How can I optimize my new/old boxes?

[lakelover]

Here's the set up (a bit long but bear with me): My current box is a ASUS mobo, 200 Mhz Pentium MMX, 128 Ram, 6 GB master (w/Win95) and 4 GB slave (w/Mandrake-linux). The master drive is near death, I'm running on the slave which is alive and well. I have a replacement 6 GB drive which I had planned to put in the slave position until the master started to hickup. When that Happened, I decided to trash the whole thing and buy a new box. So, I've ordered a Dell, Dimension 2300 with a Celron 1.8 Ghz, box. I have about $100 invested already in preparation for upgrading the old system: Ram (already installed) 6 GB drive (that's all the bios accepts) and a boxed Mandrake 9.0 on order. Okay, the Dell purchase was an impulse. But I'd like to some how use my old box. I can replace the bad drive and have a second (low end) Linux system, and maybe network it with the new box (WinXP). Or I could put the new 6 G drive in the Dell box and use it for data back up (I'm not a heavy music/photo user). What do all think? Or, what would you do with these boxes? Or, do I have a bunch of crap, and should just move foreward?:(

[kittyfire]

If you like to experiment, like most of us do, you can do so safely with a second setup. I think it'd be cool to have a stand alone system to wipe down, totally scrub then keep it pristine and clear of the internet. I'd ghost my other system for an emergency back up to that machine then play. If you play eq you can power level yourself! So many possibilities... I want a second box, too. Got all the parts, just need to get a case and put it together. You've inspired me.

[Fuze]

my suggestion... take it or leave it since you already bought the dell may be hard to accept, return the dell, build your own box if you're familiar with how to do it and run linux on the old machine. The dell won't give you much upgradability. However, if you like to upgarde, then keep the dell, it should serve you. Bah, now I'm changing my initial idea of you to return the dell. Just keep the thing! Put linux or something cool on the old one to screw around with .

[jamesrpm]

I like the idea of keeping an old box around for networking and web surfing. And if you experiment with it and make an error ,like letting the magic smoke out, no big loss.

[lakelover]

Kittyfire and Fuze. . . You have good ideas and that's probably what I'll do: mess around with the old system. Actually, I had intended to build a new box and had started researching sources/prices. But then I figured I was going to lose this one before I could get the job done and have no way of internet communications. Maybe I'll build my next computer in a couple of years when the Dell is obosolete or dead.

[glc]

If I'm not mistaken, the 2300 is an integrated micro box and you may have a hard time putting a second drive in it - run it the way it came and enjoy it for what it is. Use the old box for playing. Turn it into a Internet sharing router/firewall with Linux or something like that.

[lakelover]

Well, I almost cancelled the Dell order, this morning. I looked, again, at the specs and while there are a couple of things I would like improved, the Dimension 2300, will probably do everything I need. I'm getting it for $459, after rebate. It has a 1.8 Ghz Celeron, with 256M SDRAM. Integrated Extreme 3D graphics, 40x CD-RW drive, 30GB Ultra ATA/100/7200RPM HHD. Integrated audio, WinXP, WordPerfect Productivity pack. Quicken, Nortron Anivirus, Dell Jukebox, and Dell Picture Studio. The case has room for additional drives. I'll toss in the new IDE drive with Linux on it, so I can dual boot the box. I do wish the drive were at least a 40BG, and the power supply was 300 or 350 watt.
And, I can still use the old box for playing around. Thanks again for your suggestions.