What do you use your home computer's power for?

[benali72]

I mainly use Linux, which runs great on machines with down to 1 gig of memory.  Most my machines have 1 - 2 gig ram. As far as processing power goes, Linux runs fine on single processor P-IVs, though you can do a bit more at once with the early (5 yrd old) dual core machines I use. Like for web surfing with lots of active windows. About the only time I use more than 1 gig of ram or really take advantage of my dual cores is when I run virtual machines under Linux.

I rarely use Windows, and when I do, it's XP. XP seems to do better with 2 cores than 1 (due to active anti-malware scanners) but other than that it runs fine on the old early-dual core machines I use.

So here's my question for everyone.  Assuming you have a current or new machine today with quad cores and 8 or 16 Gig of memory, what do you do with it that power? Is it really key for Win 7 or do you run heavier apps than me or what?  I'm just curious. Thanks for your feedback.

[TRexx]

Mine keep my home office nice and warm.   

I work from home and have to use a really dreadful Java app that sets up a remote desktop session to a virtual PC.  It barely ran on my old Windows XP Pro box. At least 5 times a day it would slow to a crawl and just stop. It runs OK on my new Windows 7 PC.  I suspect the biggest difference is RAM - 8 Gb vs 4.

 

[Origisaurus]

Limping along with XP SP2 on Celeron 2.7 GHz processor w/ 500MB - mobo will accept another 500, but that's it.  I have a whitebox that I'm planning to migrate to when I get a round tuit.

Staggers under Firefox due to constant swap activity, usually OK with no more than two open windows.  Usually OK under Office apps, but I did have an Excel workbook that bogged down until I refactored it to remove dead worksheets and charts.  Several Access apps work nicely.  Aside from Firefox, I mainly use Word, which works nicely even using advanced features.

Another bandwidth hog is Adobe Reader, but I don't use it that often.

[The Gorn]

I built an Intel i7 based box a couple of years ago with 8 GB. It need every bit of that power to run Windows 7 effectively.

One particularly intensive application of this setup is to run Windows XP in a VM (via the built in XP bridge) when I have some software that is in legacy stage. If I make the ram allocation for such a virtual machine 1 GB, then XP runs really well -  just as well as on an older machine dedicated to Windows XP. The same statement goes for other types of virtual machines, like Linux, running on VMs on this box.

So, the power of this box buys me the ability to potentially have several different computers in one, virtualized - each of which runs as fast as you'd like.

Granted, for single user operations like web surfing, it is gross overkill.

[I D Shukhov]

I've never been able to run a Norton product before, but I'm running Norton Internet Security without even noticing it on my i7-870.  I also use VirtualBox to run Ubuntu to learn about Linux and OSS.

Also, as Gorn mentioned, Windows 7 seems to need all the horsepower it can get, which is pathetic compared to what Linux needs.  Windows 7 is the best Microsoft OS I've used, but it's not as good as OS X running on a puny Intel Core 2 Duo system.  I suppose I'll have to find out why I should upgrade to OS X Lion.

[benali72]

Interesting. It sounds like some of the big apps that require power boxes are --

*  Java apps
*  Win 7
*  Virtualization

Any others? 

[TRexx]

Interesting. It sounds like some of the big apps that require power boxes are --

*  Java apps
*  Win 7
*  Virtualization

Any others?

I have a large collection of Realmedia files (mostly old TV programs) which I am converting to MP4.  There are numerous conversion programs out there but they all seem to chew up a lot of resources.   I have an older PC running Windows XP so I just feed the conversion program a batch of files and let it churn.

I also have a WinTV card  that hooks up to my CATV box so I can watch and record TV (very useful during conference calls). On my older PC is would frequently stutter and the video and audio would get out of sync. Runs fine on my Win 7 box.   

[Walter Mitty]

I don't think of Java, Win 7, and Virtualization as "apps".  I think of them as tools to get something else done.  In fact, I think of MS Office as a set of tools to get other things done.

So, when you ask "what for", my context is entirely different than most of the answers so far. 

The best way I can answer "what for" is this:  a lot of communicating,  a little bit of control, and a tiny bit of data management.  I just finished purging all the relevant photos off my oldest computer.  Now I can reinstall the original factory software, and offer it on Freecycle. 

If somebody takes me up on it,  I'll get the warm glow of having done some good.  I'll also get an empty desktop.  At that point, I'll think about what I want to  put on that desk.

[DG9]

Why not just install Ubuntu and put it on Freecycle?

[Walter Mitty]

Do you think I'd get any takers on Freecycle if I offered Ubuntu loaded on it?

For really casual users with no money,  MS Windows and Office will probably be the most attractive.

[DG9]

I don't know.  Run the ad and if you get a taker load Ubuntu on to it....

[The Gorn]

Why not just install Ubuntu and put it on Freecycle?

There are lots of scrap PCs that don't run out there, even free ones, that really should be shipped to China and ground up into toxic waste to pollute small villages. 

So I think you need something on the PC to prove that it runs - even to have someone just take it from you.

If you can't get Windows re-loaded on the PC, then Ubuntu or Mint Linux work quite nicely for that purpose.

Now, if you are trying to add value - loading Ubuntu in itself has absolutely no economic value, IMO.

Because anyone who can use Linux day to day who would even be interested already has the technical skills necessary to install Ubuntu. My opinion, anyway.

So use Ubuntu as demoware to get the box out of the house.

[choppedwood]

Bought a gaming PC.  As near as I can tell it does nothing for me because I don't play Modern Warfare 3.  I just wanted to see what it was like to own a really fast PC once in my life and I've already owned the fast car.

My old XP box is happily dual booting with XP and, now, Ubuntu just like it always did.

[Walter Mitty]

Because anyone who can use Linux day to day who would even be interested already has the technical skills necessary to install Ubuntu. My opinion, anyway.

Agreed.

[Walter Mitty]

There are lots of scrap PCs that don't run out there, even free ones, that really should be shipped to China and ground up into toxic waste to pollute small villages. 

So I think you need something on the PC to prove that it runs - even to have someone just take it from you.

I know my audience on Freecycle.  And I don't unload junk on Freecyclers.  Reloading all the factory SW will reload Windows 98, and several games.   I'm probably going to add MS Office as a sweetener.  That's enough to the poor people around here whose kids need a PC for schoolwork.