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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: USSEnterprise on December 31, 2005, 05:26:56 pm

Title: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on December 31, 2005, 05:26:56 pm
For some reason, which I can't begin to fathom, I just bought a lot of eight computers on eBay for $1.76. All of them are probably a Pentium 1 or lower, with the exception of a Mac Performa. I already have 7 unused computers sitting in the closet. Help me think of things to do with them all. Please. Too much crap piled into a 10x15 foot room as it is!
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: SirPeale on December 31, 2005, 05:32:52 pm
Yup, going to have to say that was kinda dumb.  P1 or lower?  Man...

Well...since you're stuck now...

1) VAntAGE machine.

2) Home server.  I ran one off a 386 running Linux for some time.

3) Router.  See #2.

4) MP3 player.  Yes, a P133 will play MP3s.  Not much else, though.  Maybe a jukebox?  DOSCab might work, not sure what the minimum specs are.  Chris once asked me to try it on my 486 and  I never found the time.

5) ... okay now I'm coming up short.  I'd say thing of things to do with the cases, practice case modding or something.  I dunno.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: shmokes on December 31, 2005, 05:34:51 pm
If you'd at least said they were Pentium 2.....The answer to your question is to look into a computer recycling service.  I know that Dell has one.  I think for $50 they'll come and take as much stuff as you want to give them.

Those computers are 100% useless, especially considering that you've already got more than enough spare computers that are at least, and likely far more powerful.  You will be a healthier person.  It's amazing at the emotional benefits that come from a major physical dejunking.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on December 31, 2005, 05:41:01 pm
I cannot dejunk. I have a computer that is older than I am. After I get these, the grand total for just my bedroom will be 19 computers.

I have a problem! Help!
I'll probably keep the Mac. And the Pentium Pro server.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: M3talhead on December 31, 2005, 06:37:44 pm
Keep one for a DOSbox for sure. There are still some quality games that cannot be played on XP machines (Xwing/Tie Fighter come to mind).

As for the rest, have you thought about making a Folding@Home cluster?
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Sephroth57 on December 31, 2005, 06:47:36 pm
big doorstops?
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: markrvp on December 31, 2005, 08:03:23 pm
In all seriousness, in Rotary club we used to have people speak all the time about taking 486 & Pentium class computers to underpriveleged areas of Mexico and Central America.  Pentium class computers will run Windows98 and Microsoft Explorer which allows them to access the internet.

You might contact a few churches and see if they know groups accepting them.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on December 31, 2005, 08:59:23 pm
I can profit from that! Tax Deductions!
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: TOK on December 31, 2005, 10:53:46 pm
You can really piss off the garbage man.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on December 31, 2005, 10:57:59 pm
Drop them off the roof. Open the case and throw a bunch of M-80s attached to one fuse, close the case, light it, and run.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: missioncontrol on December 31, 2005, 11:07:44 pm
put one in a microwave........

Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: danny_galaga on January 01, 2006, 01:39:31 am


cube them. i remember in the eighties that was the next big thing...

see how effective it is. you should get at least the power of say, a 10ghz processor...... or if not at least p166....
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on January 01, 2006, 02:06:15 am
Cube them?
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: danny_galaga on January 01, 2006, 02:39:59 am
yeah, it was some way of networking a number of computers to give them some kinda 3 dimensional way of processing- it's right up there with bubble memory!
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: SOAPboy on January 01, 2006, 03:45:37 am


cube them. i remember in the eighties that was the next big thing...

see how effective it is. you should get at least the power of say, a 10ghz processor...... or if not at least p166....

Clustering..

Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: danny_galaga on January 01, 2006, 04:36:16 am


cube them. i remember in the eighties that was the next big thing...

see how effective it is. you should get at least the power of say, a 10ghz processor...... or if not at least p166....

Clustering..



cubing, clustering. it was all hippy talk if you ask me...
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: M3talhead on January 01, 2006, 06:57:11 am


cube them. i remember in the eighties that was the next big thing...

see how effective it is. you should get at least the power of say, a 10ghz processor...... or if not at least p166....

Clustering..



