My Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, which has seen better days, has found a new purpose as a game-streaming hub and ad-blocking powerhouse on my home network. After repairing the cooling fan, I realized this old laptop could do more than just gather dust.
I installed AdGuard Home, a free, open-source network-wide ad and tracker blocker. It filters DNS for all devices on my home network, providing protection without the need for individual ad-blockers on each device. Setting it up was surprisingly easy, taking less than ten minutes. I used a PowerShell command to install AdGuard Home and registered it as a Windows service to ensure it survives reboots. I then configured the admin login, DNS port, and pointed my router’s DNS to the laptop’s fixed IP address.
AdGuard Home has significantly improved the user experience on my mobile devices. Apps and websites feel cleaner, and I no longer get retargeting ads based on my browsing history. This network-wide filtering pays for itself by eliminating the need for subscription-based ad-blockers.
With AdGuard running smoothly, I decided to use the laptop as a game-streaming server. My desktop has an RTX 2070 Super, but the laptop’s mobile RTX 3070 is more powerful for gaming. I set up Sunshine, an open-source host application, to stream games to my 27-inch monitor and 55-inch TV using Moonlight. This setup allows me to use my game library without downloading games multiple times or moving them between devices.
The laptop’s form factor, weighing about 5 pounds and running hot, makes it impractical for regular use. However, as a dedicated server, it excels. The built-in battery acts as a UPS, keeping everything running during power outages. The integrated screen and keyboard make troubleshooting easier compared to headless servers. Additionally, the RTX 30-series GPU ensures smooth game streaming, something a Raspberry Pi or budget mini PC couldn’t handle as effectively.
While the laptop draws more power than a Raspberry Pi, the benefits outweigh the costs. The ability to block ads network-wide and stream games seamlessly makes this old laptop irreplaceable on my home network. For anyone considering repurposing an old laptop, the combination of AdGuard Home and Sunshine offers a powerful and cost-effective solution. The original article provides more details on this setup.
