Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

Hantabaru · 2010-11-21 08:42:20

I have a laptop whose graphic card is partially broken.

It allows me to boot to the command line (init 3) but not a full windows environment.

I have wireless network connection via cnetworkmanager so there is no problem with that.

I hate the thought of not using this for something useful.

My question is therefore, has anyone any good suggestions what I can use this laptop for?

Allan · 2010-11-21 08:46:49

torrent server.

Hantabaru · 2010-11-21 08:52:40

I thought about that but I have a server already doing that...thanks for the suggestion though.

sugardeath · 2010-11-21 08:54:03

To build on the torrent server...

any (well, nearly, anyway) sort of server.

Web, torrent, media, quake, minecraft.

Hantabaru · 2010-11-21 09:06:43

Should probably clarify.

The server I have already is actually a NAS (Netgear ReadyNAS Duo) and serves as a file, print and torrent server.

I am thinking of using the laptop for something other than this.

I don't have time for gaming or have kids old enough play quake or something like that so a gaming server wouldn't make sense for me.

CountDuckula · 2010-11-21 09:13:51

If you can login and get to the command line then why not run it with tmux and command line apps etc...

Else, make it into a high tech doorstop

Hantabaru · 2010-11-21 09:26:34

Tmux? Haven't heard of that. I have been using screen.

I have been using it with command line apps so far but it was a work computer and I am getting a new lenovo t410s this week, which will be my main machine, and seeing as my wife and my two kids (who are both under 4 yrs old) are not as techy-minded as me (yet - Am working on the kids ) I thought some sort server, which was more flexible than the NAS I have, might be a good option.

As for a doorstop...hmmm...if I can just convince my wife...

BTW, is there a decent mp3 player for the command line?

Last edited by Hantabaru (2010-11-21 09:28:04)

graysky · 2010-11-21 10:04:05

Hantabaru wrote:

BTW, is there a decent mp3 player for the command line?

Sure is, ncmpcpp in [community] which runs with mpd in [extra].

Hantabaru · 2010-11-21 12:07:03

graysky wrote:

Hantabaru wrote:
BTW, is there a decent mp3 player for the command line?
Sure is, ncmpcpp in [community] which runs with mpd in [extra].

Thanks for tip

ngoonee · 2010-11-21 16:27:13

You could always set up a rogue-like and get one of the kids addicted to it

AlexS · 2010-11-21 23:34:25

I also use an old laptop with a broken screen that I got from a friend as a personal server, but you already have a server.

In your case I think you could just use it:

- as an experimental server to try stuff out, before deploying in your stable server

- use it to set up your family's backup solution, and place the machine in some physical place where it's not likely to be destroyed/stolen/flooded together with your other systems. You could even place it is some remote place, if you have the means.

- set up a server for some technophobic family member/organization. You will just have to accept to become that person's IT maintenance service, while knowing that the old machine may fail anytime (on the other hand my broken laptop has been going strong for 4 years already, and shows no sign of fatigue, at least for my needs).

stqn · 2010-11-22 21:21:00

Funny, the same thing happened to my Asus laptop 3 weeks ago (after 4 or 5 years of use.) Boots fine in runlevel 3 but crashes when I run Firefox (or Windows.)

I might use it as a 24/7 client for some anonymous network (I2P, Freenet, ...) at some point in the future... Could also be useful as a hg/svn/git server.

Edit: The symptoms make me think the VRAM might be the culprit, and I was wondering if there was a program to check VRAM and/or allocate bad VRAM blocks so that no other programs could use it. But I couldn't find any.

Last edited by stqn (2010-11-22 21:23:39)

TigTex · 2010-11-22 21:41:47

Everyone should know that all G84 and G86 chips are bad... that means that all nvidia 8400-8500-8600gt WILL FAIL.
Why dont you try to bake our gpu? Put it in the oven. I did that trick with a friends 8600gt and it solved the problem (for 2 months, died again ).

ontopic: i would turn that into a server of something... p2p, html, files something... with ssh.

