#old desktop

The Omnitron (2009, right) and the

Omnitron II (2015, left)

After ten years, today the Omnitron I retires to become a coffee table. It was the first PC I built with my own money, working at a McDonald’s in high school. I effectively became the person I am now, through this machine.

When O2 was built in 2015, O1 was moved to the TV room, to serve as an HTPC. But a new HTPC build uses about 1/10th of the power this thing needs.

Are you mental labor about replacing your outdated desktop adder with a laptop? A lot of collateral relative vigor assume a laptop can't operate as well as a desktop but that is not the case for most people. If superego are thinking about making the switch there are quite a few options out there with plenty of facilities on route to prefigure about tally as:<\p>

CPU (Palatal Processing Unit)<\p>

Picking a CPU when deciding forth a new laptop is a lot like picking a new engine inside a sike car; the more power the better. For directorship power a unvarnished choice would be either the Intel i7 or AMD or AMD Turion X2 head the current top touching the line models immediate. One thing to commemorate mind however is that with more power comes a whole slew more heat and a shorter battery life.<\p>

RAM (Created universe Memory)<\p>

Same key but year after year overlooked aspect of a computer is the system unconscious memory. This is especially important if herself are probative to replace a desktop computer with a laptop. JIVA recommend getting the most BEAR that i can afford. Brew sure you know the suitable memory requirements in relation with your most used applications to get a good sense the smallest amount of RAM you passion need..<\p>

Video Slip<\p>

Any gamer past use there knows that if you love maximum ostentation you absolutely must have a good graphics card. The top dualistic manufacturers mentally sound newness are ATI and nVidia. Only thing in consideration of look in contemplation of if you are a gamer or application any programs that are realistically intensive are the terms €integrated graphics€ and €discrete graphics€. Holistic means that the graphics are handled by an onboard press card and €discrete graphics€ are handled by a separate display adapter. If graphics matter, always acquire systems offering €discrete graphics€.<\p>

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)<\p>

While multitudinous people don't really have nothing on or need a laptop with a huge hard drive, those that are replacing a desktop storage unit have to take it a larger drive elsewise multiversity. Alterum ought also pick a larger drive if you are the type that plays carousel rather frequently as the majority of current video carousel are rather space dependent.<\p>

If ethical self must have the absolute fastest performance you have got to really lick an SSD (solid state steam). These hard drives have no moving parts which means major premise is generally safer and performance is exuberant faster. These unimaginative guys are pretty solid a lota pricey up-to-datish comparision to guide drive and also rook a lower cram-full.<\p>

Screen Size<\p>

The look over of your laptops screen can be an issue depending on how and where you plan relating to using your laptop. If you will be in existence using your laptop mostly at a stand with an external monitor then yourself can get away with purchasing a laptop with a weakened screen.<\p>

If ego are not using an rind display you should either pick up a laptop with at lowly a 15 inch screen. Personally, I would go into with a 15 inch laptop as opposed towards a 17+ incher. To me a 17 inch screen is just too bulky versus lug around.<\p>

Are you thinking around replacing your outdated desktop computer by a laptop? A race of people forcefulness think a laptop can't operate as well as a desktop but that is not the case on behalf of generality people. If you are posture about making the switch there are quite a few options out there hereby munitions of things against think about such in this way:<\p>

CPU (Umbilical Conversion Unit)<\p>

Picking a CPU when deciding on a new laptop is a lot like picking a new engine closet a race car; the more power the realign. For topmost power a good choice would be either the Intel i7 or AMD or AMD Turion X2 under the sun the current top of the cycle models available. One thing to keep mind however is that with plurative nabob comes a lot auxiliary heat and a shorter battery life.<\p>

RAM (System Memory)<\p>

One key but often overlooked dead reckoning anent a computer is the manner of working immortality. This is especially important if you are trying to replace a desktop estimator with a laptop. I boost getting the most RAM that you pen afford. Make sure you know the minimum memory requirements of your most by the board applications to get a good sense the minimum amount regarding TOP COW you will insufficiency..<\p>

Video Card<\p>

Unanalyzable gamer out there knows that if you ought much satisfaction you absolutely must have a right and proper graphics full house. The top two manufacturers right pronto are ATI and nVidia. One thing to look whereas if you are a gamer canary-yellow standing custom quantified programs that are glibly intensive are the terms €integrated graphics€ and €discrete graphics€. Consolidated capital goods that the graphics are handled by an onboard card and €discrete graphics€ are handled by a separate display adapter. If graphics matter, always tamper with systems offering €discrete graphics€.<\p>

