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I need a use for my old desktop (Opteron 144 1.8 @ 2.43GHz | 3GB | dual 7600GT SLI)

LTX

LTX

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 25, 2008
164
0
Vancouver, BC, Canada
I recently got a new desktop computer and my old one has since been sitting in a box, withering away. I thought that you guys could help me come up with some creative/random/useful ideas on how to give the computer a purpose.

Specs:
AMD Opteron 144 1.8 @ 2.43GHz
DFI LANParty NF4 Ultra-D (with SLI mod)
3GB DDR RAM
Two EVGA e-GeForce 7600GTs in SLI

Any ideas will do, as long as they don't involve destroying the computer. :D
 
Three little words, FOLDING AT HOME. Feel free to use the username Horatio and team #34479 ;)
 
Love said:
Home iTunes server? Aquarium? Cat's litter box?
Click to expand...

I was thinking of making it a file server, actually. But then I thought, I don't have a TV in this room and the only time I'll need files is when I'm at home, and I'd always be on my desktop (which is off when I'm not at home, but I guess with a file server I could get my files remotely).

Tower-Union said:
Three little words, FOLDING AT HOME. Feel free to use the username Horatio and team #34479 ;)
Click to expand...

Used to fold with that desktop and my PS3; my team got into the top 1000 teams, and with only about 5-10 people folding. :p

I suppose I could start that up again, along with SETI, but that means adding another $25/month to my electricity bill (425W power supply, assuming 100% usage).

SactoGuy18 said:
Can you upgrade it to at least 4 GB of DDR RAM? If that's possible, you can at least run Windows 7 Home Premium Edition in 64-bit mode on it. :)
Click to expand...

I could do that, but what am I going to use it for? I bought a Macbook Pro for a reason. :D
 
what is F@H exactly? ive seen on my ps3, saying something about sharing processing power etc. but what are the pros and cons of running it?
 
LTX said:
Of course, why wouldn't you be able to? :confused: I set up F@H on ten school computers 2 years ago that had integrated graphics and P4s. They folded slooooowly, but they folded.
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This makes a bit more sense now you're going to do CPU based folding then? :confused:
 
I would turn it into a file server. I plan to turn my current desktop into a linux file server when I replace it. It will just host movies and music files for different things to tied into and use.
 
LTX said:
I could do that, but what am I going to use it for? I bought a Macbook Pro for a reason. :D
Click to expand...

I've played with Windows 7 RC 1 (Build 7100) and it actually works very well with no stability issues. Mind you, if your Opteron CPU is a single-core unit it could be just a tad slow compared to a system with a dual-core CPU.
 
lozzy1234567890 said:
what is F@H exactly? ive seen on my ps3, saying something about sharing processing power etc. but what are the pros and cons of running it?
Click to expand...

The unused CPU power of when the PS3 (or your computer) is sitting there turned on but idle is used to run a protein folding simulation application developed at Stanford which works to find cures for diseases. Your account gets points for every work unit you complete, depending on how complex it was and how long it took to complete. The points are for show only, though. :p

Pro: feel good that you're donating your idle processor power to a good cause

Con: computer/PS3 must be on to fold
 
Also works while your using it, say your web browsing/watching movie, your only using ~25% of your CPU, the other 75% could be folding.
 
LTX said:
The unused CPU power of when the PS3 (or your computer) is sitting there turned on but idle is used to run a protein folding simulation application developed at Stanford which works to find cures for diseases. Your account gets points for every work unit you complete, depending on how complex it was and how long it took to complete. The points are for show only, though. :p

Pro: feel good that you're donating your idle processor power to a good cause

Con: computer/PS3 must be on to fold
Click to expand...

You need to add to that con besides just on. it causes the computer/PS3 to suck down a lot more power. For example running my on and idleing monitor off pulls about 110W of power. Run folding at home that kicks up the CPU to 100% load that will cause the PC to pull 170-180W with out monitor.
 
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