CountDuckula · 2010-11-23 10:42:53

Hantabaru wrote:

Tmux? Haven't heard of that. I have been using screen.
BTW, is there a decent mp3 player for the command line?

Tmux is far better than screen IMHO.

There are two standalone music players I know of that and they are cmus and moc both of which are Arch packages

Last edited by CountDuckula (2010-11-23 10:44:45)

Cloudef · 2010-11-23 13:56:22

Been using that cmus before, and I can say it's pretty neat standalone player.

Hantabaru · 2010-11-23 20:36:40

stqn wrote:

Funny, the same thing happened to my Asus laptop 3 weeks ago (after 4 or 5 years of use.) Boots fine in runlevel 3 but crashes when I run Firefox (or Windows.)
I might use it as a 24/7 client for some anonymous network (I2P, Freenet, ...) at some point in the future... Could also be useful as a hg/svn/git server.
Edit: The symptoms make me think the VRAM might be the culprit, and I was wondering if there was a program to check VRAM and/or allocate bad VRAM blocks so that no other programs could use it. But I couldn't find any.

I wasn't too worried when it died as I could still access the info (even though I still have backups) and it meant I had a good reason to ask for a new laptop .

However, it is still irritating that a laptop that costs so much can last only three years!

I am also interested to know what it is that has been effected.

Hantabaru · 2010-11-23 20:38:39

TigTex wrote:

Everyone should know that all G84 and G86 chips are bad... that means that all nvidia 8400-8500-8600gt WILL FAIL.
Why dont you try to bake our gpu? Put it in the oven. I did that trick with a friends 8600gt and it solved the problem (for 2 months, died again ).
ontopic: i would turn that into a server of something... p2p, html, files something... with ssh.

Interesting, what does baking do o_O?

Hantabaru · 2010-11-23 20:41:39

CountDuckula wrote:

Hantabaru wrote:
Tmux? Haven't heard of that. I have been using screen.
BTW, is there a decent mp3 player for the command line?
Tmux is far better than screen IMHO.
There are two standalone music players I know of that and they are cmus and moc both of which are Arch packages

In what way is Tmux better?

Hantabaru · 2010-11-23 20:49:41

Cloudef wrote:

Been using that cmus before, and I can say it's pretty neat standalone player.

Looks interesting

It says on the webpage that it "Can be controlled via UNIX socket using cmus-remote command".

Does this mean I could ssh in to the server and make changes? I know that this can be done with MPD and it would mean I could control it with my android phone, which would be very cool

Cloudef · 2010-11-23 20:54:34

Hantabaru wrote:

TigTex wrote:
Everyone should know that all G84 and G86 chips are bad... that means that all nvidia 8400-8500-8600gt WILL FAIL.
Why dont you try to bake our gpu? Put it in the oven. I did that trick with a friends 8600gt and it solved the problem (for 2 months, died again ).
ontopic: i would turn that into a server of something... p2p, html, files something... with ssh.
Interesting, what does baking do o_O?

It melts the badly soldiered parts, and therefore can make the GPU work again.

Hantabaru wrote:

Cloudef wrote:
Been using that cmus before, and I can say it's pretty neat standalone player.
Looks interesting
It says on the webpage that it "Can be controlled via UNIX socket using cmus-remote command".
Does this mean I could ssh in to the server and make changes? I know that this can be done with MPD and it would mean I could control it with my android phone, which would be very cool

Yes you can do that.

Last edited by Cloudef (2010-11-23 20:55:58)

akurei · 2010-11-23 20:59:04

For torrents
As a media server (audiostreaming and stuff)
webserver (accessing local files from work or sth. similar)
local package repository
printserver
Text-to-Speak for incoming E-Mails (Reads your new mails aloud)
Live Webcam monitoring of your home (intrusion detection)
centralied Backup location for all of your machines
use it as a distcc server or let it BOINC or Fold proteins: http://folding.stanford.edu/
let it control some lights or maybe an attached LCD Display to tell you about new messages or change light according to daytime/weather/music

EDIT: I wish I had a broken laptop laying around here, too. I want a cheap homeserver so badly. I was looking into the Seagate Dockstar as a home server, but they are now around 60-80 € per unit. They cost about 20 to 25 € a few months ago, but due to popular demand (very hackable: It's essentially a SheevaPlug with only 128 MB RAM) they almost quadrupled in price...

