What to do with an old PC?

Have an old PC lying around? Here are some really good uses for your old PC!

Seriously, if you have an old PC, don’t throw it in the bin. It can be used in so many ways, even tho it might be 15+ years old. Retro gaming, searching for aliens, Spotify machine etc…plenty of uses!

What to do with an old PC – Retro gaming machine

If you have an old PC, chances are that does not have nearly enough power to run new games. Still, that does not mean you can’t game on it, no. Old retro games still rock! And, from my experience, old PCs that have integrated graphics actually run the old games better than PCs that have a dedicated GPU. However, this is just my experience. Which games to play? The original Half-Life, original Doom, Age of Empires, if you’re into those kinds of games, etc., the list goes on and on…
You also have the option to install emulators of old consoles, like NES, SNES and stuff like that, giving you a huge game library!

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What to do with an old PC – Storage server

Yes, you can use your old PC as a server, but not for some complex tasks, no. You can use it as a storage server to store all your photos, videos, pretty much all files. You just need a good connection and storage. How much, depends on your needs. Also, if you happen to have CCTV cameras around your house, you can use your old PC to store all that footage.

What to do with an old PC – Media PC / Spotify Machine

You can use your old PC to turn your “dumb TV” into a smart TV. However, you do need to have HDMI output on your PC. Even a displayport will do, if you get an adapter. There are apps in the Google Play Store that allow you to use your phone as a keyboard and mouse, so you can tuck your PC into a corner and not worry about your keyboard and mouse. Once you have hooked up everything, you can enjoy stuff like Netflix and YouTube. Now, depending on how much horsepower your PC has, you can watch Netflix or YouTube at 720p or 1080p.

If you listen to a lot of music, like I do, here is what you can do. Make sure you have Spotify installed and that you have logged in with your account on your old PC. Connect your PC to your speakers and tuck it away in a corner, just make sure it has a stable Internet connection and that it has enough air for cooling. Then what you need is to download Spotify’s Android app, and you can now easily control your music playback from your phone.

What to do with an old PC – Different kinds of donations

Okay, you really don’t want to, or can’t use your PC. So in that case, donate it! Give it to your family member who does not have a PC. Give it to a charity organisation, or give it to your school or library. Or sell it.

If you don’t want to do that, you can donate your CPU time to organizations like SETI@home.