I've managed to snag two computers from my job, really hoping they can be salvaged, but honestly, I know nothing about computers! I'm looking for guidance on where to start with this. I have a decent budget to work with, and I'm open to suggestions about what I can do. I want to make sure I get good value and save anything useful, but I'm aware some of these parts might be outdated.
Here are the details of what I have:
**PC 1 (CyberPowerPC, MSI X99 Build)**:
- **Case**: CyberPowerPC mid-tower (side panel included)
- **Motherboard**: MSI X99S SLI PLUS (LGA2011-v3, DDR4, PCIe 3.0)
- **CPU**: Intel Core i7 Extreme (6-8 cores)
- **CPU Cooler**: AIO liquid cooler
- **RAM**: 4x DDR4 DIMMs (16-32 GB total)
- **GPU**: PowerColor Radeon R9 series (older mid-high GPU)
- **Storage**: Samsung SATA SSD & some HDDs
- **PSU**: High Power 800 W
**PC 2 (Corsair Case, ASRock Z97 Build)**:
- **Case**: Corsair mid-tower (missing side panel)
- **Motherboard**: ASRock Z97 Pro4 (LGA1150, DDR3)
- **CPU**: Intel Core i7-4790K
- **CPU Cooler**: AIO liquid cooler
- **RAM**: 2x ADATA DDR3 DIMMs (8-16 GB total)
- **GPU**: HIS Radeon HD 7000/R7 series (weaker GPU)
- **Storage**: Several HDDs (no SSD)
- **PSU**: 600 W
Oh, and I'm located in SoCal, so I could check out Micro Center if there are any good deals. By the way, I already have an Alienware monitor (AW2523HF — 24.5" IPS, 1080p, 360Hz). Any help would be awesome!
3 Answers
The second PC is pretty much trash. The first one could yield some usable parts: keep the DDR4 RAM, the 800W PSU (as long as it's in good shape), and the case. Considering your budget, you'll likely need to buy a new processor, motherboard, cooler, and graphics card. For a starter build, take a look at this part list I put together: [PCPartPicker List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/6rWJrM). It should handle gaming at 1440p, which might fit what you're looking for!
That’s a solid starting point! Just remember to factor in assembly and potential upgrades in the future.
So, did you just ask ChatGPT for a summary of the internals? I wouldn't trust the AI’s accuracy completely. That second computer isn’t really worth your time; the hardware is that old. Focus on what you can salvage from the first one instead.
Yeah, I just snapped some pics and asked it to help identify components. I do have physical photos, which I'll have to compare.
Honestly, both systems have pretty outdated hardware. I'd recommend selling them and starting fresh. You can likely get around $100 for both if they're in decent condition, but maybe less if parts are junk. Just check local listings for similar models and see what they're going for.
That makes sense! If I go for it, I’ll just sell them locally. Maybe a garage sale could work too.
I was thinking around $1000 for everything. If that's too much, I’d rather start fresh.