It runs up to 8 background threads simultaneously, running up some nice statistics with BOINC -- the science "@home" brokering site. Maybe we've discovered a pulsar or two, who knows?
This was alongside my "real" work which has been operating my ham radio station -- running SDR radios, logging, digital mode operation, etc.
That was until a few weeks ago, when Gimli started failing -- stopping suddenly with no blue screen of death or software logging, just a blank screen. I thought maybe my checkered past as an overclocking experimenter was catching up with me. I tried going back to the absolute minimal BIOS settings just in case.
I starting checking out what I might need to buy to upgrade this "ancient" machine through Newegg or Amazon -- and the discussions I'd need to have with the XYL. Yes, there are many new options on the market. The biggest one might be the advent of SSD technology (Solid State Disk).
As a last stand, I thought I'd check out the computer as best I could. It's practically impossible to find a fault of the kind I was having. You'd just have to replace key components one by one until it started working again.
Opening the box and blowing out the dust, I started wiggling the cables and re-seating the connectors. I pulled out the two RAM modules and "cleaned" the contacts (wiping with fingers), and I plugged them back swapping their positions.
Naturally when I put things all back together, Gimli came to life and hasn't crashed for a week or so now. Maybe we're go for another 7 years?
Or maybe we're running on fumes.
