top | item 9399148

Ask HN: Can I see your rig?

29 points| tux | 11 years ago

Get your geek hat on and show off your rigs; computers, servers, devices preferably use imgur. Also, at least short summary of what's in the picture(s) models preferred :-)

59 comments

order
[+] GilbertErik|11 years ago|reply
I think there are two types of people. Those who still fetishize hardware, and the rest of us who just care about the product created by the hardware. A carpenter (I don't speak from experience, merely from analogy) is probably more proud to show off something he's made than the tools he used to make it.
[+] codingdave|11 years ago|reply
HN is full of people talking about how they work, what tools they use, what their processes are. Your hardware setup is a component of that, so it seems valid to ask about it. I don't feel it is fair to act like you are superior to people who "still fetishize" it.

Of course people are more proud of their results. And we see plenty of that on here every day. This was a simple question to see people's systems, not an implication that it was more important than other aspects of the work people do.

(And BTW, the guys who I know who do carpentry and masonry work absolutely have some tools they like to show off.)

[+] noir_lord|11 years ago|reply
> A carpenter (I don't speak from experience, merely from analogy) is probably more proud to show off something he's made than the tools he used to make it.

Grandfather was a shipwright then a cabinet maker, he absolutely loved showing of his workshop.

He was the one who taught me "If you use something for more than an hour a day buy the best you can afford".

[+] dheera|11 years ago|reply
Especially true of photography. Countless friends love showing off their lenses and whatnot. I'm always more interested in the pictures than the lenses.
[+] lewisl9029|11 years ago|reply
Why would caring about the product preclude anyone from also appreciating the hardware used to create it?
[+] tux|11 years ago|reply
and the third type is the people who "fetishize" both :-) In hacker world I think they are called "Grey Hat" ;-)
[+] cpursley|11 years ago|reply
Same thing in the guitar world. I used to be one of those guys who thought it was about the gear. It's not; it's about the player.
[+] noir_lord|11 years ago|reply
http://i.imgur.com/n1aP1Dw.jpg (home)

Nothing exotic, i5-2500K, 32GB RAM, ATI HD69502GB, 120GB SSD, 1TB spinning rust, runs Xubuntu 14.04.

Screens are 2xX23LED and the ubiquitous Dell 2412M

Laptop is a Dell Vostro 3750 upgraded to 16Gb RAM.

i5-2430 (I think I forget) running Xubuntu 14.04

http://i.imgur.com/WbSUsxK.jpg (work)

i5-3570K, 32GB RAM, ATIHD7something I forget, 120GB SSD, 1TB spinning rust, runs Xubuntu 14.04

Screens are 3xDell 2412M

Keyboards are the truly exceptional Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

[+] tux|11 years ago|reply
Very nice, thanks for including the specs. I prefer using 3-LCDs too, just perfect for my development needs.
[+] jhildings|11 years ago|reply
Why no mousepad ? :o
[+] jcousins|11 years ago|reply
I never saw the appeal of watercooled PCs with windows and lights, but found myself with a huge amount of time of my hands due to a serious injury that took me out of work. I decided to indulge myself one time before the idea of building such a thing is obsolete.

Here are some pics, it's a work in progress - https://imgur.com/a/WWsna#0

The case is a Case Labs Mercury S8 with a custom powder coat. It allows the motherboard to sit horizontally. The graphics cards are Nvidia GTX 980s with custom made waterblocks. There are large radiators concealed in the top and the bottom of the case. The two round, red things you see in the pictures are Laing D5 water pumps. The 'Midnight Express' theme is inspired by the film and the music of Giorgio Moroder. A number of parts have been laser engraved with the artwork. Everything is controlled and monitored by an independent microcontroller (Aqua Computers Aquaero 6, you'll see it in the pictures.)

Ongoing build log is here - http://www.overclock.net/t/1529623/build-log-midnight-expres...

[+] urza|11 years ago|reply
[+] glogla|11 years ago|reply
That's pretty cool!

