Computer Mods

[demonplight]

Has anyone ever made a computer for a specific use.
I am currently making a small computer to run old roms on my living room TV. I will use Ubuntu, and a few other Open Source apps. I am currently planning out the computer case, which I will either make from scratch or mod an old on laying around. I will put a few USB port on the front, and a DVD Rom, kind make it look like a console system.
So I am wondering what have you made?

[███]

I used to put together and gather many computer parts cheaply and make myself a decent computer, I find now that most of these pieces can't be used in the new systems, and also got sick of buying faulty pieces.

I just went out and bought myself a new computer, much easier.

[~*Red*~]

Buying a new computer rather than making one is a whole lot easier; my friend brought a computer just so he could play online games. I think it's a bit weird; sitting in your bedroom all day playing online.

[MomijiTMO]

Wow I want a build log if you do decide to make your own case!

I wouldn't ever try but looking at your creation every day does make it seem pretty good.

[demonplight]

Buying a new computer rather than making one is a whole lot easier; my friend brought a computer just so he could play online games. I think it's a bit weird; sitting in your bedroom all day playing online.[/color]

I'm not really into gaming per say... I like the old school Atari, and NES games. and making a computer that can play them on my big tv, and allow 4 people to play them with controllers is a challenge.
also making a computer is not just about having the computer, it is about the bragging rights from making one from scratch, or parts found in the back of the closet.

[Dogmat]

I had a computer built for gaming last Summer. Recently I've done some upgrades myself so it can run Crysis well. Here are the upgrades I've done.

- Switched a 420 watt power supply with a 750 watt power supply.
- Upgraded from a Pentium D processor to an AMD Athlon 64 X2
- Upgraded my video card from an ATI Radeon 1950 to an ATI HD 3870
- Increased my RAM from 2GB to 4GB
- Upraded to Vista 64 bit home premium.

I plan on using the parts I replaced to help build a computer for my best friend.

[MomijiTMO]

Buying a new computer rather than making one is a whole lot easier; my friend brought a computer just so he could play online games.

If you buy a computer, you most likely have a locked bios which sucks =[

[demonplight]

I had a computer built for gaming last Summer. Recently I've done some upgrades myself so it can run Crysis well. Here are the upgrades I've done.

- Switched a 420 watt power supply with a 750 watt power supply.
- Upgraded from a Pentium D processor to an AMD Athlon 64 X2
- Upgraded my video card from an ATI Radeon 1950 to an ATI HD 3870
- Increased my RAM from 2GB to 4GB
- Upraded to Vista 64 bit home premium.

I plan on using the parts I replaced to help build a computer for my best friend.

- Switched a 420 watt power supply with a 750 watt power supply. I would have gone a bit higher up the chain for future upgrades.
- Upgraded from a Pentium D processor to an AMD Athlon 64 X2 good
- Upgraded my video card from an ATI Radeon 1950 to an ATI HD 3870 depending on which one you got good to great, I would make sure that it supports DRM because you use VISTA
- Increased my RAM from 2GB to 4GB so long as it is low latency good.
- Upraded to Vista 64 bit home premium. Not a fan, but good for the option of more ram.

[MomijiTMO]

Ok we so need a computer forum part of AF lol.

I think a 750W PSU is plentiful unless you plan on a multi GPU set up later on. However, a PSU is something you rarely upgrade so I sort of understand your point.

[demonplight]

that depends on the power needs of the video cars, Hard drives, and optical drives. I my self use 1000 watts. and when I go to up grade will need a better one, then you add cooling. I use like 10 fans.
remember that some people for what ever reason which is really beyond me need 2 very powerful video cards, and then use a small 10 gig hard drive, with a slave 250 gig. which an all around more faster set up, for gaming.

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

I keep on planning to Hotswap my X-Box and install Linux on it, but I never get around to it, partially because I am planning on getting a PS3 with my Tax Refund check, and I can just install Linux on the damn thing and be done with it without all the fun of pulling cords out of my X-Box's hardrive WHILE IT IS RUNNING.

