theBlackman on 27/8/2009 at 02:52

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Being a cheap SOB. I am rebuilding my main system (11 HDD, AIW, Audigy sound, 3 GIG RAM, XPPRO) I had RAM problems, and the Sound card died. But that's under control. Just added 2 Tbyte SATA Drives.

I am also setting up two more systems, one with Win98SE and one with XP SP3.

The 98 will be specifically for THIEF 1, 2, Gold, Dromed and FM's. And a couple of other "Legacy" games. I also have been running TDS on the 98 with the tweak that came out a few years ago. I will probably not install that when I revamp the computer. I'll just move it to the mains system.

The XP is a eMachine. 160 G HDD, 1 GIG RAM, Lan, and a DVD/CD lightscribe double layer drive and I stripped it down to the operating system. I bought it for a mere $199.00. This one will be only for handling my music files.

So with a VKM switch, I'll be able to use all three almost at the same time. The main system will still be for my video editing and general use.

I have a fourth that is under construction with a AMD Tri-core and a couple of 1 Tbyte SATA HDD, and a double-layer DVD/CD lightscribe that is under construction that I will probably put System 7 on when it's available. So with this bunch of machines I'll probably have the best of two worlds.

I should be able to run just about anything I want. If the sale continues, I'll probably add another eMachine just for backup.

I'll be able to run all my legacy games (THIEF, Etc.)

Queue on 27/8/2009 at 13:37

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Speaking of the usefulness of old computers, yesterday I resurrected an old 486 I found so it could be used as a "timer" for my misting system. For those who don't remember, these older machines had mounted speakers, instead of the tiny modules mounted on board, that can be made into perfect "on/off" switches. The voltage from the speaker is enough to trigger a solider state relay (simply cut the wires going to the speaker and attach them to the relay), which completes the circuit for a 110v AC to 24v DC transformer, which in turn operates a 24v water-valve (the kind you can buy from Home Depot for underground sprinkler systems for about $12.00).

So, one 3 1/4" floppy drive later, a bootable floppy with GW-Basic on it, and a small basic program, and I'm in business. The program counts from 1 to 4500000 (which takes, on this machine, about ten minutes) at which point it emits a tone (providing the the voltage needed to operate the solid-state relay) for four seconds. The program then loops and continues running until I turn the machine off. This gives me four seconds of mist, every ten minutes, on the plant cutting material I'm working with, providing the perfect atmosphere to induce roots to form.

Independent Thief on 27/8/2009 at 22:34

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I have 2 systems with single core processors and Win 2000 pro on them.:thumb:

Henri The Hammer on 27/8/2009 at 23:25

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I keep my older PCs around for the same reasons. Sometimes older games just don't like newer hardware and software.

I have a 1 GHz AMD with Radeon 9600 and Win98 (I used to play TDS on this before getting a new computer. 7 fps is fun :D)

Also a Pentium 166 with Voodoo 2 and Sound Blaster AWE64, for those DOS games and mid 90's win95 games. :thumb:

theBlackman on 28/8/2009 at 04:31

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I never do get that correct. KVM-VKM-MKV Must be Alzheimers. :p

I have a 6 computer switch. So when I get set up in my new house, I'll be surrounded by machines. With the audio gear, the video and computers I'll be electrifryed to the nth degree. But no iPod, or other cell phone.

I still use "landlines" although I do have a 6 station remote system. :)

Audio:
Stereo Amp/preamp
3 Dual Cassette recorder/player
5 CD changer
USB Turntable (2 Speed)
Standard Turntable (3 speed)
Windup 78rpm turntable
Sony three motor R to R (10 inch)
Sony three motor R to R (7 inch)
Sony single motor three speed
Ampex Micro 41 Cassette portable (with Sound on Sound)
Uher reporter portable 4 speed R to R (5 inch)

Recording "studio" gear:
BR800 with CD burner 8 real channels 64 Virtual with effects studio.
BRMICRO studio 4 real tracks and 32 virtual with effects.
Sony Mini-disc recorder
Tascam Cassette studio
Behringer 12 channel mixer
Automatic CD Duplicator

Video:
6 TV sets, 24 to 52 inch.
2 DVD/VHS combo player recorders
3 VHS player recorders.
1 Beta format Player recorder.

Computer:
Main system is a slow poke. AMD on a Soyo KT880 MOBO, 3 Gig ram, not quite 3 Tbytes of HDD. XPPRO

Backup is a AMD Athlon on a Win98 Operating system.

Wife's computer is a AMD XPdual XPPRO

Backup backup is a eMachine Intel "Atom" 1.6ghz,160gig HDD with 1 gig RAM and a dual-layer DVD/CD burner. XPHome SP3.

The one I'm just finishing (the operating system -XPPRO- is loading as we speak), is a AMD XP tri with 2 Tbytes of SATA HDD, 4 Gig RAM, Memorex Dual-layer DVD/CD burner, AIW 5200, Audigy Platinum 2.

And last, but not least an elderly but functional Dell 14 inch Presario laptop.

A couple of stand alone DVD Burners, and three externals.

I'll have my own studio setup in the new place, and I'm designing the layouts for the gear now. :)

That is, if I live long enough to get it setup and running.:p

I used to use a 386 for a network gateway. There is no such thing as an obsolete computer. You just need to use it as it was intended. I still have my first computer a 64K RAM TRS-80, and it's followers, A TR Model II, and three Epson QX10s two still brand new never unpacked.

They all work and do exactly what they were designed for.