run linux pretty well with those specs, but that doesn't add to the sellable value.

richphitzwell · November 16th, 2011, 06:57 PM

Wow I was actually expecting worse specs when I opened this up and was about to say install dsl on it. Personally I would install a netbook os, preference being a linux build of course and keep it as a guest or kid pc.

But if you have no use for it and dont care about the few dollars you may get from selling it, donate it! Plenty of organizations out there that will give it to a good home like schools or homeless shelters or what have you.

alostpacket · November 16th, 2011, 09:56 PM

Yeah, donating it is definitely an option. I might see if I can use it as a temp HTPC for an old SD TV for a bit first though.

I think the specs are good enough for SD streaming...

johnlgalt · November 16th, 2011, 10:14 PM

Yo can definitely make an HTPC out of that, just don't expect to use a modern Windows OS doing it.

I say do the whole *nix followed by XBMC and be happy.

alostpacket · November 16th, 2011, 10:45 PM

yeah I was thinking of some kinda nix install with MythTV --and DLNA streaming (hopefully) from my NAS. But I havent researched it all yet.

Tresezk · November 17th, 2011, 01:16 AM

How about geexbox ,its pretty thin

GeeXboX

alostpacket · November 17th, 2011, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karandpr

How about geexbox ,its pretty thin

GeeXboX

That looks sweet, certainly cant hurt to give it a go

Edit: I should say I'd like to use some kinda Android remote, either the BT keyboard for my revue GoogleTV or just Gmote or similar. Could even make my own if I have the right API

NightAngel79 · November 17th, 2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alostpacket

That looks sweet, certainly cant hurt to give it a go

Edit: I should say I'd like to use some kinda Android remote, either the BT keyboard for my revue GoogleTV or just Gmote or similar. Could even make my own if I have the right API

You def could sell it. Throw a copy of XP on it and someone would gobble that up at craigslist or ebay. I have a buddy who always sells old pcs on there (much worse than the one you mare talking about)

And how dare you use GoogleTv and not stop by the Googletv forums (link in sig

)

mattbirk · November 17th, 2011, 02:03 PM

PM me your address, I can send you some DDR to up it from 256...how many RAM slots?

You could use it as a file server, link it with your Google Music, etc.

johnlgalt · November 17th, 2011, 02:13 PM

lmfao - good idea Matt. But hold off.

He might be more interested in this:

Asus K8V SE Deluxe - Review - The KING of Socket 754 Motherboards. - reviewer says your max is actually 3 GB.

And, (wait for it):

P1020393LQ.jpg

These are right here in front of me - I took that picture not 5 minutes ago - they're yours for the price of shipping, however you want it done.

A pair of matched set 512 MB (although that really doesn't matter, at those low speeds, still, it helps) of DDR-400 (2 * 512 =1 GB) ready for the taking. http://www.corsair.com/vs512mb400.html

Pretty cheap, you could buy these module sat NewEgg for $16 each - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145026

Or the 1 GB bigger brother modules for $25 each - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145505

LMK either way, ALP.

With these you could easily run any modern distro of *nix (and even Windows XP). Take it to the 3 GB and XP will run great on it. Slow, b/c of other bottlenecks, but still run. *nix will ahve no problem with just this 1 GB, give it 3 and you'll be very very happy.

All in all, this could easily turn into a great HTPC, replace fans and maybe PSU and you'll be set.

alostpacket · November 17th, 2011, 06:09 PM

lol thanks all

NA I'll pop right over to GTV forums

Matt thanks kindly for your offer, I have a 512 stick here I think, need to see what I can do.