As for PC building, I have never had so much cash lying around that I can make a PC from it.

[MomijiTMO]

that depends on the power needs of the video cars, Hard drives, and optical drives. I my self use 1000 watts. and when I go to up grade will need a better one, then you add cooling. I use like 10 fans.
remember that some people for what ever reason which is really beyond me need 2 very powerful video cards, and then use a small 10 gig hard drive, with a slave 250 gig. which an all around more faster set up, for gaming.

E-pen.

Eh now that the mid range cards are pretty good and are scaling well, SLI isn't that expensive. Oh yeah, people always forget that a PSU rated at 750W will not run happily [or not at all] with a full load. It's better to play it safe like you did.

[Wio]

I build myself a computer and it was quite a painful process, but I learned from it.

I don't really feel like posting the specs, but it's good. Athlon 64 X2 5200+, 2 Gigs, XP pro is all I'll say.


Vista is technically a down-grade BTW.

[MomijiTMO]

Vista is technically a down-grade BTW.

If you are referring to the 'memory hog' issue, don't forget Vista uses superfetch to preload commonly used applications. If you run something like Prime, you'll see the memory issue completely disappear.

[Wio]

I'm really talking about how XP is better. It's more user-friendly, less buggy, and more compatible.

For an OS to be better, it has to actually be better. Being "new" or having potential doesn't matter to the end user.

[demonplight]

I'm really talking about how XP is better. It's more user-friendly, less buggy, and more compatible.

For an OS to be better, it has to actually be better. Being "new" or having potential doesn't matter to the end user.

that may be true, but in Vista's defense the main reason it is not as decomposable as other OS's is because Microsoft decided to make advances that hard ware, and software companies would not make on their own. in a year or so it will be ok, but by then people's minds will be set.

[wizz-o-matic]

My main goal is to get the most silent possible system. That's why I hate having fans, that's why I usually use big cooling towers (Termaltake tower and similar).
Currently I have 4 working systems, my home comp, server, laptop, and comp for simple games. All are within the range of 1.5GHz (laptop, Celeron M) and 2.4GHz (server - P4) ... and I don't need more

[demonplight]

the computer in my bedroom, when I turn it on the lights freaken dim. and you can her the 10,000 rpm fans, yes fans down stairs. I use it for white noise. I and a few friends tried to figure out how fast it changes the atmosphere in the case, and as near as we can tell it is every 4 seconds.

[Inamorata]

My husband wants to make a computer just for music once he gets a key board. I dont exactly know the detais, but I'll post 'em when I find out.

[TarBall]

My friends making a computer for his car.

Case is going to be out of wood.

HDD is going to be a notebook hardrive to absorb the shock or maybe a large flash drive.

thinking about using a POS or point of sale screen (touch screen)

should be a nice little project.

Air conditioning for cooling? lol would be funny.

Its going to be a server like case so it will fit under his seat.

[demonplight]

If I was him I would look into gum stick motherboards.

If any one has any idea, While the OS and hard ware are not problem for me, I am currently having trouble trying to network and stream media from my XP pro machine to the Uduntu machine. I am using a second either net card for a hard wire and secure network, but I don't have a clue as to how to do this.
Linux guys any help?

[Storm Strife]

Haven't built a PC yet, but I have been meaning to build me a mid - high spec gaming PC. Lack of funding in the past has prevented this, however.

[overwatch]

I nearly got round to building my own - but in the end got the chap at the shop to make it (I was working 8-8 - way too tired to try something new for the first time! and nothing worse than destroying new stuff!)
As for vista - I have heard bad things about 64bit and drivers - though I currently use 32bit ulitmate, the RAM issue is a pain - especially with games such as Supreme commander where vista will crash the compiter if it starts to use nearly all of the 2GB! -- so upshot, is 64bit really worth the hassle?