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View Poll Results: Should Thue upgrade his computer?
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Yes - This will increase his productivity *cough*
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9 |
75.00% |
No - The old one is good enough.
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25.00% |
Buy a smaller new computer and use the rest of the money to buy bananas
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0% |
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June 24, 2003, 19:13
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#1
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Freeciv Developer
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,580
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Upgrading my PC
I am thinking of upgrading my computer. Currently it is a
Pentium 3EB 600MHZ with noisy generic cooler
256MB SDRAM (128MB PC100, 128MB PC133)
ASUS CUSL2 i815 Motherboard with integrated intel gfx.
40GB IBM HDD, somewhat noisy
Soundblaster live soundcard
Generic LAN card
Generic case
380watt antac truepower powersupply (upgraded for being low-noise and to be powerfull enough to be used with an athlon, in preperation for this upgrade.)
Now, I am on a low budget, about DKK 2000 (~$300). My priorities are:
- It needs to be stable!
- It must run linux, preferably non-binary drives *cough*nvidia*cough*
- It should be low-noise.
- The graphics subsystem is primarily for 2D. It should have fairly nice picture quality outputted. It would be nice to run a 3D game now and then, perhaps in low-detail mode. I would probably use windows for 3D *shudder*, so 3D drivers for linux is not imperative.
- If some ok quility component came integrated in the motherboard it would be a plus, allowing me to sell of my old components/use them otherwhere and cut down on the clutter in the case.
CPU | I was thinking about something like AMD Athlon XP 2200 for $62. You can't beat low-end AMD right now for price/performance.
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RAM | DDR RAM comes natural. 256MB for $27 or 512MB for $59. Those were links to PC2700 RAM; does PC2700 RAM work in a PC2100 motherboard?
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Graphics | I have a very basic gfx card I could use (Diamond viper v330, the generation before TNT), but I wonder if I would notice 2D improvement with a never card. I would like to have a newer card, but don't want to use too much money on it. It would be nice if it was integrated into the motherboard and therefore cheap.
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Motherboard | Here I have looked at the ASUS A7N266-VM microATX at $59. This is cheap, has nice integrated GeForce2MX graphics, integrated LAN, as well as reviewer-recommened integrated sound. It only supports PC2100 RAM and 266MHZ FSB processors, but as I was looking at those anyway and you get the best performance when running RAM and FSB in sync this works out all right. BUT: To get the LAN, sound and 3D part of the graphics to work I would need to use nvidias binary drivers. Bummer. Any recommendations for other motherboards? Btw, I have an ATX cabinet, and am assuming that the microATX A7N266-VM will fit; is that reasonable?
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CPU cooler | It would be nice to have a silent cooler. Maybe something like Silent Viking (~$30?)? Do anyone have recommendations?
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Hard disk | I read (forgot where) that seagate barracuda made nice silent drives, and their latest 7200.7 models were also nice performers. So I was thinking about a 120GB , 8MB cache drive for $129. The 8MB cache costs about $30, but reviews indicate it is important for performance. This is the ATA/100 model, the serial ATA model cost more for no extra benefit (again according to review), and restricts the choise of motherboards.
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This totals at 62+59+59+30+129=$339 for an Athlon 2200 with 512Mb RAM and 120GB HDD, all as good as silent.
It will leave me with the old PC intact minus case,powersupply,mouse,screen,mouse and keyboard. That could still be usefull as a computer, maybe sold for ~$100?.
I wonder if I will actually do this upgrade, as I don't really have a pressing need for it. And as I mentioned I don't have that much money.
Comments, help, ideas, flames?
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June 24, 2003, 20:08
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#2
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Local Time: 00:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: In search of pants
Posts: 5,085
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512mb is barely enough. That's what came with the system I bought two years ago.
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June 24, 2003, 20:31
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#3
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Emperor
Local Time: 01:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Posts: 5,575
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If you are not planning to upgrade again in the near future then I would do it. Otherwise just wait to have more money  .
__________________
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Join Eventis, the land of spam and unspeakable horrors!
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June 24, 2003, 20:54
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#4
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Deity
Local Time: 23:28
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 27,637
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Mine is powered by a hamster on an exercise wheel , so it's noisy.