Last edited by akurei (2010-11-23 21:09:25)

Hantabaru · 2010-11-23 21:07:22

Have got a some nice suggestions and info.

I am thinking now that I might use the laptop as a second, bit more experimental, server that I can experiment a bit with music streaming and other things. Plus maybe storage for files sent to me from family and friends, storage for files I want to share with family and friends.

This way I keep the potential mess away from the NAS with the more important backups, photos, documents, etc.

I appreciate the help

Hantabaru · 2010-11-23 21:21:01

akurei wrote:

For torrents
As a media server (audiostreaming and stuff)
webserver (accessing local files from work or sth. similar)
local package repository
printserver
Text-to-Speak for incoming E-Mails (Reads your new mails aloud)
Live Webcam monitoring of your home (intrusion detection)
centralied Backup location for all of your machines
use it as a distcc server or let it BOINC or Fold proteins: http://folding.stanford.edu/
let it control some lights or maybe an attached LCD Display to tell you about new messages or change light according to daytime/weather/music
EDIT: I wish I had a broken laptop laying around here, too. I want a cheap homeserver so badly. I was looking into the Seagate Dockstar as a home server, but they are now around 60-80 € per unit. They cost about 20 to 25 € a few months ago, but due to popular demand (very hackable: It's essentially a SheevaPlug with only 128 MB RAM) they almost quadrupled in price...

A good list!

I like having a server as it means I know where all my stuff is

Haven't had it that long so I am however still having a little bit of trouble trying to organise it so that it doesn't become a dumping ground for all sorts of crap.

CountDuckula · 2010-11-24 01:46:05

Hantabaru wrote:

In what way is Tmux better?

Check this thread on tmux in the forums

TigTex · 2010-11-24 03:15:50

Hantabaru wrote:
TigTex wrote:
Everyone should know that all G84 and G86 chips are bad... that means that all nvidia 8400-8500-8600gt WILL FAIL.
Why dont you try to bake our gpu? Put it in the oven. I did that trick with a friends 8600gt and it solved the problem (for 2 months, died again ).
ontopic: i would turn that into a server of something... p2p, html, files something... with ssh.
Interesting, what does baking do o_O?
It melts the badly soldiered parts, and therefore can make the GPU work again.

by the way... you can just remove the gpu (if it's not onboard), overheat the PCB with an hair dryer for some 15minutes and then put everything back together...
Sounds crazy, but it works.
You may also disconnect the fan and make the gpu overheat (cpu should throttle) and that may bring it back to life...
Just youtube this or try to RMA that. There is an extendend warranty for those gpu's...

I had 3 laptops to fix with that G84 gpu, one of them still works today, the other died (again) 1 month later and the other overheating didn't solved the problem...

Last edited by TigTex (2010-11-24 03:16:57)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-11-21 08:42:20

Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#2 2010-11-21 08:46:49

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#3 2010-11-21 08:52:40

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#4 2010-11-21 08:54:03

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#5 2010-11-21 09:06:43

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#6 2010-11-21 09:13:51

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#7 2010-11-21 09:26:34

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#8 2010-11-21 10:04:05

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#9 2010-11-21 12:07:03

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#10 2010-11-21 16:27:13

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#11 2010-11-21 23:34:25

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#12 2010-11-22 21:21:00

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#13 2010-11-22 21:41:47

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#14 2010-11-23 10:42:53

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#15 2010-11-23 13:56:22

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#16 2010-11-23 20:36:40

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#17 2010-11-23 20:38:39

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#18 2010-11-23 20:41:39

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#19 2010-11-23 20:49:41

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#20 2010-11-23 20:54:34

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#21 2010-11-23 20:59:04

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#22 2010-11-23 21:07:22

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#23 2010-11-23 21:21:01

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#24 2010-11-24 01:46:05

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

#25 2010-11-24 03:15:50

Re: Alternative use for a laptop with a broken graphic card?

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