Not sure if I have to match sticks? it has 256 in there I think (2 -128 sticks) and I have a 3rd 512 MB stick I can put in (I think)

JLG, you're awesome as always -- may take you up on it but need to finish wiping the dust off this thing heh

9to5cynic · November 18th, 2011, 11:56 PM

Personally, I'd use it as:
> File Server
> Web Server
> Any personal server really
> Test Comp (for trying out new distros)
> Throw Debian on there

EDIT: Just looked at the link karandpr posted, I'd try *that*!

alostpacket · November 19th, 2011, 01:02 PM

yeah that looks like a cool distro doesnt it?

alostpacket · November 19th, 2011, 08:07 PM

OK so apprently I had the MB wrong, I think it's some generic VIA MB

johnlgalt · November 22nd, 2011, 12:44 PM

Was this a store bought computer or one you built yourself?

If it is a store bought computer, maybe we can trace down the actual mobo name via looking for the info a the OEMs website....

Because I have that GB of RAM I'll never ever use again in my life, so it's here waiting fro a good home.

saywat? · November 22nd, 2011, 05:42 PM

trash/recycle

alostpacket · November 23rd, 2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlgalt

Was this a store bought computer or one you built yourself?

If it is a store bought computer, maybe we can trace down the actual mobo name via looking for the info a the OEMs website....

Because I have that GB of RAM I'll never ever use again in my life, so it's here waiting fro a good home.

It was one of those custom gaming rig boutique vendors like iBuyPower.... called eh "Atlas" I think. This is like 10 years ago too heh. Their website looks like it would be the kind that might not keep those records -- I should double check the board to see if I can find any markings... SIW by Gabriel Topala picked up nothing from the mobo.

This was the computer just before I started building my own.

I have another computer that will likely end up being my HTPC at least for SD TV for now.

Basically I have 3 PCs, a NAS, a Google TV Revue (which is all sorts of crippled), a SGT 10.1, and my MBP

Honestly, after writing all that I feel my best bet is just to spend my days enjoying writing out system specs

Also, yes, im a bit of a pack rat.

9to5cynic · November 23rd, 2011, 11:06 PM

What about as a media hub just steaming music? That way you'd avoid all the power requirement of video, and just pop some speakers up there, and maybe that lightweight distro karnadpr suggested... that'd probably do some audio yes?

alostpacket · November 25th, 2011, 01:32 PM

heh not a bad idea considering its power but I use my old Droid 1 for that mostly

johnlgalt · November 27th, 2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alostpacket

It was one of those custom gaming rig boutique vendors like iBuyPower.... called eh "Atlas" I think. This is like 10 years ago too heh. Their website looks like it would be the kind that might not keep those records -- I should double check the board to see if I can find any markings... SIW by Gabriel Topala picked up nothing from the mobo.

This was the computer just before I started building my own.

I have another computer that will likely end up being my HTPC at least for SD TV for now.

Basically I have 3 PCs, a NAS, a Google TV Revue (which is all sorts of crippled), a SGT 10.1, and my MBP

Honestly, after writing all that I feel my best bet is just to spend my days enjoying writing out system specs

Also, yes, im a bit of a pack rat.

Lmfao - I hear ya on the packrat thing. Just having that 1 GB of RAM should tell you I'm a bit of one too, but that RAM is actually packaged in a bubble-wrap envelope that also contains *gasp* 2 8 MB and 2 16 MB 72-pin SIMMs, an Ultra-DMA 133 IDE port for PCI slots, a god awful old SCSI tape drive (and an Adaptec 29160N PCI SCSI adapter), 2 working 5.25 floppy drives, 7 (yes, 7) PCMCIA 170 MB HDs (pulled from NEC back-end servers from a job 10 years ago), ummm...more Cee cords than I cna shake a stick at, plus all sorts of odds and ends - I even have 4 random software CDs that I burned on a portable 2X CD Burner back around 1998 (I remember those took me around 30 minutes per platter to burn lol).

I like hte looks of your gaming rig - which X58 board did you get? I've posted my current build's specs before, but here they are:

I think that I want a Video card update, but I can only spring for one right now, since I'd need a larger PSU for another SLI setup using current cards....560Ti's are priced pretty nicely though....I think I could get close to that for the pair of GTX260s that I have, they're in great shape, and I use eVGA's Precision software to ramp up the fan speeds incrementally so they don't get very hot at all (playing ES V: Skyrim at full everything and hte main card doesn't break 70 C, the others don't break 55)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9to5cynic

What about as a media hub just steaming music? That way you'd avoid all the power requirement of video, and just pop some speakers up there, and maybe that lightweight distro karnadpr suggested... that'd probably do some audio yes?