Quiet being important to you, I wouldn't recommend mine.
__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
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June 24, 2003, 21:35
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#5
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Deity
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Republic of Flanders
Posts: 10,747
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That Atlon is anything but silent, count on spending close to 50€ for a cooler that is silentish and can handle it.
I have a 2000Xp and one of the best coolers for it, but it not P3 600 quiet.
(it's a lot better then my 1400amd though, noise was the main reason to upgrade, I was sick of sitting next to a vacuum-cleaner  )
-
Quote:
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does PC2700 RAM work in a PC2100 motherboard?
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It should work.
__________________
#There’s a city in my mind
Come along and take that ride
And it’s all right, baby, it’s all right #
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June 24, 2003, 22:26
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#6
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Warlord
Local Time: 21:28
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 249
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Build a new PC from scratch and setup a home network with your old one.
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June 24, 2003, 22:32
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#7
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Local Time: 15:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Skanky Father
Posts: 16,530
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The powersupply from a system that old would probably be underpowered. Greatly. So your best bet would be to get a new one of them, they should be cheap enough.
__________________
I'm building a wagon! On some other part of the internets, obviously (but not that other site).
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June 24, 2003, 22:35
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#8
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Deity
Local Time: 12:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: May 1999
Location: The City State of Noosphere, CPA special envoy
Posts: 14,606
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For Athlon, the breakpoint seems to be at 1700XP at US$44. As for graphics, all integrated chipsets perform somewhat poor, but you probably don't care as long as you see something on the screen
__________________
(\__/) 07/07/1937 - Never forget
(='.'=) "Claims demand evidence; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan
(")_(") "Starting the fire from within."
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June 24, 2003, 23:36
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#9
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Warlord
Local Time: 05:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 217
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I'd go with Skanky and Lord Merciless - your old PSU may still have to be eplacied if you want it stable. Check the outputs for 3.3 V and 5.0 Volts (mostly what the motherboard uses). 20 Amps 3.3V is a minimum really for what you are looking for - but as you have already looked into this, maybe Skanky and I are wrong.
The Micro ATX cards fit fine in an full ATX box, but you might need to swap the inserts around a bit (the bits you put screws into to hold the motherboard in place).
PC2700 should work fine as PC2100 RAM (never tried it so CHECK - but I'm pretty sure it's OK). Not sure I see the point unless maybe you plan for a motherboard upgrade later - but RAM prices usually fall, so why not get PC2100 now and PC2700 when you need it?
If you need to save a bit of money, I'd go for a smaller hard disk unless you can think of reasons why you need the extra gigs. Maybe smaller hard disk + CD writer would be more useful.
Your most important criterion is going to be getting Liix friendly extras, so it's probably best to build around these (maybe checking with Linux forums against what the folks therw use.
__________________
Some cry `Allah O Akbar` in the street. And some carry Allah in their heart.
"The CIA does nothing, says nothing, allows nothing, unless its own interests are served. They are the biggest assembly of liars and theives this country ever put under one roof and they are an abomination" Deputy COS (Intel) US Army 1981-84
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June 24, 2003, 23:40
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#10
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Local Time: 15:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Skanky Father
Posts: 16,530
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Actually, I didn't even read what the powersupply was. Yes, 380W should be enough.
But you can still buy a new cheap one and put it in the old system.
__________________
I'm building a wagon! On some other part of the internets, obviously (but not that other site).
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June 25, 2003, 00:02
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#11
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Deity
Local Time: 12:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: May 1999
Location: The City State of Noosphere, CPA special envoy
Posts: 14,606
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Actually, I didn't even read what the powersupply was. Yes, 380W should be enough.
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Dweeb
__________________
(\__/) 07/07/1937 - Never forget
(='.'=) "Claims demand evidence; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan
(")_(") "Starting the fire from within."
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June 25, 2003, 02:23
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#12
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Warlord
Local Time: 21:28
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 288
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Quote:
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Originally posted by alva
That Atlon is anything but silent, count on spending close to 50€ for a cooler that is silentish and can handle it.