Which goes back to my Folding@Home idea. Stanford University designed software for PCs  to help solve huge protein algorithms in the search for cures to diseases like Parkinson's, Diabetes and Alzheimer's. By utilizing the processor while its "idle", the computer solves a small portion of the huge equation and uploads it to the schools server. Its kind of like the SETI screensaver project they had a few years back, without all the spyware and crappy coding. People have formed teams across the internet and are in competition with each other for "points" given out by the programmers of F@H. Points are awarded to teams or individuals participating by the number of CPUs running folding and how frequently. Its pretty cool.  Check it out.  (http://folding.stanford.edu/)
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 01, 2006, 06:58:26 am
You could start your own little museum.
Or you can sell them for 0.99$ and make some profit  ;D
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Thenasty on January 01, 2006, 11:06:39 am
I just threw away about 15 MOBO's from 386 to Pentium/2/3. Some were combo (built in Video/Sound). I was tired looking at it collecting dust and I figured that when its time for me to make a MINI MAME, I could probably gather a better system for it.

Now as far as the CPU's and RAM ( SIPPS, SIMMS, DIMM, etc..) I keeped them, just in case I need it in the future or someone might be looking for it. You interested ? :)

At this point, I have 2 MINI system (1 no PS)

http://www.lhsystemsllc.com/products/bk630e.html

and with all the CPU's I have, I don't have this particular P3 FCPGA CPU. I have the SLOT P3 CPU only (ranging from 400-533 mhz).
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: SithMaster on January 01, 2006, 11:52:18 am
Does anyone have mobos with composite out?  Everything i have access to only has a composite out.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Thenasty on January 01, 2006, 01:29:14 pm
I have VID Card that has Composite out. When i used it, I had it setup to have the output to BOTH VGA and Composite and it also work in DOS on my TV screen.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: paigeoliver on January 02, 2006, 08:06:54 am
In all seriousness, in Rotary club we used to have people speak all the time about taking 486 & Pentium class computers to underpriveleged areas of Mexico and Central America.  Pentium class computers will run Windows98 and Microsoft Explorer which allows them to access the internet.

You might contact a few churches and see if they know groups accepting them.

Funnily enough I was just read this on another forum.

Quote
...goes on to describe some of the surprising ways that technology affects poor countries. For example, 'recycled' computers from first-world countries end up in third-world villages where poor villagers try to extract metals from the equipment, and end up getting exposed to obscenely high levels of lead, chronium, and barium. The villagers consequently have higher rates of birth defects, infant mortality, TB, blood diseases, and respiratory problems.


Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: paigeoliver on January 02, 2006, 08:09:28 am
As for the 8 computers.

Pull the RAM throw the rest of them away.

List the RAM on ebay, for $1.76 and learn not to buy garbage in the future.

I had (and still have), too much out of date computer clutter floating around. It is worthless, totally worthless, and pretty much useless too.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Bones on January 02, 2006, 08:23:00 am
You could surf for porn at an incredible rate that few other perverts would ever achieve.

Well except maybe Goz.....
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on January 02, 2006, 05:47:46 pm
I just picked the bloody crap up. 6 "beige box" machines, one of which is a server. There is also the Mac Preforma. Additionally, an IBM PS/2 Model 80, which I may be able to get some $$$ for from vintage computer people.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on January 11, 2006, 05:19:33 pm
Holy Crap. One of the computers in this load was an IBM PS/2 Model 80. 386, 4MB RAM, 40MB ESDI HDD, and MCA bus. I just saw one of these on eBay. It was up to $200.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Havok on January 12, 2006, 09:49:17 am
Pile them up and make walls out of them.

Or, try and sell them to some other person on ebay with the same kind of "problem" you have...

 ;)
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Thenasty on January 12, 2006, 09:56:16 am
If I were you USS, I'll E-mail that guy who bought it for that much ($200.00) for the model 80. I myslef did not know this and threw away my model 80 and model 60 (or was it 90) been a while already, and threw away the DISK w/it. If I only known some guy would give me $200 or even $50.00 bucks it, I would have been a little richer today  ;)
Now I only have this IBM 5150 POrtable left w/20MB HD MFM, built in b/w/moncrome monitor, flip over keboard, wieght lot a TON, it has DOS 6.22 w/ASteroid, Bouncing BABY games etc..... Anyone wanna offer something for it, I no longer have the PAPERS that thing was used for  :o
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Otraotaku on January 12, 2006, 10:42:09 am
You could surf for porn at an incredible rate that few other perverts would ever achieve.

