Hi, I work at non-profit organization and a LOT of stuff that we get, gets recycled just because they do not meet our minimum spec. Our minimum spec is basically a working PIII 500Mhz or higher with other things. I was thinking to myself and I'm sure there are other ways to use these computers going to recycle... Any project ideas?? Anything cool would be great...
An enormous cluster. Grab a couple of old switches and get at it. http://mashie.org/casemods/tranquillity1.html An example from the great Mashie. He's got good ideas, and his cluster (although made of OLD and LOW-SPEC computers, still looks amazing and isn't an enormous eyesore) probably isn't the fastest, but judging from what you say, you probably may be able to get many more boards than he, and mount them something like this: Code: -------------- | | -------------- | | -------------- | | -------------- | | -------------- With the long things being the motherboards, and the short things being spacers on long nuts. Maybe looking like this: http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2004/08/21/9ghz_rendiathon/1.html But in your own style. Hope it goes well, I'm not an expert on cluster computing. Remember, when in doubt, Google+ =ALWAYS good.
Thnx NoahFuLing for the cluster..may be i'll try it.. What can I use this for other than 3D graphics, can it do sound processing like as in Reason or CuBase and other programs? Any other ideas?
I have a Cluster that I use to host a few websites, and serve as media PC's. You can setup like 8 media PC's one per TV. IDK use your imagination. I wish I had access to many PC's.
Heh. At one point, we had like 6 unused computers that were just sitting there. I ran distributed computing, like a SETI thing, but 3d rendering, because 3 were 500MHZ PII's, 2 were 500MHZ PIII's, and 1 was a dual 700mhz PIII. They all had Voodoos. *grins* Fricking fast rendering for what I was doing. Then they all went away. Now I'm running distributed computing for video encoding and decoding on the dual 700mhz PIII, a 1.67 GHZ AXP, a 1ghz PIII, a dual 1.2GHZ AMP, and a dual 1.8ghz AMP. With my 2.8ghz P4 as the head node. It's fun. Sorry for that offtopic. This forum is more overclockers and modders, but I'm sure if you wait, there'll be someone along who knows exactly what you need.
Ya, I know it's for modders and overclockers but at the same time... They seem to know what to do with whole bunch of random stuff It seems like the whole topic is leaning towards making a Cluster.. I would other ideas, not just cluster ideas.. I'm sure I can find enough sites about building clusters... I would like to know what I can do other than clusters...
You could also use some of the machines to make an Asterisk VoIP PBX, or a Smoothwall firewall...there are loads of Linux-based applications that don't need vast amounts of power - try looking at sourceforge for inspiration!
I know its off topic but what does a cluster do? i dont know much about the whole networking thing but i am getting into it "slowly but stady". reason i ask is hat i could get my hands on 6 p3 500mHz with 128mB ram and agp graphics and all for free
*puts on stolen Nexxo hat* Sorry, mate. I'll return it in a bit. First things first. *takes deep breath* Google! http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cluster+computing&btnG=Google+Search And, for those of you who like wikis, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_cluster Basically a lot (or a few) of computers working together on a single task, usually in parallel.
Any other cool ideas?? Everyone seems to be leaning towards clusters...but I'm not too big of a fan when it comes to wasting electricity... and unless the Cluster is used as data storage, it's almost useless to me...
sell them on ebay to earn money to upgrade your current computers... if you don't want to waste electricity then theres not much you could do with them...
lol I meant wasting electricity as in like big ass Cluster.. like i don't wanna have a 200W x 10 PSU running at once considering i have a crappy house LOL
i doubt they would actually use 200 watts though... no screen would save power... gfx @ total min... i dont know how old systems used their power if it was efficent or not...
I second the Smoothwall recommendation-- Pentium and PII-class machines are perfect for building firewall appliances. You can also run them "headless" and thus eliminate any need for keyboard/video/mouse beyond initial setup.
Folding @ Home army / fileserver for home network. You could have a couple as media PCs, couple as servers, couple to test stuff out on. I have a PC that I try various distros of Linux on. Definately run Folding@Home, it's actually doing something then. Plus, it can heat your house up.
so smoothwall is just a router firmware kernel that was redesigned to run on a full PC? as far as heat goes, I dont realy think you would get much heat out of the P2 that core is incredibly cold. I can OC mine from 350 to 411 on passive cooling with only the PSU system fan and the HS is barely lukewarm
smoothwall is awesome, ive set it up in two of my mates houses with old pcs they had knocking about, cheaper than a router and more secure than everyone having individual firewalls
