What to do with spare computers?

[PVTCaboose1337]

I have 3 computers that are now running. I have no idea what to do with them. Someone give me an idea off what to do with them that would be helpful.

Computer A (The laptop): XP, P4 @ 3.2ghz 2 x 512 ram, 60gb HD, ATI 9600, wireless internet (SEMI STABLE)
Computer B (Desktop 1): Server 2003, P4 @ 2.8ghz 1 x 512 ram, 80gb HD, Integrated graphics, wireless internet (EXTREMELY STABLE)
Computer C (Desktop 2): Server 2003, P4 @ 1.6ghz 1 x 512 ram, 80gb HD, NVIDIA TNT2 32mb GFX, steals internet from Desktop 1 via a shared connection. (VERY STABLE)

What should I do with all of them. ATM, they are all Folding.

EDIT: Just so you know, I thought about making a proxy server for myself, but it failed pretty hard.



People's Ideas:
- Folding at Home
- Server (file, email etc.)
- Turn them off
- Sell Machines
- Donate them

 

[kiriakost]

I would stop folding, so to save energy ...

And i would give as gift the unwanted ones .

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I would stop folding, so to save energy ...

And i would give as gift the unwanted ones .

Energy is no concern. The kilawatt I tried puts them all at only 300w load. Pretty darn good.

 

[kiriakost]

300W per hour = 3000W per 10 hours = 6000W per day = 180.000W per month

You are killing our planet shut it down ....

 

[Homeless]

I'm not sure if you are being serious or joking kiriakost

Related to the topic though, what do you mean by semi stable / very stable?

 

[CyberDruid]

I hope he's joking.

They would make better WCG crunchers than FAH Folders IMO. Keep doing what you are doing

 

[kiriakost]

Numbers does not lie my friends ...

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I'm not sure if you are being serious or joking kiriakost

Related to the topic though, what do you mean by semi stable / very stable?

I mean that the computers will be able to remain on 24hours straight for months at a time optimally (depending on how stable I have rated it)

 

[viczulis]

If he's not, I found it pretty funny.

 

[ShadowFold]

Keep folding with them! Using 300w of energy isn't going to make the world suddenly explode.. And if it does then I won't be around to say I was wrong. The world will not end in any of our lifetimes. And if it does, then I won't be able to say I was wrong, again lol

 

[DrPepper]

I'd either give them away, Sell them or use them as backup.

I wouldn't fold because that uses up a lot of energy and creates a massive power bill and if you can afford it then fold but that money could go towards better hardware.

 

[phanbuey]

If you want to foot the electricity bill then keep folding, 300W is like half of some of these systems. Althogh with that hardware you're really not doing much. If you sell those machines and get one cheapo c2d E1XXX system with a 9600GT you will fold a ton faster and it will take up less room.

 

[freaksavior]

Combine desktop 2 into desktop 1 and make it a server

 

[angelkiller]

I think kiriakost is being serious. The energy used by those computers isn't worth the work they do. In other words their performance per watt is really tiny.

As for what to do with them, servers are the only think I can really think of. File server, FTP, Web, email are some different kinds.

Another idea: I've always wanted to make a digital picture frame out of a laptop. The (I guess) cool part would be that it could automatically update its pictures from the internet. Or maybe from another pc on the network. It would also have Linux installed so it can be remote controlled. And with a linux digital picture frame, I'm sure you could find something cool for it to do/show.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Combine desktop 2 into desktop 1 and make it a server

A server for what? And what do you mean combine? Take all the best parts and put it into 1 computer?

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Also, just so you all know, not all computers have to do the same thing!

 

[phanbuey]

donate them! and then get a nice(r) rig with the tax writeoff!

 

[DaveK]

Numbers does not lie my friends ...

Says the guy with a 780w PSU. If you cared that much then why aren't you using an EeePC, EeeBox or any other low power device?

Seriously, no use in telling 1 person to go easy on power, tell it to the big corporations or big factory owners. Tell it to the guy who drives a big expensive car to work while the rest of us get the bus.

If he can afford it on his electrical bill, then who cares? I don't, because him not using them isn't going to save the world. Besides, it's for a good cause.

 

[Triprift]

Keep doing what there being used for now PVT seriously if power consumption is not an issue wich its not and its not like there not being used so fold away i say good man.

 

[phanbuey]

Lol... you forgot the last (and most important) part of the donating idea... you know the part about using the tax-writeoff to buy more kick*ss hardware (you can always write them off for more money than you can realistically sell them).

 

[LittleLizard]

sell them and buy a decent low power folding machine (amd 45 w dual core, 4670, el cheapo mobo and cheapo ram)

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

My computers have modifications that prevent them from being sold. So....

 

[DrPepper]

My computers have modifications that prevent them from being sold. So....

fold then

 

[freaksavior]

Server 2003, P4 @ 2.8ghz 2 x 512 ram, 2x80gb HD, NVIDIA TNT2 32mb GFX, wireless internet (EXTREMELY STABLE)

do that

 

[LittleLizard]

My computers have modifications that prevent them from being sold. So....

which type of modifications