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No way! I bought a Vantec Aeroflow for less than C$40 (25€). It keeps my Barton 2500+ just above 30°C on a cool day, and puts out less than 40 dB of sound. With it and two case fans (in a light aluminum case), I can sleep at night with my head 2m away from the box.
Seagate Barracuda drives are extremely quiet and give excellent performance, I understand (though they don't have an ATA133 version). They're also very expensive, compared to equivalent drives. A Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB 7200RPM 9MS ATA100 drive costs nearly as much as a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 120GB 7200RPM 8.5MS ATA133 drive (it's just a few dollars' difference). If I was on a budget, I'd buy a smaller Maxtor drive and spend the extra on a better motherboard. On the other hand, I guess if you're heavy into disk I/O then 8MB of cache would be nice.
SP
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June 25, 2003, 07:03
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#13
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Freeciv Developer
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,580
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Quote:
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Originally posted by St Leo
512mb is barely enough. That's what came with the system I bought two years ago.
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I just have a hard time imagining what I would use more RAM for. With my current 256MB all the programs I use can be cached, and I can compile a fairly big project and keep the files in cache. With 512MB I should be able to easily hold anything I work on in cache.
On the powersupply thing: you finally noticed that I had 380 Watt  .
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June 25, 2003, 07:05
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#14
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Freeciv Developer
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,580
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Carlos113
If you are not planning to upgrade again in the near future then I would do it. Otherwise just wait to have more money .
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I think the smarter tactic is to buy at the low end, rather than wait to buy at the high end. This makes it possible to upgrade more often, so on average you will have a faster computer at hand. As added benefits you get more old hardware laying around, and you get to buy and assemble computers more often, which I consider as a big plus.
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June 25, 2003, 07:08
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#15
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Emperor
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: MY WORDS ARE BACKED WITH BIO-CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Posts: 8,117
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hi ,
get the new G5 from www.apple.com
and sell the old one or keep it to play games , .....
have a nice day
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June 25, 2003, 07:09
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#16
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Freeciv Developer
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,580
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Lord Merciless
Build a new PC from scratch and setup a home network with your old one.
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I have one room in a dorm, 16m2. Not much room for 2 computers  . However, it would be nice to be able to do somethinng with the old computer.
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June 25, 2003, 07:16
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#17
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Emperor
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: MY WORDS ARE BACKED WITH BIO-CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Posts: 8,117
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Thue
I have one room in a dorm, 16m2. Not much room for 2 computers . However, it would be nice to be able to do somethinng with the old computer.
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hi ,
you can always use it as a firewall or as backup or a mix of both , .......
have a nice day
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June 25, 2003, 07:21
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#18
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Freeciv Developer
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,580
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Quote:
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Originally posted by panag
hi ,
get the new G5 from www.apple.com
and sell the old one or keep it to play games , .....
have a nice day
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From www.apple.com
Quote:
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The Power Mac G5 is the world’s fastest personal computer and the first with a 64-bit processor — which means it breaks the 4 gigabyte barrier and can use up to 8 gigabytes of main memory. The new G5 processor — available at speeds up to dual 2GHz with a new ultrahigh-bandwidth system architecture featuring AGP 8X and PCI-X — makes the Power Mac G5 a breakthrough in desktop processing power. And models start at just $1999.
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- $1999 - just out of my price range
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- It is not the first 64-bit personal computer. Sun has sold 64bit ultrasparcs for desktops for ages.
But yes, it would be cool if I had money like grass.
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June 25, 2003, 07:23
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#19
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Emperor
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: MY WORDS ARE BACKED WITH BIO-CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Posts: 8,117
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Thue
From www.apple.com
- $1999 - just out of my price range
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- It is not the first 64-bit personal computer. Sun has sold 64bit ultrasparcs for desktops for ages.
But yes, it would be cool if I had money like grass.
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hi ,
huh , you can pay in installments , starting in 2004
there are discounts for students
or you could ask your boss for one
or just simply lease one
have a nice day
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June 25, 2003, 07:30
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#20
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Freeciv Developer
Local Time: 06:28
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,580
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Quote:
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Originally posted by panag
you can always use it as a firewall or as backup or a mix of both , .......
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Actually, I already have a P166 working as a server in the basement  . I use it for backups and various experiments. Works fine for the purpose.
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