I love the idea of completely silent computer, but sadly, I don't think it's compatible with performance or gaming. Though now I wonder if there's GPU that can be turned off completely when not in use and use integrated one. Kinda like Optimus, but for desktop.

(also, czc has been cheaper than alza for years)

[+] bosie|11 years ago|reply
If you don't mind, can you elaborate on the mouse some more?

How long did it take you to get used to it, how is the accuracy for progrmaming/office-type work, have you used another vertical mouse you can compare it to?

[+] S4M|11 years ago|reply
The picture with the hammock is pretty cool!
[+] fixxer|11 years ago|reply
My back hurts just looking at that last shot.
[+] jcousins|11 years ago|reply
I love the passive cpu heatsink, it's a true work of art.
[+] tux|11 years ago|reply
Very cool setup, thanks for sharing.
[+] moron4hire|11 years ago|reply
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SeanMcBeth/posts/24Sf5t1YUU6?pi...

The tower is a home-built deal that is getting a tad old. At the time I built it, the Intel i5-2550k was a good processor, and 8GB or RAM was on the excessive end of the scale. The GPU is a GeForce GTX 570, which was also top of the line at the time. So yeah, it's getting a weeee long in the tooth for some of the stuff I'm doing (I'm sure you can see the Oculus strap on top of the tower).

Ancient Microsoft natural keyboard. They flattened the wave design in future iterations so I never bought another one. I switch between this and a Unicomp.

The display is the Acer T232HL, which is a really nice, 1080p, 10-point-touch LCD that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Also has integral speakers, which is nice, because otherwise I only have headphones connected to the thing.

Yep, this is my livingroom. I'm a freelance software developer. This is my office. I also rent space from http://cove.is. If you're in the DC area, check them out, they are cool.

[+] corford|11 years ago|reply
A few weeks back I read a comment on HN about the RIPE Atlas project. It sounded fun (and I wanted a free probe!) so I sent off an application. Completely forgot about it after that until on Monday, out of the blue, a package from the Netherlands turned up with a tiny probe in it :)

It's now happily running on my desk: http://imgur.com/XA9UwTy

[+] edwhitesell|11 years ago|reply
The old (original?) ones are even smaller. https://imgur.com/mKBqksU (Standard business card included for reference)

Unfortunately, mine stopped working a few weeks ago. Originally started using it in July 2011.

[+] tux|11 years ago|reply
Very tiny box, is there a model on it ?
[+] damon_c|11 years ago|reply
It seems to me that as a professional, I am rewarded for maintaining the smallest differentiation in my rig from bone stock hardware and software configurations. The more that is different about my setup, the more time I spend debugging and symlinking includes when something doesn't compile etc.

Maybe this is a sign that I'm not doing enough "cutting edge" work.

[+] watmough|11 years ago|reply
This is definitely true at the office, but at home, a very quiet Hack Pro in a Fractal Design case with a GTX970 provides a very solid box that I just can't complain about.
[+] ant6n|11 years ago|reply
Paid 100$ for a used Chromebook ARM, running crouton. Cheap, silent, x86-free.
[+] tux|11 years ago|reply
Do you have any pix of it or at least model ?
[+] vgeek|11 years ago|reply
Not without dinner first.
[+] tux|11 years ago|reply
Please start a new thread "Ask HN: What do you eat for dinner ?" instead :-)
[+] lewisl9029|11 years ago|reply
My dream setup once I get my own place would include, among other things, a 4K 40"+ TV as the main monitor, on a slightly lower platform behind a hybrid standing desk + treadmill combo (don't ask me how this is going to be physically possible... still working out the details in my dreams), with a nice view of the ocean as the backdrop instead of a boring blank wall. ;D
[+] dutchbrit|11 years ago|reply
Use to have dedicated servers (at Hetzner and Webair), but switched to digitalocean. Have an old thin server laying around, pentium 4, was thinking about doing something with it, but it makes so much damn noise. For day to day use, I'm using a MacBook Air (2012 model), still very happy with it.