One of the most significant advantages of building a new PC is to be able to select your own components. This helps to improve the effectiveness of your cash when contrasted to buying a typical pre-built system, which is usually overpriced.
New computer users don’t really know much about the components and are easily seduced by smart advertising and awesome-looking PCs. Repurposing outdated components from a prior PC that you or a family person no longer requires is a simple approach to saving money on developing a new PC. But what pieces from an old PC can you utilize in your new build?
This post will discuss different old components of a PC which can be reused when you are building a new PC so you can avoid common PC building mistakes. Read on to find out!
Do You Really Require All-New Components?
Whenever it comes to a fresh PC, many people imagine new components, and for valid reasons. Any user in a new PC would like a system that performs better than the one they used to have before.
That doesn’t imply that certain units can’t be removed from your old PC to be used again in a new one. Let’s go over the primary PC components in order to check their potential reusability.
Keep Your Peripherals
If you are constructing a new PC, preserving your old gadgets can save you money. Your monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, camera, earphones, and all other gadgets fall under this category.
Power Supply
PC power supplies are classified into three types:
- Robust units which appear to last a lifetime.
- Mystery PSUs in pre-built PCs.
- Lemons that survive two years or less.
You can probably predict which side you belong to if you have had a good power supply for more than two years.
Under some conditions, power supplies are well worth holding. The very first question is if they are still covered under warranty.
The second point to consider is power. Do you have an old power supply with enough watts to power your more sophisticated system? If otherwise, it’s time to make a change.
Another consideration for power supply units is whether they are modular, semi-modular, or non-modular. Consider switching if you have a non-modular.
The Box and Fans
The casing or box is the easiest and safest to retain all the parts you may reuse from a prior PC. There is no reason to replace a high-quality model that is still in good condition.
However, if you still have an outdated case, it is a smart option to replace it. If you preserve the original casing, you may keep the fans as well, given that they are still functional. Just make sure you thoroughly clean them.
Even if you don’t want to use the old case, check to see if the existing fans will fit the new one. The size of the fans it accepts is specified in the box manual. However, if the PC fan makes noises, it is time to replace it.
Graphics Card
One of the simplest parts to assess is the graphics card. If you simply want to enjoy your existing games, and they run very well and smoothly enough, you might want to use your graphics card on a new PC.
Look out for the minimum requirements for the new games if you want to experience the newest titles as well as those that will be published in the future. You’ll soon see how long you have until you need to update your graphics card.
It’s time to upgrade when the minimal requirements for AAA games surpass the capability of the GPU. As a result, you must select a suitable graphics card based on your system settings.
Using your old card applies only to individuals who are ready to tolerate 30 to 60 frames a second at 1080p. A new graphics card is required if you really want upwards of 60 frames per second or a better resolution and ray tracing.
RAM
Because RAM is such a robust component, it is feasible to reuse it. RAM types do not evolve as frequently as CPU and GPU versions. If you decide to keep the RAM, ensure certain that it is suitable for your motherboard by checking its health and compatibility. For instance, DDR3 RAM will very certainly not operate with a DDR4 motherboard.
Optical Drive
Although not used as often anymore, certain users still like having an optical drive, mostly in the form of Blu-Ray disks now.
If you already have these from a prior system hanging somewhere, unless it’s excessively loud or acting up, there’s no sense not to use them in your new PC.
Storage
Storage drives can be reused. They are, in many respects, the easiest parts to move between machines. Many new users wonder about the total storage they will need.
If your hard disks and SSDs are still in good working order, they may be possibilities for reuse.
It is critical to check if the hard drive is about to fail or die before using them on a new PC. There are multiple ways to check a failing hard drive.
Another important guideline is to change your drive every few years. If you are willing to take the risk and utilize an older disc, make assured you have a robust backup strategy in place to secure your data in the event of a disaster. You can use an external hard drive to backup all your important data, so even if the old drive crashes, your data will remain unharmed.
CPU Coolers
CPU coolers are usually really expensive, making them naturally hard to replace over and over again. So, if your old coolers are in good working condition, it is a good idea to use them on a new PC.
However, you must ensure that it is suitable and sufficient to cool your new PC and its components.
Lastly, it is essential to ensure that these coolers fit into the slot on the motherboard of your new PC. If they don’t fit in, it’s time to buy a new one that does.
Conclusion
Several PC components should be considered for reuse in a fresh arrangement. When reusing these elements, keep in mind the difference between an update and designing a whole new system.
Simple updates to an existing setup are perfectly acceptable. Nevertheless, if you end up using too many old parts, you may not achieve the desired efficiency gain.
