What to do with two slightly older desktop computers...
January 11, 2012 11:09 AM Subscribe
What to do with two slightly older desktop computers...
My company gave me two old Dell Optiplex gx520's without hard drives that are either going to be recycled w/ other e-waste by the company, or I can do something with them. Installing a new drive in each is no problem but I dont know if I want to go through the hassle of getting Windows all setup on them, or if I should go with another OS more specific to what they'd be used for. I do not know their entire specs, but they both are the same, and have P4 processors (??? ghz) and probably only 1 gig of RAM (they were running XP).
What would you use one or two of these for, and what OS would you make use of to do it?
(ie: install FreeNAS and a bunch of external drives for a backup solution, or install xxxxxOS and camera(s) for a diy surveillance setup w/ remote monitoring, or install a barebones linux distro and XBMC and use one as a HTPC.)
Right now I have the first two of my examples already accounted for (Synology NAS, Drobo, and more networked drives than I can count, and an Acer Aspire Revo tweaked for as a HD HTPC running XPMC), but I'm open to any of your ideas.
My company gave me two old Dell Optiplex gx520's without hard drives that are either going to be recycled w/ other e-waste by the company, or I can do something with them. Installing a new drive in each is no problem but I dont know if I want to go through the hassle of getting Windows all setup on them, or if I should go with another OS more specific to what they'd be used for. I do not know their entire specs, but they both are the same, and have P4 processors (??? ghz) and probably only 1 gig of RAM (they were running XP).
What would you use one or two of these for, and what OS would you make use of to do it?
(ie: install FreeNAS and a bunch of external drives for a backup solution, or install xxxxxOS and camera(s) for a diy surveillance setup w/ remote monitoring, or install a barebones linux distro and XBMC and use one as a HTPC.)
Right now I have the first two of my examples already accounted for (Synology NAS, Drobo, and more networked drives than I can count, and an Acer Aspire Revo tweaked for as a HD HTPC running XPMC), but I'm open to any of your ideas.
I only say that since you seem to have your personal computing needs well in hand.
posted by gauche at 11:13 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by gauche at 11:13 AM on January 11, 2012
You can turn one into a media server for your HTPC using linux, but I understand its kind of a pain in the ass to set up.
You can also turn one into a dedicated MAME arcade console using linux.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:15 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
You can also turn one into a dedicated MAME arcade console using linux.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:15 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm seconding the MAME-option and then donating them to underpriviledged students...
posted by Rabarberofficer at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Rabarberofficer at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
GX520's are still decent PCs, we still support them where I work. You should be able to get Windows 7 running on them with no problems (but I would suggest bumping up the ram to at least 2gb for performance). The onboard video is decent enough for standard def, but would be a stretch for HD. The above suggestions of a linux/windows NAS sound good to me, but if these aren't the slimline models the yearly cost will be about $100 if on 24/7. (I was tasked to hook these up to a Kill-a-watt a few years ago to sit idle).
posted by samsara at 11:41 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by samsara at 11:41 AM on January 11, 2012
« Older Does this violate our 501(c)(3) status? | Looking for web resource for Canadian court... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gauche at 11:12 AM on January 11, 2012