Should I keep my old PC or give it away?

[Anonymous]

I used my old dell optiplex for everyday tasks and programming and it ran Linux. My new PC now runs Windows and Linux, I use it now for programming, gaming, and everything else. Both Linux and Windows are installed on separate drives. I removed 3 of the old drives and put it in my new computer.

Would you recommend me keeping the old one and putting the drives back and using it for Linux or just use the new one so both operating systems can take advantage of better hardware?

I was thinking about giving the optiplex away or probably building a home server with it if I decide to buy drives for it.

So my new PC specs are:

- RTX 4060

- Ryzen 5 5500

- 16GB DDR4 RAM

- x2 1TB NVME SSD, 500GB SATA SSD, 128GB SATA SSD, 480GB SATA SSD

Old PC Specs were:

- GT 1030

- i7 2600

- 16GB DDR3

- 500GB SATA SSD, 128 SATA SSD, 480GB SATA SSD

Give it away.

Keep it.

[SueShe]

If you have any plans to use it as a backup PC, then keep it but if deep inside you know that it is too old for whatever you are doing, then just get rid of it. You can probably not get much for it, so rather than to chuck it, give it to somebody that can still make good use of it. There are plenty of kids whose parents don't have the financial resources to buy a new PC for their kids.

I personally would keep it for following reasons:

1. disconnect it from the internet and use it solely as a word processor or for taxes and other delicate or confidential information. If it is not connected to the internet, then you have no risk of getting viruses. However, you would have to do a reformatting of your hard disk or better a low level formatting to be certain to get all the confidential data overwritten.

2. You can use your old PC for games that can have a 2nd. computer that is hooked onto the mainframe and that don't require high frame rates or power.

[WindAtMyBack]

It depends on whether you have any use for it. Keep the old one, then if you don't touch it in six months or a year, then get rid of it.

I keep an old computer working to play old games and a few other things. I run XPMode as a virtual PC on my current computer, which allows me to run a few more things. But some things just won't run on it.

By the way, your old computer is close to what I'm using now, except I have a better video card. I really don't need anything newer. Computers have been fast enough for most things for 20 years now. The real reason to update is because of planned obsolescence.

[SomothErgai]

That depends on the answer to these two questions.

1 does it hold sentimental value that would make you upset if you were to lose it?

2 does it hold practical value that could be put to good use if you keep it?

if the answer to either of those is yes then you should probably keep it. If it's no to both then you have literally no reason to keep it around just taking up space and adding to your clutter. toss it or sell it or donate it but you don't need it.

[mistermike]

I use 2 desktops. On my new one i promised myself i would not do anything illegal lol. But on my old desktop im always pirating movies and tv shows. Newer games don't really run that well on it but it's great as a home theater system. My new computer i recently built is awesome and i can play any game on ultra settings but i also do some financial work on it so no pirating on that one lol.

[exitseven]

Keep it, put some bigger drives in it and make a server out of it. You can store videos and surf the net. The old Optiplexes were real workhorses. I teach a computer hardware course and I used Optiplex 750s in the course. thje students would do upgrades on them like more memory, a second drive and a WiFi card. they used to get a lot of abuse but I never had a problem.

[llorando]

Keep it as a back up, plus you can borrow it's GT 1030 to trouble shoot graphics issues with you new machine since the R5 5500 doesn't have graphics like the R5 5600g.

[LiamJHayden]

Keep it. I generally keep old units around for a little while at least, just in case I find a use for it, like your possible server.

[strateguy632]

make it a server, in linux

[Nikki1989]

Keep it.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Keep both. Don't dual boot.

[Anonymous]

Keep it