What to do with a bunch of old computers

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:04 am

Okay, there's a chance that I'm going to be getting my hands on a lot of outdated computers (not sure how many, but at least 20). Now, in order to decide whether I should get my hands on them or just let them get trashed, I kinda need some ideas and tips on what to do with them (or even personal experiences). They'd be ranging from a couple of 386's and 486's to mostly Pentium class PCs. I don't know exactly what they'd be until I have my hands on them, but chances are that most of them are in decent working condition.

Now, what is something useful that I can do with these (either seperate or networked together)?

crazyman · Post by **crazyman** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:06 am

Originally posted by BIGJIMSLATE:
Okay, there's a chance that I'm going to be getting my hands on a lot of outdated computers (not sure how many, but at least 20). Now, in order to decide whether I should get my hands on them or just let them get trashed, I kinda need some ideas and tips on what to do with them (or even personal experiences). They'd be ranging from a couple of 386's and 486's to mostly Pentium class PCs. I don't know exactly what they'd be until I have my hands on them, but chances are that most of them are in decent working condition.

Now, what is something useful that I can do with these (either seperate or networked together)?

can you make a few good ones and donate them to a public school?

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:14 am

I'd put a PC in EVERY room of the house, and donate the rest to a school. When I say every room, I mean EVERY room, like the bathroom and kitchen, and also one by your bed

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:33 am

Maybe one big folding network? You could fold like a madman.

nightowl · Post by **nightowl** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:42 am

i'd keep the pentium machines and use them as internet or play mp3's

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:45 am

Myabe refurbish those that are worthwhile, and go for a big tax write-off?

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 10:57 am

As for the pentiums, MPS, Folding, Server, Router and so on and so on. 486's, and under 166's Pentiums, I give them to the kids in the neigborhood that dont have a puter, After I make sure they are running properly as long as i havnt had to put any money into them. Keep some hardrives and junk a couple of machines so you can increase storage on the ones you keep.

colour · Post by **colour** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 11:31 am

take all the best parts and make a few decent machines(decent for the parts available) and trash what you cant use then donate the rest.

at the very least youll have fun messing around with the parts.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 5:10 pm

Actually, one of my ideas did involve donating some equipment towards a local school or something along that line.

Hm...assuming I get some stuff ranging from 486/50~Pentium200, any suggestions? Giant MP3 storage space? What about OS's...what's the best one to use on lower end PC's (I don't mind learning Linux or BSD)?

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 5:35 pm

big: prolly 95B or 98se for the OS.. u could use one of them as a nix router for ur house..put puters here and there if u need em..and use for just workstations (random stuff like word processing and net..as they won't handle much more) a 200 could be ok for most stuff tho

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Tue Apr 03, 2001 6:35 pm

The chips in em have a significant amount of gold on em (at least thats what I saw on a tv show.) Some German company crushed em, melts em down and recovers the gold. Doubt 20 is enough to make much of a nugget. Anyways its something to look into.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Sat Apr 07, 2001 7:25 pm

I think only the old (pre-1990 ???)computers use any gold in them. And yeah, its probably such a minimal amount with so few computers.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Apr 07, 2001 8:11 pm

95b runs very nice on teh 166 and up pentiums.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Sat Apr 07, 2001 9:09 pm

What about 98:SE? What's the minimum computer speed where it can at least run well? The only reason I ask that is that its my favorite non-NT Windows OS (read: crashes the least often

).

Also, what are (approximate) speed and memory requirements for non-MS OS's such as BSD or Linux (any distro of them)?

striderf1 · Post by **striderf1** » Sat Apr 07, 2001 9:59 pm

they would be great for folding. I don't think it would be good for mp3 storage because it would be tough to hook up all the computers to a speaker system. but I can't think of anything else, just folding. maybe word processing or just email. I think the best idea so far is donating all the extra computers to local kids who want to have a computer but can't afford one. good luck w/ whatever decision you make.

tekelberry · Post by **tekelberry** » Mon Apr 09, 2001 12:29 am

Just fold all day long with them..they would fold, but just not that fast.

keeper · Post by **keeper** » Mon Apr 09, 2001 7:34 am

My wife is a teacher. She would Drool over the prospect of having a dozen 133Mhz w/ 16 MB of RAM for her students.

If they had a CD=ROM, Floppy & Monitor, she would be in Heaven.

She has some old 566MB IBMs, in her Classroom...and is thankful for those.

Don't under-estimate their value to a school.