Well except maybe Goz.....

hah.. true.. ^.<

but you could also send me one... ^.<
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Stingray on January 13, 2006, 03:36:06 pm
There is also the Mac Preforma.

What model Performa is it? There are tons of great Mac games that will run fine on older hardware. If you decide you want to keep that one, jump back on ebay and buy yourself an ADB gamepad.

-S
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: SithMaster on January 13, 2006, 03:40:27 pm
Marathon and some others by bungie come to mind.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on January 13, 2006, 09:58:38 pm
There is also the Mac Preforma.

What model Performa is it? There are tons of great Mac games that will run fine on older hardware. If you decide you want to keep that one, jump back on ebay and buy yourself an ADB gamepad.

-S
575. 33MHz, 5MB RAM, 250MB HDD, 2x CD-ROM
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 14, 2006, 11:25:41 am
Did you try this ?
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Harry Potter on January 14, 2006, 11:35:11 am
You dork. That's only five.  ::)
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 14, 2006, 11:40:31 am
I dork.
That's the current guinness record holder.
Anybody who'll do 8 beats that juggler
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: MinerAl on January 14, 2006, 12:21:53 pm
The 575 is the highest form of the all in one Performa/LC 5XX series... You can try to sell the logic board out of it on ebay as a Color Classic upgrade board.  That seems to be what most of them get used for these days. 

Paint it black and pretend it's a MacTV :)

As for the rest... make a fort out of them.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: DYNAGOD on January 14, 2006, 07:03:08 pm
ghetto render farm  ;D
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 15, 2006, 11:42:47 am
Most of the people out there don't even know what to do with one...
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Harry Potter on January 16, 2006, 10:19:17 am
Render some milk.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: ChadTower on January 16, 2006, 01:12:09 pm

You could make a damn fine stack of useless crap out of those 8 machines.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: AC. on January 16, 2006, 11:43:33 pm
Target practice.
Dejunk.
Stack them and get an 8 way KVM switch.
Double up the hard drives in the best ones and use it for internet sponging.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Otraotaku on January 17, 2006, 08:28:10 am
what you didnt decide to send me one yet... ^.<
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: ChadTower on January 17, 2006, 09:56:50 am

Pull the boards and practice soldering.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on January 17, 2006, 06:35:03 pm
I've been thinking about something involving M-80s
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Crazy_Mack on January 17, 2006, 09:14:19 pm
I have a computer that is older than I am.

Okay, how many other people felt old by reading that comment?
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: Chris on January 19, 2006, 12:25:43 am
4) MP3 player.  Yes, a P133 will play MP3s.  Not much else, though.  Maybe a jukebox?  DOSCab might work, not sure what the minimum specs are.  Chris once asked me to try it on my 486 and  I never found the time.
DOSCab will run on a P133 with 32 MB of RAM with a classic skin.  It's been tested down to a P100, although not extensively.   With a CD skin it would probably be choppy.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 21, 2006, 01:42:58 am
Well, did you find out already ?

cause if not, you can buy 12 more and start a new thread.  ;D
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 24, 2006, 01:31:23 am
Now seriously, I think the order in which this request is posted is somewhat of a wrong nature.
I mean you don't buy 8 computers and then starts asking what to do with them.
A better tactics would be like:

Hey guys, there is an Atomic russian submarine on ebay, do you think it would be possible for me to use that periscope on my cab ? (I really don't need all the remaining silly stuff).
Thanks
Perry
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: ChadTower on January 24, 2006, 09:07:29 am

That would actually be a hella cool upgrade for a Battlezone.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 25, 2006, 01:21:55 pm
Yep. From the rest you could just build a submarine for blinds.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: SirPoonga on January 25, 2006, 01:54:40 pm
ghetto render farm  ;D
Heh, beowulf cluster and solve pi, even though today's computers would still be faster at that.
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 25, 2006, 06:29:11 pm
3.15 is good enough for me. know what ? make it 4. I'm a capitalist pig,
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: USSEnterprise on January 25, 2006, 06:39:34 pm
Pi is exactly 3!
Title: Re: What can I do with 8 computers?
Post by: c64rulez on January 25, 2006, 06:43:25 pm
Well, I never thought of it this way. You may be right, though the consequences might be unpredictable