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Recyle your old PC [message #359407] |
Sat, 22 November 2008 15:26 ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
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reborn
Messages: 3231 Registered: September 2004 Location: uk - london
Karma: 0
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General (3 Stars) |
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I feel like a massive ramble, so here goes...
This year for christmas I'm having a really large family event, we decided that as some people have just bought houses, flats, are temping etc etc and money for some people is an issue, that secret santa would be a great way of making sure people don't have to spend allot of money, but yet every gets a present and it's half decent because they're spending there budget on one gift.
I'm getting my brother-in-law's gift and I wanted to make it a good one. The limit for the spend is just 40 pound sterling, so I came a bit stuck for ideas.
Then it hit me... Ouch that hurt ![Razz](images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif)
He's been saying for a few months now that he wants a PC or a laptop, something to access the internet at home (he recently moved in with his girlfriend and is missing the essentials).
Now I know you can't just get a new PC for 40 pounds, but I had two old PC's lying around and wondered if I could make something for 40 pounds.
After canabilising the two old computers and rummaging through my crate of old PC perhiperals containing everything from an iomega zipdisk drive to a pentium 2 CPU and heatsink (actually they wasn't separate back then, just kinda moulded into one) I salvaged the best parts for a rig and came up with the following:
160GB Maxtor SATA Hard Drive
AMD 2800xp CPU
Two lot's of OCZ's PC 3700 Dual CH Platinum Edition 3-3-2-8 RAM, giving it a healthy 1 Gig
A DVD re-writable drive and a DVD read drive, thought I might aswell add both
Radeon 9600XT 256mb Graphics card
Antec 480 watt PSU
ABIT KV7-V Mother board
And some old CPU fan I forgot about that looks like a jumbo jet engine
Not bad really considering it was just lying around. The only problem was the cases. Both cases looked like crap, I had an Antec (I think) see through clear acrylic case, but with dirty stains all over it and it just looked rough, and the other one, well.. That was never going to work, I remember using it a few years ago and the side to it had broken. I used a desktop fan to blow air into it at the time because it was hotter then Satan's nut sack. I'm quite happy though, it had all the parts I needed to started making it, albeit with no case. Although that did me a favour really, I could stuff together this modest PC and sling it inside a nice new case, making it look fantastically shiny and glimering, blowing my whole 40 pound budget on the case.
I assembled it all, deciding to use the acrylic case for the time being, just to have something to work with. I got a bunch of software ready for it, including windows XP, Microsoft office, photoshop and some other bits and pieces I thought he might like (these pieces of software didn't count towards budget, read into that what you will, but hey... I'm on a mission here). I even had renegade ready thinking if I installed it for him I make make a fan out of him!
I flicked the switch, actually that's a lie, there was no switch, I had to touch the pin of the motherboard with a screwdriver to start it up (don't try that at home kids), and decided instead of changing the boot order to stick XP on, I'd let it fire up and see what I had on the drive. I was a little optimistic because too much hard ware change and windows normally gets nasty on you, but it booted up fine. This was more due to it being a Linux OS rather then a windows one, and I had a breif 10 minutes looking at some old files and smiling with an air of reminisance about me.
I was concerned though that during the boot there was some flickering and stuff on the screen...
I opened the DVD drive and popped in the windows XP disk, restarted and changed the boot order to read the DVD drive first.
It got to the set-up part and all was going fine, until it just turned off. I was dissapointed, but thought I'd try again.. It failed again and I was sad that it didn't even get to the part where you choose which partition you install to.
After allot of messing around and switching parts for about two hours I found the culprit. It was the graphics card. I was pretty annoyed, while he isn't a gamer, and would most likely only use it to surf the net and play perhaps a bit of championship manager on it, I though the card would be nice as I played renegade on it for a few months with no problem at all.
So now you're up-to-date, my dilema is I can only spend 40 pound on this project, and I have to get an AGP graphics card that doesn't suck, and a case. While I could just buy whatever, no one would really know, It's now become a bit of a challenge to me.
If anyone has a link to AGP graphics cars that are reasonably priced, and around the same spec as the radeon 9600XT 256mb, I would appreciate it. The same goes for a black PC case, I did want one with a clear side so you could see the jumbo jet engine cooler in it, and some old fans that have colored lights inside them, but I don't think i can get that on my budget now.
Also, if anyone has a decent AGP graphics card and would like to let me take it off your hands, I will happily trade for it.
Whilst I'm sure you wouldn't be interested in the old technology of Iomega zip drives and other junk in my crate (which annoyingly enough contains graphics cards, just bloody old matrox ones) I do have something that might perk interest.
I found two hard ware key loggers in there, one is a ps2, and the other is a USB. They both work, I've just checked them and I remember that the ps2 one stores 2mb, and the USB one stores 4mb. This may seem small, but it's actually enough to store like a years worth of key strokes, or something like that.
I looked on ebay and the USB version is for sale at 40 pound plus p&p.
Alternatively you could just give it to me ![Razz](images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif)
This may seem like a strange thread, but I know you all share a love of computers with me, and I want to beat this challenge.
I encourage others to try have a go at making a PC from old parts yourself. Even if you don't give it to someone else, you could have a nice linux firewall, or perhaps have a go at networking them. If nothing else, you'll get a feeling of naustalga. Please share your experiance if you've had any...
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #359454 is a reply to message #359407] |
Sun, 23 November 2008 02:55 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
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Goztow
Messages: 9734 Registered: March 2005 Location: Belgium
Karma: 13
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General (5 Stars) Goztoe |
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The problem with laptops is tha they're really popular, even the older ones.
Very good read there, Reborn, thanks for that. I cannot help you, unfortunately, as I only use laptops.
