Isellion

So, yeah, we're saving up to build my wife a new desktop. Once that happens, I'll have her old desktop just sitting around. I'd like to do something with it, and I'm curious what you guys would do.

Specs:
Dell Computer
CPU: Pentium 4 - 2.4GHz
RAM: 256 MB of DDR
Integrated graphics
Single 10/100 network connection
DVD-ROM
I'd replace the HDD, since this one's going on 6 years old.
CPU-Z Validation (just for the heck of it)

It's got three PCI slots, which I have a feeling I'd have to fill them up with stuff (NIC's and SATA cards).


It's nothing special, but I know I could do something with it. Should I start it off as a small server or should I use it for a router (Untangle). One big drawback is the single network connection (especially since it's not gigabit ).

Thoughts?

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The_0ctogon

I'd drop in NICs and make it a router. Good luck

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FallenFaux

Well I'd do what I always do when my computers become of no use to me: Overclock it till it dies, unfortunately I don't think you're Dell mobo can overclock. So in light of that I'd turn it into a DOS box, a router, or a file server.

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the_beast

Server maybe, router no.

The power consumption will kill you using a P4 as a router. You'd be better off buying a Via board from eBay for that.

How many onboard SATA ports does it have? If you need to use an add-in card for SATA & for your NIC on a single PCI bus you will limit your max network speeds to 30-50MB/s or so. But that is still more than enough for a decent home server, and plenty for serving up HD media etc.

bryce

A server is on 24/7 just like a router. So, what's the difference? I've used a big ol beast compaq proliant 5500 for a month as a server and I noticed no difference in my light bill or ac bill. The difference would be super small in my opinion. So, go for a router if you want. I would think a server with 256mb of RAM wouldn't go far, but if it's got linux on it, maybe.

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whiterabbit

Use it as a file server take the old HDD and reformat it put a fresh install of your favorite OS then ghost the drive onto a disk when you get it completely set up in case the drive crashes. Then get a PCI SATA card, a 1TB SATA HDD and maybe some NIC cards use it as a router/file server. store all of your music/movies on the 1TB drive and access them from any computer in the house.

the_beast

S3 Standby & WOL. No need to have a fileserver on 24/7, only when you need files. A router needs to be on whenever anyone needs 'net access, so this isn't really appropriate.

Thejosh

build a mame arcade !!!!! its fun

Thejosh

oh that that p4 northwood is a beast of a cpu (well for a p4 it is) it will run at 3.12 ghz with a 1100 fsb all day long with a good mobo