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Uses for OLD PC

  • 01-12-2018 1:28pm
    #1
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,498 ✭✭✭


    Howdy,

    I have an old Dell studio hybrid (the original NUC - about a decade earlier).

    Dug it out today, had considered leaving it plugged into the TV, but it struggles with rte player, and higher definition youtube (unsurprisingly).

    Its basically laptop spec from 10+ years ago - and not a particularly good one at that!

    I was considering trying to set it up as a VPN server, but thought others might have some ideas, or what they have re-purposed old PCs for.

    Suggestions welcome

    9161-img6571s-1.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    The high horse brigade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,456 ✭✭✭The high horse brigade


    Get a Linux distro on there then look into running pihole in docker for full network wide adblock on all devices including crApple. Then using docker also install home assistant. You can still also use it as a NAS or whatever else you want to do with it. Plex/Emby would be fine also as long as you're not wanting to transcode, there are docker images available for them also.

    https://pi-hole.net/
    Pi-hole®: A black hole for Internet advertisements – curl -sSL https ...
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XWPluWcYRMI
    🎥 The Beginner's Guide to Home Assistant - HassIO - YouTube


  • #3
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,498 ✭✭✭Lu Tze


    sugarman wrote: »
    If I remember correctly, although they've a laptop CPU they're socketed and can be upgraded easily.

    Whatever the top compatible Core2Duo laptop CPU of the time was, you could prob pick it up for a few cents or possibly even free if you kept an eye out.

    Prob takes max 2x2GB DDR2 too, again can be got for pennies these days if you wanted to go down the upgrading route.

    Should run W7 Starter fine, but optimal use these days would be a Linux distro.

    Can also be used for a NAS / Plex / Home server, or a basic Web Server.

    Yeah, i already did that, swapped a T3200 for a T9300 CPU and upgraded the ram to 4GB, and threw in an SSD. It's running Windows 7 alright, just doesn't have enough grunt for buttery smooth 1080p playback. No need for a home server.

    The other thought was of using it as a retro console, SNES, mame etc


  • #4
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,498 ✭✭✭Lu Tze


    sugarman wrote: »
    Try Linux running Retroarch.

    Should handle everything up PS1/N64 fine.

    Will try this out and see how it is. Might keep nephews/nieces busy Christmas day!


  • #5
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Some good ideas there. Not heard of them before!


  • #6
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Lu Tze wrote: »
    Yeah, i already did that, swapped a T3200 for a T9300 CPU and upgraded the ram to 4GB, and threw in an SSD. It's running Windows 7 alright, just doesn't have enough grunt for buttery smooth 1080p playback. No need for a home server.

    The other thought was of using it as a retro console, SNES, mame etc

    My laptop with a similar spec is the same. Just can't do video. WHich is a problem for web media.

    Ironically my cheap as chips atom based netbook has no problem with FHD.


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  • #7
    tuxy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    Anything you can do with it can probably be done with a pi 3. After you calculate the power usage of running something like this 24/7 it's cheaper to buy the pi.


  • #8
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,498 ✭✭✭Lu Tze


    tuxy wrote: »
    Anything you can do with it can probably be done with a pi 3. After you calculate the power usage of running something like this 24/7 it's cheaper to buy the pi.

    I know, it won't be running 24/7 though. Worst comes to worst I'll just pull the SSD and HDD and scrap the rest. The idea about the VPN server was so mates abroad could watch the GAA during the summer


  • #9
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,125 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    I had one of those as well. I got it pretty cheap and it was a cracker of a machine in its day. I sold mine a while ago on adverts and got 50 euro for it. Mine still had the original t4300 processor in it so you might get a bit more with that upgraded one.


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