Can I really do this?

[Blondie]

TL;DR I have two windows XP PCs with i3s in them and 4 gigs of DDR2 ram, is there a way to combine the two to make one good PC? Ok first time poster, now that we have that out of the way I need some help. I am 14 have a budget PC (i5 range) and nothing else, I funded to build my PC by myself. Ok to cut to the chance I have two computers I got from a tech enthusiast adult who helped me make my PC. All good right, but the PCs only have i3s in them and 4 gigs of DDR2 ram. They were really good at the time they were made but now really can't run anything. They run Windows XP, now I'm wondering if they're is anyway I can connect both PCs to make one good PC to give to my younger brother (by a year). So is this possibly and if so what do I need to buy to make this happen, if you need more info on the specs I'll post the specs tomorrow as an update. Thank you for reading this! EDIT: I will be putting the rest of the specs later as of this time of editing it is 11:46 pm my time so please wait, I will also be adding pictures.of both PCs tomorrow as well, if you would like to comment in the meantime please do I will respond to them. Thanks!

[LabRat]

i3 and ddr2? or ddr3?

give complete specs of both machines.

xp32 or 64bit?

[Blondie]

Sorry I'll edit in the whole specs in tomorrow but I do know it is DDR2 ram and 64 bit XP but I am trying to get a CD for Windows 7

[alexhelvetica]

A computer with an i3 WILL NOT HAVE DDR2 RAM and is unlikely to run Windows XP. 

[Blondie]

3 minutes ago, Comic_Sans_MS said:

A computer with an i3 WILL NOT HAVE DDR2 RAM and is unlikely to run Windows XP. 

It is a very VERY old computer back with the first generation of the i3 trust me at first I thought it was crazy too until I checke the specs about a month ago, but tonight I just had the idea to put them together I just need some advice on how to do it

[LabRat]

7 minutes ago, Comic_Sans_MS said:

A computer with an i3 WILL NOT HAVE DDR2 RAM and is unlikely to run Windows XP. 

the new cpu's will only run W10, (2016/17)......... not to sure that's true with an i3 series and xp ( what socket )?

I had xp 64bit running on an 1150 socket.

[GT_BFG]

What are you trying to do with them? A dual Beowulf like cluster for parallel computation?

[Blondie]

1 minute ago, GT_BFG said:

What are you trying to do with them? A dual Beowulf like cluster for parallel computation?

More of a merging sorry all the clustering I know how to do is with Linux and I don't really want toove from Windows to Linux, also I want it to be sort of the reverse of linus' video on 1 rig to gamers, sort of like 1 desktop 2 rigs kinda of deal

[Guest]

It all depends on what you do with your computer... Playing all modern games at ultra and 4k... Not going to happen. But if you would get some older and/or era correct titles, you could have lots of fun with a computer like that. Not all games created in the past are junk, you know...

 

My thoughts:

Put all the ram in 1 computer, so it has 8 gb of DDR2.

Put all the storage/HDD's in 1 computer.

Youtube that thingy where Linus makes 2 partitions on 1 drive, and installs the OS on the faster part of the HDD. Don't use the second part of the partition...

If those computers were really good in the day, check for vid card compability. Maybe go crossfire/SLI, if the mobo supports it.

You might also want to go for an overclock. Try to find the best overclocking CPU, and use it. Might want to change those CPU coolers for something new, and at least change the paste between CPU/cooler. (might want to put in some new cooling paste on those vid cards to...)

And ofcourse you should clean the entire computer. Remove all of the dust. I prefer to use an old toothbrush myself. I consider it to be really relaxing and sattisfying to do.

Check if you can somehow mount any of the fans somewhere in the computer case, which should help you cool things down for an overclock. And if you break the CPU, you would still have another spare one...

 

This is what I would do, if it would be some sort of AMD computer. I would trash it otherwise.

[GT_BFG]

Your description is a bit confusing so I will interpret it as: A. Two OSs running on two cpus and mobos in one pc case, B. Attempting to combine two CPUs to run 1 desktop.

A. Two separate OSs (I'll assume both windows) and connected to the same monitor (just need a switch). One is running your MS office, browser, skype and stuff. The other runs games and each is optimized to do it's task. A work OS and a game OS.

 

B. Yes the clustering I was referring to is Linux but you can do it with Windows as well. The second PC is running but as an Ethernet slave to the primary (node) pc. You (programs that are able to) can pass it computational code. You won't really be harnessing the CPU to run your OS or programs but it can help crunch some numbers if set up correctly. These clusters are interesting and have been very useful in my computational physics, they sound cool, but they are little good for anything else. Honestly most people find it a bit humdrum but there are exceptions that can enjoy seeing hundreds of cores running at 100% calculating the trajectories of dust as it combines into astrological bodies....In numbers, spreadsheets and graphs.

I hope that was able to address your project ideas but I agree with the Dutch poster that it would be better to build one PC with more ram. Window 10 can run on 32bit and it's pretty good. Secondly if it can get a compatible SSD for it. Still this is about modding and creating. Good luck in your designs. Heaven knows I've built some of the most pointless devices but you learn a lot.

[Blondie]

1 hour ago, GT_BFG said:

Your description is a bit confusing so I will interpret it as: A. Two OSs running on two cpus and mobos in one pc case, B. Attempting to combine two CPUs to run 1 desktop.

A. Two separate OSs (I'll assume both windows) and connected to the same monitor (just need a switch). One is running your MS office, browser, skype and stuff. The other runs games and each is optimized to do it's task. A work OS and a game OS.

 

B. Yes the clustering I was referring to is Linux but you can do it with Windows as well. The second PC is running but as an Ethernet slave to the primary (node) pc. You (programs that are able to) can pass it computational code. You won't really be harnessing the CPU to run your OS or programs but it can help crunch some numbers if set up correctly. These clusters are interesting and have been very useful in my computational physics, they sound cool, but they are little good for anything else. Honestly most people find it a bit humdrum but there are exceptions that can enjoy seeing hundreds of cores running at 100% calculating the trajectories of dust as it combines into astrological bodies....In numbers, spreadsheets and graphs.

I hope that was able to address your project ideas but I agree with the Dutch poster that it would be better to build one PC with more ram. Window 10 can run on 32bit and it's pretty good. Secondly if it can get a compatible SSD for it. Still this is about modding and creating. Good luck in your designs. Heaven knows I've built some of the most pointless devices but you learn a lot.

Thank you, I have just bought a raspberry pi and I am going to start developing a program with a couple of older guys who are encoding majors in college (my sister is an encoding major too that's how I know them) the program will link the components connected to the mother board of the second PC and make the motherboard basically a second set of ports the main PC will use, and at this moment I would like to quote my father "I hear you saying I can't do it, well shut the fuck up, the world doesn't stop so you shouldn't either. In fact you should be the driving force that makes the world advance."

[_JohnB330ci]

You can utilise the CPU and that is about it I believe, and maybe the RAM

 

Its commonly done with R Pi's and you will see people have giant slave machines built from them for crunching numbers, but it isn't really "practical" and isn't used for gaming etc. a standard ethernet cable doesn't really have high enough speeds to transfer data to GPU's fast enough to make them worthwhile in most scenarios and is probably the same with the RAM, but it is definitely possible.