Thread: [HOW TO] use old desktop as download box

First of all, you obviously need a monitor. Without a monitor, how will you use a computer?
Is it in working condition? if it works, how do you connect to the internet?

Considering you have a DSL connection, you can simply connect it to the modem using the data cable you use to connect your Laptop. If it doesn't have ethernet connectivity, you can get a cheap ethernet card for about 300 bucks. So you can disconnect your lappy and connect the old computer for downloading, maybe you can also get a switch which will share internet for both at the same time.
But using a wifi router will be much better than this idea, because you can shift your PC to other rooms and still access internet.

Is it 9yr old?
Then you better keep it in the attic. Coz, thats going to consume more electricity than the new PCs! , which nullifies the use of a download pc..

^valid point. First lets see how well does it start. It hasnt been switched on in a VERY long time.

Hope it works! \m/

Completely agree with PhotostarSR's post above. The old PC will consume more power than the newbies around.

You either get a atom setup or get continue using your laptop;.

Anything prior to Pentium 4 won't be a power hog.

Those things barely had 150W/200W PSU. For a download rig, I would recommend, load XP on it and uTorrent. Then you can use the WebUI to control uTorrent

Torrent WebUI Guide - Guides - Torrent - a (very) tiny BitTorrent client

You could also load OpenWRT X86 edition, if it is too slow for XP. Though I doubt it. 9 yrs back we had PIII's which I use as a HTPC today. Too slow for HD content, but my AVI's play fine.

Originally Posted by PhotostarSR

Is it 9yr old?
Then you better keep it in the attic. Coz, thats going to consume more electricity than the new PCs! , which nullifies the use of a download pc..

i won't agree since if its a pentium3 then it won' consume much...if it would have been p4 then i would agree...

it is a p3 500Mhz

And it doesnt have a NIC!

Now i am going to have to buy one.

You you don't want to use seperate monitor for you download rig, use KVM switches.

KVM switches have their own drawbacks like support for limited resolution. See what suit's you.

If you do not want to use monitor then you can use remote desktop to control your pc from your laptop, provided they are connected by a network.

It's always good to have a dedicated monitor for any system. It will really be a pain in the a** should you troubleshoot in case.

Originally Posted by wishmaster.dj

it is a p3 500Mhz

And it doesnt have a NIC!

Now i am going to have to buy one.

It should be fine as a dedicated DL machine. Put in a network card, and hook it up. What else. Does it have a HDD, load XP on it. Your done. Oh ya, and a UPS for it, so it has power back up.

@sri_k

I have in front of me 2 PIII machines. One is Compaq with a 120W PSU and the other a Dell with a 200W. On the contrary, an office supplied P4 (PCS Brand) with 1 HDD, 1 CD-Drive with 512MB RAM has 350W.

Care to argue still??