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The operation was a success, and the patient still lives!
Or in better terms, the refurbishment project has been successfully completed, and the PC is once again a usable system.
Here is Part 2 of my Refurbishment Project of a former HTPC system that had been sitting mostly disassembled since early 2016. The budget for this project is $50. Here, we go through the initial re-assembly of the system and find some more problems that have to be dealt with.
Looking through my assorted collection of computer equipment, I have decided on a project. I will be refurbishing my old Home Theater PC that I originally built in 2009. This system has had some scavenging done over the years since its retirement, so I may have to dig up or purchase some components. However, as I have a Roku device and a media server, this older PC will not be used as a HTPC, but either as a general purpose system or maybe as a physical Active Directory Server. My budget for this project is about $50.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="5" gal_title="Project 2015 - Phase 1"]
The upgrades to my Main PC went as expected, and also as expected its performance has increased. Unfortunately, I do not have any benchmark software, so I am relying on my own perception.
The plan has come together, not just to replace my 8 year old Dell Dimension E521, but to also perform some upgrades to the other two computers.
By going with a AM3+ motherboard for the new system, I am able to upgrade both the memory and processor in my main system. Also, since the Dell and my HTPC have AM2 motherboards, the Athlon x64 5600+ from the Dell can replace the 5400+ in the HTPC. Also the HTPC has an external 3.5 bay that is not in use, so the card reader in the Dell should be able to move over to there. There is also the possibility of increasing the RAM in the HTPC with the RAM from the Dell. And finally the hard drives, DVD drive, and video card in the Dell will go into the new system.
So, as I previously mentioned, I have a nice new case and need to fill it up with a computer. I had also mentioned that this new system would be replacing my 8 year old Dell Dimension E521 and be my new home file server.
So with that in mind, time to make a list of what I will be putting in this case:
As previously mentioned, I now have a nice versatile case that will fit in my computer desk without any issue. Now I have to deal with the question: Now what?
With three computers, I really don't need a fourth, so it would make sense that in order to use the case, I will need to sacrifice a current computer.
The case isn't a suitable replacement for my HTPC system as that one is in a cube and a tower really won't work in that spot.
A while back, I subscribed to TigerDirect’s text alerts for special offers. Usually when I receive them, they’re not for anything that tempts me, but on January 27, one of the items in the alert was a Corsair Mid-Tower case for $29.99.
When I built my current system a few years ago, the barebones kit I ordered came with a Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower gaming case. It has a tool-less design, plenty of fan mounts, able to run cables behind the motherboard tray, and compatible with water cooling systems.