That is actually a pretty good idea. Another idea is to look into Home | NullBound - Enterprise Malware Protection (or another package) for a hardware firewall that you can put on either side of your router for total control....

9to5cynic · November 27th, 2011, 10:17 PM

Yeah, a hardware firewall would be a good use. I didn't even consider that... was too focused on media lol.

Also, DAMN! quite the gaming rig there... /jealous.

johnlgalt · November 27th, 2011, 10:24 PM

Lol thanks. I build piecemeal, only b/c of a massive HD fry session did I build a lot of this together at one time - I already had the CPU, Video cards, and accessories, only things new are the mobo, RAM, Seagates, Chassis, and CPU cooler (Intel SSD is actually not new, but it *is* a refurbished drive after I sent in the fried for warranty replacement - and TBH, it might actually be the same drive returned back to me as well, I never actually checked the Serial #).

A lot cheaper than buying all this stuff new. And that's also why I think that Christmas is going to be good for me - Galaxy Nexus and a 560Ti

SUroot · November 29th, 2011, 04:09 PM

Make it into a firewall...

TxGoat · November 29th, 2011, 04:28 PM

How to build your own Arcade System

SUroot · November 29th, 2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxGoat

How to build your own Arcade System

Awesome

alostpacket · November 29th, 2011, 07:23 PM

Hardware firewall seems like such a waste of electricity heh. Isn't that want the router is for?

Am I crazy?

That MAME thing seems pretty sweet, not a half bad idea. I am going to look into donating as well.

I got the other PC up an running with Mint and XBMC now, so we'll see how that goes. Gonna test an old ATI all in wonder card in it. Not sure if it can handle HD movie content over and SMB share even on a small monitor.

TxGoat · November 29th, 2011, 08:15 PM

Oh and for the record, I think I have you beat. I have a Pentium 75 in the garage that came installed with Windows 3.1 I think it is loaded with Windows 95 right now. I use it to store my auto-detail products on top of.

And that's another idea....make a geek's end-table out of it if it's a tower....All you need is some glass to mount it on. I bet that would fetch more than selling it outright.

DeepEmissions · November 29th, 2011, 08:15 PM

We Donate our older (4-5 years) systems to schools, and organizations, or to needy individuals... after we wipe the drives and re-install windows of course...

efdisaster · November 29th, 2011, 10:44 PM

SUroot · November 30th, 2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alostpacket

Hardware firewall seems like such a waste of electricity heh. Isn't that want the router is for?

Am I crazy?

Yes, to both.

Where as router firewalls are generally ok, a dedicated Linux based firewall would be much better.

johnlgalt · November 30th, 2011, 02:46 PM

Lol - for S&G I could pull out my old Gateway2000 486SX (that I upgrade with a 486DX2 CPU that would only run at 50 MHz since the mobo was hardwired to only run in increments of 20 and 50, so I could not run at the full 66 MHz) which is where those 72pin DRAM modules I mentioned above came from

I wouldn't tr to use that for ... anything. hell, my DROID can out last that ancient monster lol

9to5cynic · November 30th, 2011, 02:59 PM

Haha... It's really scary. On the news one night a year or so ago they mentioned that blackberries have more computational power than the on-board Apollo computers!

johnlgalt · November 30th, 2011, 03:01 PM

It's actually true - the on-board computes on the friggin Space Shuttle, for a lot of the (?) telemetry data and history, were using DOS. Seriously.