You can find me in The KOSs2 (TK2) discord while I'm playing. Feel free to come and say hi! TK2 discord
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #359459 is a reply to message #359407] |
Sun, 23 November 2008 03:40 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
JPNOD
Messages: 807 Registered: April 2004 Location: Area 51
Karma: 0
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Colonel |
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New PC's do not have to be expensive, especially if you just run OpenSource software. It really depends on user usage too though.
Intel® Desktop Board D945GCLF = 56eu
Look for one of these add.. 1GB DDR, a Harddrive for 30eu and a nice case with decent CPU for 50eu. Maybe ad a cheap second hand monitor or get a CDROm with that if you do not wish to install from USB.
56
50
30
20 - mouse keyboard./cdrom
then you have yourself a new comp for 150~euro
with exception of new TFT/Monitor.
WOL nick: JPNOD
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #359460 is a reply to message #359459] |
Sun, 23 November 2008 03:42 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
JPNOD
Messages: 807 Registered: April 2004 Location: Area 51
Karma: 0
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Colonel |
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As for parts I dont throw away anything. Hell a P1 133mhz with 32MB ram can be used as Web/FTP/Samba/SSH server.
Again this can be done with Open Source software, you dont even have to pay for that.
WOL nick: JPNOD
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #360091 is a reply to message #359782] |
Wed, 26 November 2008 16:35 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
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Starbuzzz
Messages: 1637 Registered: June 2008
Karma: 0
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General (1 Star) |
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Nice story, reborn!
I just love PC's and computers. They are amazing, easy to learn about, and great for modding.
I salvage whatever PC's I can find. Usually after winter, I go around to pick up the used PC's from garage sales. There is a PC repair shop nearby where I try to get as much parts as possible. It's amazing how much parts you can salvage...CD-ROM drives, HDD's (usually not that big ), video, sound, network cards, also some good TV tuner cards!
Also, sometimes, the cases of these PC's are very very rugged and strong. While they lack the beauty of modern cases, they are very rugged...especially those of the old Gateway tower PC's.
A couple months ago at work, we were disposing off old computers. There were about 12 of them. They were the old white case computers, mostly the now obsolete Dell Optiplex GX 100, and GX 100's like these:
http://www.pcarenahungary.com/pricelist/oriaskep/dell_optiplex_gx110-298.jpg
Anyway, a bright idea popped in my head and I told the IT management that instead of throwing them away, we can rebuild these computers and give them for free for the warehouse workers (who sadly don't make much money and can't really afford comps without managing to miss a few important bills).
The IT director eventually agreed and after getting approval from the higher-ups, it was a go (as long as it did not intrude into my other duties). It felt amazing to turn trash-bound computers into things people can use!
Unfortunately, I was allowed to install only Windows ME (many copies of which were lying around). I put working CD-ROM drives, Floppy drives (!), a network card whenever possible, 256 - 512 MB RAM, and also a modem card. Processors were Pentium III/Celeron! (733 MHz) Finding drivers were a bit hard but Dell has a very nice organized website to download them.
They weren't much but you can go on the internet, check your mails, surf...and that's what the warehouse workers wanted.
In the end, we had to distribute them via some "pick your name from the hat" method...only 12 computers and 30 warehouse employees.
But it was amazing and those who got the PC's were happy...they got back after the weekend saying how they liked the PC's. We also gave along the monitors, keyboards, and mouse and spare sets of speakers, and power and network cables.
Infact just today at work, one guy brought back the PC he won to fix an error which I did.
The company I work for (hopefully a long time) was founded in 1976 and they never threw anything away...they still have LOADS of computer stuff in giant pallets in the warehouse. I wonder how many precious old gems are still escaping my eyes.
That "project" was where I really got to learn a heck of a lot. It felt good too.
[Updated on: Wed, 26 November 2008 16:42] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #360116 is a reply to message #359407] |
Wed, 26 November 2008 19:25 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
Romaner
Messages: 355 Registered: January 2007 Location: edmonton, canada
Karma: 0
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Commander |
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i have 4 old cases in my house still full of old parts... i have already built 1 computer for a buddy of mine, him and his gf had a baby recently and needless to say that cash is an issue. so i was happy to give it to him for a case of beer. which technically wasnt even worth my time but you know...
now i said i would throw something together for another friend of mine that had his computer for over 4 years and its in such a bad shape that i can definetly slap something together from the parts i got lying around and it would still be way better than his. but im thinking of charging him quite a bit more since he has no kids, lives at his moms and has a job lol.
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #363125 is a reply to message #359407] |
Sun, 14 December 2008 08:50 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
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reborn
Messages: 3231 Registered: September 2004 Location: uk - london
Karma: 0
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General (3 Stars) |
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Many thanks to Caveman for being such a nice guy and sending me his old graphics card for this project. Work is well underway... You can see his card in my right hand, and the broken one in my left.
Times ticking, I really need to get this done soon. ![Smile](images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif)
[Updated on: Sun, 14 December 2008 08:52] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Recyle your old PC [message #413493 is a reply to message #413477] |
Tue, 08 December 2009 10:48 ![Go to previous message Go to previous message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/up.png) ![Go to next message Go to next message](/theme/Renegade_Forums/images/down.png) |
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reborn
Messages: 3231 Registered: September 2004 Location: uk - london
Karma: 0
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General (3 Stars) |
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Caveman wrote on Tue, 08 December 2009 10:59 | I know I shouldn't really bump old topic's but I was looking through my PMs on here and the PMs sent between Reborn and myself popped up about the GFX I sent... I was just curious how your project went...
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The PC is still running round his house. My mum was able to order a mouse and keyboard through her work for free, and my Brother-in-law's mother-in-law got an LCD screen for free and let him have it.
He uses it almost every night and it's still going strong. Was a great success, but I never got him playing renegade.
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