I recently got my hands on an old Dual-Core laptop, specifically an I5 6200U with 8GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. Since my dad no longer needs it, I'm thinking of upgrading it with a cheap 240GB SSD and swapping the RAM for 2x8GB modules I already have. I already own a gaming desktop, so I'm looking for fun or useful ideas to repurpose this laptop rather than letting it sit around collecting dust. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
You can also make it a "smart monitor" using a software KVM switch to control it from another computer. I recommend using Barrier or any of the alternatives to achieve this.
You could turn it into a home server! Setting up a Plex or Jellyfin server would make it a great media platform to stream your movies and series.
That sounds interesting, but I'm not sure I need a home server since I have external HDDs. I'm also contemplating a game server like Minecraft; do you think the hardware can handle it?
Absolutely! The hardware can manage light game servers. Just be mindful of how many players you want to host.
Why not try installing an Android system like Phoenix OS? It can breathe new life into your laptop and give you a different experience.
I thought about setting up a KVM as well. If I use an Ethernet adapter for connectivity, will the KVM software function properly? I really want to avoid using WiFi for it.