9to5cynic · November 30th, 2011, 03:06 PM

Hahah.. Wow. Should have at least put on some unix. I think unix makes it much easier to approach light speed. I think I read that in the man page somewhere.

alostpacket · November 30th, 2011, 03:22 PM

i'd imagine it's hard to apt-get from orbit though

johnlgalt · November 30th, 2011, 08:06 PM

You'd think it'd be easier, seeing as light just keeps going and going and going...

9to5cynic · November 30th, 2011, 09:04 PM

But the wireless driver for the Space-Cantana isn't yet finished. If they had the device, they could delay the launch, but who knows when Pringles and "SPACE" will release the driver source...?

johnlgalt · November 30th, 2011, 09:54 PM

And, besides, "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

9to5cynic · November 30th, 2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlgalt

And, besides, "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

Hah made me giggle chuckle. Men chuckle, not giggle.

johnlgalt · November 30th, 2011, 11:30 PM

Manly men, anyway

Sigh. We're *SO* off topic lol

Story of my life...

9to5cynic · November 30th, 2011, 11:38 PM

I suppose that space missions aren't probably top priority for the old win 2k pc?

Back on topic, well, I think the pc aquarium idea was pretty cool. And I do like the idea of using as a media pc as mentioned above (stream audio around).

OH. What about hooking it up to the Internets, get some RSS feeds to it, and use one of those marquees to display news?! That'd be pretty cool. Though, the marquee probably doesn't need a pc for that. I'm not sure, I've never looked into those before.

Yeah. Do it! Get a marquee going!

johnlgalt · November 30th, 2011, 11:41 PM

heh - I have a post around here somewhere (I think it was from Lifehacker) on how to convert an old LCD to a digital picture frame.

Same concept should also work for marquees, right?

alostpacket · December 1st, 2011, 11:36 AM

heh I think I'm just gonna get the box up and running, dban it and toss WinXP on there maybe then donate it. Then keep my other old gaming rig as the HTPC (wannabe)

johnlgalt · December 1st, 2011, 12:14 PM

Good idea

SUroot · December 1st, 2011, 04:25 PM

The gaming rig should be OK for Media PC. The CPU may not handle HD that well. 720 probably ok but 1080 will really struggle I think. I have an AMD 64 at around 3GHz (I think?) and I have to terminate a lot of processes to make 1080 run smoothly.

alostpacket · December 1st, 2011, 05:19 PM

Yeah I got Linux Mint 11 on it and XBMC, and it definitely struggled a bit playing 720 content.

It was one of the first Athalon x64s and I think it's clocked at 2.0 Ghz but they call it a "2600" because that was the beginning of the downfall of the Ghz race....

I wonder if I put a top of the line AGP card in there, and a faster processor if that'd be enough.

johnlgalt · December 1st, 2011, 07:30 PM

Actually, your HDs (unless they're either SSDs or else 10K drives) are probably going ot be the biggest bottleneck here.

I'm guessing you've got 5900 rpm IDEs in there, right? Probably not even Ultra DMA 133, either, more like UDMA 100s ....

Or did that board come with SATA 1st gen?

The reason I say that is that, while your RAM is limiting you, your HDs are limiting you more b/c of all the paging it has to do to keep up with the demand for the 720 content and OS and I/O of a general nature.

alostpacket · December 1st, 2011, 08:28 PM

^above post was about the old gaming rig

I have two 76 GB raptors in there (10k RPM) I *think* they are second gen, but not nearly as fast as anything today. My (current gaming machine) 7200RPM 1TB Samsung spinpoint F1 drives smoke them like no one's business.

I tried striping them but the ubiquity installer in Mint 11 does not likey them thar RAID controllers. I ended up switching the controller into regular old SATA mode. Which is fine for now. I may use some kind of software RAID.

I also have 2x 200GB 7200RPM drives for local storage -- Old Western Digital drives I think.

Basically I built this rig top of the line when Half life 2 came out..... for obvious reasons

johnlgalt · December 1st, 2011, 08:52 PM

oh. Whoops. Lol.

You caught me dead to rights - I thought it was about that older PC. Thanks for setting me straight.

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