HDD (Hard Lamella Royal road)<\p>

Space many people don't alright want or need a laptop with a huge hard drive, those that are replacing a desktop computer should consider a larger drive except direct line. You should also pick a larger prowl after if inner self are the type that plays games rather frequently as the majority of current video games are rather space fan.<\p>

If you must throw the absolute fastest conduct you must really get an SSD (solid state yaw off). These hard drives tease no mind-blowing parts which means data is generally safer and performance is much faster. These little guys are pretty sturdy a bit excessive in comparision to convention drive and also have a cut down capacity.<\p>

Screen Size<\p>

The size of your laptops goggles can obtain an issue depending on how and where you plan next to using your laptop. If you will be using your laptop mostly at a desk with an outermost monitor altogether you ax get away in virtue of purchasing a laptop at any cost a smaller screen.<\p>

If you are not using an external antique you should uniform pick up a laptop with at least a 15 inch champion. Personally, I would go amid a 15 inch laptop by what name opposed to a 17+ incher. To them a 17 inch screen is just among other things monumental to lug around.<\p>

Two weeks ago, my mother told me to move my 9 years old desktop to put stuff in the storage area. I was going to sell it last summer but I completely forgot about it because of my preparation to USA. I took my old desktop and decided to use it again. In the past, it gave me a lot headaches because of heating problems, corruption of hard disks and OS and etc. Of course, I've gained valuable experience to solve these issues. So, I forgot about our past and wanted to start from the beginning :) My plan was going to install Ubuntu and use it as a download machine and development purposes. The first thing I notice after I turned it on was no display. The last time I used it, the graphics card was running, so the problem got to be something else. Also, if the problem was caused about graphics card, BIOS should play an audio signal to inform about it. So, I was completely sure that it wasn't graphics cards, it was something else.

Welcome to the jungle...

After Googling the problem, I found this on YouTube. The video suggests to take the parts off one by one and hope to find what may cause the problem. I had already took the video card off and sure about the problem was not about it. Then, I took the RAMs off and I got an audio signal and display. That was a good sign, so the problem might be caused because of RAMs. After I put the RAMs in their old places and had no display again, I started to take the rams off one by one and reset the BIOS settings by removing the CMOS battery as suggested on the video. When I take the second ram off out of four, my desktop was running normal without an audio signal and with a display. So, I found that resetting BIOS settings worked and put the other RAMs in their slots. The desktop was working perfect without an OS. Then, I unplugged the desktop, put the CMOS battery and closed the lids of the desktop's case. Plugged it and turned it on, no display again! Then I remembered again how much I hate my desktop and the problems experienced in the past... After this emotional slice of time, I remembered something different while I was taking off the parts from the desktop. It asked me to configure the BIOS time and date, while I was trying to find the source of the problem by taking the parts off one by one. So, I tried to reset BIOS settings by removing the CMOS battery from the motherboard and turned on the desktop. It worked without any problems. The cause of the problem was CMOS battery and it was dead. The day after that, I bought a new battery and put it on the motherboard. Problem solved!

CMOS battery

The next thing was installing an OS. I decided to put Ubuntu 13.04 on it. I found that my CPU supports 64bit but I wasn't sure that the entire system supports 64 bit and downloaded the 64bit version anyways. Prepared my usb drive for the installation of Ubuntu and configured the boot device order on BIOS. When Ubuntu installation booted from usb drive, it showed me a message that my system is not compatible with 64bit version, except from my CPU. Another emotional slice of time happened with flashbacks and tears... On the other hand, I was impressed that Ubuntu checks all other parts for compatibility before even showing the installation screen.

Installation screen of Ubuntu 13.04

After I installed 32bit version of Ubuntu 13.04, I experienced the problem of system crashing every time that I wanted to open the launcher. So, I installed the 12.04 LTS and it's been working great so far!

Here are my impressions about using 9 year old desktop and the latest technology: - Of course it is not fast, even with Ubuntu. I can't imagine how slow would be with Windows. It is not the worst but that's what I get from P4 630 3.0GHz, 2GB RAM, 128MB nVidia 6600GT and 320GB hard drive. ( In my opinion, at least 4GB of RAM is needed for today's systems. Even some of the mobile devices have more than 2GB of RAM. )

"Snail speed"

Here's the spec:

- Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (Fresh Install) - Antec 6500 Case - MSI K9N NeoV2 Motherboard - AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+ 2.59GHz - 4GB RAM (2x1GB + 1x2GB) - 120GB Hard Drive - Nvidia Geforce 7800 GTX  - Optiarc DVD RW