What to Do with Your Old Desktop?

Answer 1

It's a testament to the innovation of the technology sector that a five year old PC is considered obsolete in this day and age. When you're ready to make the move to a new computer, you're faced with the somewhat difficult choice of what to do with your old machine. While you could resign it to the garbage heap, there are better options out there for disposing of your electronic hardware. Instead of shipping it off to the landfill, consider these alternatives.

Refurbish It

Adding memory (RAM), upgrading the hard drive, or even swapping out the CPU for a faster model are all perfectly sensible ways to prolong your PC's life. You can also switch to a less taxing operating system if you're not using one already.

Donate It To Charity

There are plenty of schools around the country that are facing budget shortfalls that can't afford to spend a lot of money on IT. Your local school district would in all likelihood be more than happy to take your old machine off your hands and put it in a computer lab. You might also consider donating it to a developing country in the Third World. Computers for Africa runs a program specifically aimed at providing PCs for under-privileged youth in impoverished areas.

E-Cycle It

If the above methods don't work, the last and most responsible option is to have your PC safely recycled. Before you haul it off to the local dump or recycling center, know that disposing of E-waste is a delicate task. Gazelle is a recycling company specializing in E-waste, so you can rest assured they'll do the job right. They'll assess the value of your PC, and award you with cash, gift cards, or charity tax credit for your hardware if possible.

Final Thoughts

Outside of donating your PC, giving it a tune-up for longer life, or E-cycling, you can also turn your old PC into an Arts and Crafts project. Old PC cases can be converted into everything from bird feeders to bookcases. If all else fails, pack up that old PC and put it in storage for a later time. If you wait long enough, anything can become a valuable antique.