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Operating Systems => Linux and UNIX => Topic started by: Doogee on 20 December 2002, 10:44

Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Doogee on 20 December 2002, 10:44
Okay heres the go.

I have just got a P2MMX-266Mhz with 32meg of ram and 2 meg video card (with high colour).

I have installed Mandrake on it and im pretty happy, but things are slow, moving the mouse makes the computer grunt and stuff.

Which window manager should i use? i need speed here. (even a high speed window manager would be slow on this thing)

Yes im going to get more RAM but since i am totally hardware illiterate i dont have a clue how to tell what kinda ram ive got.

Any other tips on getting this thing to go a bit faster?

Thanks heaps


-Dan
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: voidmain on 20 December 2002, 11:08
WindowMaker, blackbox, XFce, fvwm/2/95.

[ December 20, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: lazygamer on 20 December 2002, 15:34
Getting the most out of an old computer? Put DOS on it and use it as a dual boot 0ld$k00l beast! Then use the Linux part to download cool abandonware/oldwarez shit(in addition to word processing, programming, and websurfing). That is what I would do.  ;)
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Calum on 20 December 2002, 16:00
don't put DOS on it, and don't waste your time changing to red hat unless you fancy it, there's no need. All the advice you need follows:
 
quote:
Originally posted by void main:
WindowMaker, blackbox, XFce, fvwm/2/95.


I'd go for XFce or windowmaker myself, but each to their own.
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: buzza24 on 22 December 2002, 21:54
Hey Doogee,

The RAM you proberbly have is latest type of Ram, the same as in later computers. I think it is called SDRAM.

I hope that helps you,

Later,
Buzza2
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: preacher on 22 December 2002, 12:53
quote:
Originally posted by Got Doogee?:
Okay heres the go.

I have just got a P2MMX-266Mhz with 32meg of ram and 2 meg video card (with high colour).

I have installed Mandrake on it and im pretty happy, but things are slow, moving the mouse makes the computer grunt and stuff.

Which window manager should i use? i need speed here. (even a high speed window manager would be slow on this thing)

Yes im going to get more RAM but since i am totally hardware illiterate i dont have a clue how to tell what kinda ram ive got.

Any other tips on getting this thing to go a bit faster?

Thanks heaps


-Dan



I just created the back up webserver for badconnections.net. Its a 200 mhz with 64mb RAM. It had a pretty sad 2 mb video card too. It only had a tiny 2.1 gb hard drive in it, and not installing kde resulted in saving quite a bit of space. As the main window manager I use Windowmaker. Also I decided on slackware rather than mandrake, since I noticed a very noticeable speed difference. My suggestion, switch to slackware. The speed difference is huge. Also try to find more RAM for your computer.
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Master of Reality on 22 December 2002, 17:25
do you have a faster machine with linux on it?
if you do then you could use it as an X server and run X from the fast computer to the slow computer. Thats what i'm doing right now and void main has written a tip on it at his website.

Or you could use BlackBox which is the fastest GUI i have ever experienced.
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: choasforages on 23 December 2002, 15:52
p2-266? thats plenty quick enough to run gnome2, and if you think im being sarcastic, check out my thinkpad gnome2 wth some really cool stuff, then agian, it has 192megs of ram. i almost willing to bet that your machine takes pc100 rams, load it to the max for as little as you can, and you have a very nice box
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Calum on 23 December 2002, 18:09
<wistful-voice  -echoing in the wind at the edge of perception>xfce or windowmaker... xfce or windowmaker...</wistful-voice>
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Doogee on 23 December 2002, 18:12
lol im using icewm but using the command line the most   (http://tongue.gif)   actually my bro is using it more than me. hes 10 and programming c and shit, be nice to him his name is chrisbo.

edit: its not basic its c, sorry.

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Got Doogee? ]

Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Calum on 23 December 2002, 18:13
me-e-erry chrisbo!
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Faust on 23 December 2002, 18:23
quote:
Originally posted by Calum:
me-e-erry chrisbo!


You what! Its Christmas in London? GODDAMMIT! I have to wait another day till I get that nice big book on linux...
  :D
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Doogee on 23 December 2002, 18:23
sorry i didnt answer your messages last nite calum, i was sleeping or out or something, good to see your back on though.
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Calum on 23 December 2002, 19:16
no bother doogee!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Faust:


You what! Its Christmas in London? GODDAMMIT! I have to wait another day till I get that nice big book on linux...
   :D  


no it's not! i just couldn't wait to take chrisbo's name in vain! it's actually 3:15 on the 23rd of December here  :(  i still have the rest of today and half of tomorrow to work through before i get my holidays! you australians are actually nine hours ahead, so you'll get christmas before us. And you'll get to have your christmas party on the lawn if it's not too hot! remember the mozzie coils, you'll need them (ho ho ho)
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Faust on 23 December 2002, 19:36
LOL... christmas in Australia is pretty stupid... today it was 45 degrees c outside and we have fake snow on the tree.  And will we have salad or something else to cool us down on such a hot day? Nope were going to have a really hot roast    :rolleyes:  

 
quote:
remember the mozzie coils, you'll need them
too hot for mozzies   (http://smile.gif)

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Faust ]

Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Calum on 23 December 2002, 20:58
you're joking! i spent christmas outside in sydney in 2000, pretty hot but not too hot for mozzies. I think it was approaching 40 degrees and me having just arrived from scotland on the 17th of december!... i am sure you can see what i mean!
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Faust on 23 December 2002, 21:03
LOL.  Thats because Sydney is a hole.    :D  

Only 40? Thats actually a bit low for December, especially if it was close to New Years.  Highest Ive ever been in was 56.   (http://smile.gif)

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Faust ]

Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Calum on 23 December 2002, 21:06
from melbourne then, are you?

(i bet you're from up north now i have said that, or perth maybe) (now i have said that i bet you're from tasmania or SA) (now i have said that i bet it turns out you are from Alice or somewhere) (maybe i shouldn't have said anything...)
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Faust on 23 December 2002, 21:09
LOL dont worry, Melbourne was a good guess, my favorite Australian city...   (http://smile.gif)  I do live in Victoria, but close to the New South Wales border, in a little dump called Allans Flat   :D  In about a month I get to move to Cannberra and be that little bit closer to that sexy Phillip Ruddock.   :D
Title: Getting The most out of an old computer
Post by: Doogee on 24 December 2002, 03:34
Blue Mountains r0x0rs joo p4nts