Who we are

This issue we asked our experts: Because we’re building a Linux PC this month, we wondered what’s running inside your rig and what tricks have you added to make it extra special?

Jonni Bidwell

I did have two power-hungry graphics cards in my rig, but after my newfound passion for mining ethereum, core reactor temperature was reaching critical. One PCIe riser later and that card is now mounted outside the case, warming my toes rather than my CPU.

Nate Drake

While escaping from my cubicle at Apple last year, I was able to snatch up a Mac Mini server. I maxed the RAM and then fuelled my paranoia by installing a Seagate SED (Self Encrypting Drive). I’ve plastered a decal of Tux eating the apple on the casing for good measure.

John Knight

I’ve little idea what my hardware is after escaping the Windows upgrade cycle, but it’s an Nvidia… something, and an AMD… something (although I know it has six cores!). I’m running Linux Mint KDE 18.1 with a custom Compton script to get around that horrid tearing!

Les Pounder

I’m running a Lenovo X220 that’s fitted with 16GB RAM and an SSD. I can run two 1080p displays from the laptop, and just recently I had to completely take it apart to replace the fan as my laptop went thermonuclear! Luckily it was an easy fix and I’m working again.

Neil Bothwick

My computers are powered by magic smoke. This is locked inside the hardware and so I have no idea what it does or how it does it. Occasionally, I do something stupid with connections and the magic smoke leaks out like a bad West End show. After that, the computer never works as well.