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Paddy's hardware restructuring thread!
Right. As the saying goes, I’ve got good news and bad news.
The good news is that I’m going to be a father!
My wife, Andrea, is six weeks pregnant. We were going to hold off announcing it until the first scan as it is still very early days. However, Andrea was rushed into hospital last week by an over enthusiastic GP who queried an ectopic pregnancy. Hormone and ultrasound scan suggests all is well, so we’ve decided it was a good a time as any to tell everyone.
The bad news is that I’ve got to make some substantial lifestyle changes.
One of which is the eventual conversion of the office to a nursery. I’d rather loose the spare bedroom, but I’ve quickly learned never to argue with hormonally driven women!
. So, in order to empty the office I need to reassess my computing needs.
My current setup is as follows:
The server, switch, modem patch panel are in the garage. The XBOX is under the TV and the PC is in the office.
In order to empty the office I need to relocate the computer. Now realistically, I don’t have anywhere to put it
. So, what I would like is to use the server as a mail/ftp/http/AV/bittorrent server – always on. I would then need a second device to use on an adhoc basis.
Requirements are modest and include preparing presentations, browsing the internet/email, archive manipulation and perhaps some multimedia use for trips. I don’t expect to be able to afford anything ‘state-of-the-art’, and I certainly don’t think I’ll be able to afford anything capable of playing games like HL2 – although that would be nice. In essence, I am prepared to compromise the ability to play games on my PC as long as I get something that is portable (and pretty) enough to make it worthwhile. I don’t want to feel that I have made a step backwards – so normal operation MUST be at least as fast as what I have now. I have seen several pics in the lounge of people using their TV as a monitor. It would be very useful to be able to connect the laptop to the TV/Speakers, although not essential. I would need onboard NIC, SD reader and +/- WIFI if possible. Oh, and it must be quiet as possible!
In order to finance this, I am prepared to sell my old computer and all it’s parts, including the CPD-G400 (which is a lovely monitor). I could be persuaded to sell the server instead, but I doubt that it would raise anywhere near the same amount of capital.
So, my questions are as follows:
Cheers guys!
I am off work for 3 ½ weeks after my hernia op, so I would like to get this all sorted before I go back, as I can get by without a computer at present. Otherwise I will be forced to buy a laptop on credit card, and then sell the computer retrospectively.
Attached is the USS: Just under 6 weeks gestation with a crown-rump length of 3.2mm!
The good news is that I’m going to be a father!
My wife, Andrea, is six weeks pregnant. We were going to hold off announcing it until the first scan as it is still very early days. However, Andrea was rushed into hospital last week by an over enthusiastic GP who queried an ectopic pregnancy. Hormone and ultrasound scan suggests all is well, so we’ve decided it was a good a time as any to tell everyone.The bad news is that I’ve got to make some substantial lifestyle changes.
One of which is the eventual conversion of the office to a nursery. I’d rather loose the spare bedroom, but I’ve quickly learned never to argue with hormonally driven women!
. So, in order to empty the office I need to reassess my computing needs.My current setup is as follows:
- 8 ethernet ports hardwired with cat 5 around the house. I have another eight ports to add, which will fill the switch, but that is fairly low down on the list of priorities and will probably be done on a room-by-room basis as we redecorate.
- 16 port 100mbit ethernet switch, with one gigabit port located in the garage
- 4 port ADSL modem router patched through to the switch
- Compaq ProLiant 6500: Dual PII 400Mhz with 1GB RAM. 2x18.2GB SCSI RAID 1 array with 250GB ATA storage (expandable to 4x250GB in RAID 5 array) – this needs rebuilding as soon as I can sort out the SCSI controller. I also have 3x9.6GB SCSI drives but as they are fairly useless I intend to sell them on ebay.
- Modified XBOX which streams music/video/pictures/internet from networked drive. The XBOX acts as a console/AV machine. It gets data from the 250GB drive which is currently in my PC, but will move to the server when it is built.
- My PC: XP 3200+, Asus A7N8X-e, 2x512MB DDR, AIW 9800 (softmodded to Pro speeds), 120 GB SATA (WD 1200JD), Plextor 1210S CDRW, Pioneer 106 DVD, Adaptec 2940 SCSI controller, Sony CPD-G400 monitor, MX 700 mouse etc, Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500 digital 5.1, Lian-Li PC75 Full tower case…
The server, switch, modem patch panel are in the garage. The XBOX is under the TV and the PC is in the office.
In order to empty the office I need to relocate the computer. Now realistically, I don’t have anywhere to put it
. So, what I would like is to use the server as a mail/ftp/http/AV/bittorrent server – always on. I would then need a second device to use on an adhoc basis. Requirements are modest and include preparing presentations, browsing the internet/email, archive manipulation and perhaps some multimedia use for trips. I don’t expect to be able to afford anything ‘state-of-the-art’, and I certainly don’t think I’ll be able to afford anything capable of playing games like HL2 – although that would be nice. In essence, I am prepared to compromise the ability to play games on my PC as long as I get something that is portable (and pretty) enough to make it worthwhile. I don’t want to feel that I have made a step backwards – so normal operation MUST be at least as fast as what I have now. I have seen several pics in the lounge of people using their TV as a monitor. It would be very useful to be able to connect the laptop to the TV/Speakers, although not essential. I would need onboard NIC, SD reader and +/- WIFI if possible. Oh, and it must be quiet as possible!
In order to finance this, I am prepared to sell my old computer and all it’s parts, including the CPD-G400 (which is a lovely monitor). I could be persuaded to sell the server instead, but I doubt that it would raise anywhere near the same amount of capital.
So, my questions are as follows:
- Realistically, what price range for a laptop am I looking at?
- Realistically, can I raise enough capital selling my old computer to purchase a laptop.
- Would I be better selling the computer as a package on ebay, or stripping it and pimping the parts individually?
- Do I need a funky (ie, HDTV) TV in order to connect the laptop to it AND be able to use it as a PC monitor. I have a fairly standard 21†Sony Trinitron 60Hz with various inputs including SCART, S-Video, SPDIFF (the circular multi pin thingie) etc…
- What brands should I consider/avoid?
- Buy new/second hand/refurbished?
- Any other tips/suggestions?
Cheers guys!
I am off work for 3 ½ weeks after my hernia op, so I would like to get this all sorted before I go back, as I can get by without a computer at present. Otherwise I will be forced to buy a laptop on credit card, and then sell the computer retrospectively.
Attached is the USS: Just under 6 weeks gestation with a crown-rump length of 3.2mm!
Muahahaha!
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