Gimme something interesting to do with a spare PC

[VirtualForce]

Hey guys.

This might sound odd or stupid. But that's my MO.... "whistling:

I have a spare PC and looking for something interesting to do with it. I know its like walking into a gunshop and asking for something to shoot with, but I'm hoping someone might have an interesting idea.

Anything Windows / Linux
Something interesting and fun, something one can learn from.

Its an old office PC
Dual Core Intel E7500 (2.93 GHz)
2Gb RAM
320Gb HDD
Onboard Intel VGA
100Mb NIC


Not doing

• Bitcoin stuff
• Already have a media server
• No torrenting

Also, I don't have ADSL or something with lots of data, stuck on 3G.

 

[blaaislaai]

Seeing you don't download, and already have a media server.. sell it or keep it for spares

 

[AlphaJohn]

Slap in a R1000 Nvidia and build a Steambox.

Doesn't need to have loads of omf to stream games from your Gaming PC, so that PC should work. Drive is good enough to install the smaller indie games for local play as well.

Would be a good way to check out the OS?

 

[MetalSoup]

Gimme something interesting to do with a space PC

 

[PsychoFish]

Install some Linux derivative and...run MAME or use it to browse the interwebs (it's a lot less susceptible to malware than a Doze box)...Install steam and enjoy some of the F2P games available for Linux (and some of your titles you already own)

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Alternatively...

 

[Mister 44]

Throw some extra storage into it and build a NAS for your media.

 

[Stunt]

Throw some extra storage into it and build a NAS for your media.

This^

I have an old setup that I'm converting to a NAS.

 

[KrustyThePirate]

If you don't go the NAS route and it all works 100% perhaps donate it to a rural school or some rural NPO or something like that

 

[Ser_Bunnylot]

Turn it into a linux server to run your network. DHCP, firewall, NAT, ete

 

[VirtualForce]

Thanks guys!

Some great ideas, esp the braai, when you coming over? Remember the meat and beer...

I like the MAME idea, my wife likes those old games as well, and my son will also like it! Might have a look at STEAM OS, even though I'm on STEAM almost daily, I never gave that a thought...

 

[PsychoFish]

Don't just limit it to MAME; NES emulators are readily available. ePSXe for PlayStation emulation, PS2emu for Playstation 2, mupen64plus for Nintendo 64, etc etc... It's great fun if you have a nice game controller for the PC.

 

[AlphaJohn]

I like the MAME idea, my wife likes those old games as well, and my son will also like it! Might have a look at STEAM OS, even though I'm on STEAM almost daily, I never gave that a thought...

Don't just limit it to MAME; NES emulators are readily available. ePSXe for PlayStation emulation, PS2emu for Playstation 2, mupen64plus for Nintendo 64, etc etc... It's great fun if you have a nice game controller for the PC.

You can do both Steam and Emulators on the same Linux/Windows box. So in old timely fashion.

 

[The Joker]

Donate it to a charity or school ect.
Steam OS is a waste of time at the moment...no where near ready for every day use.