Is it normal before i throw out a computer i take out all of the parts?

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17 Comments

I'm throwing away my Dell Optiplex 380, which runs on Core 2 Duo and it runs on Windows XP Professional. ( Also CPU cooler that I took out).
I took out the CPU, Graphics Card, Video Card, Internal Hard Drive,Power Supply and Motherboard. Because I've got use for them if I want to build a computer in the future.
I don't know if anyone else does it so I'm asking if this normal?

Also if its normal to take out the power supply as well?

Voting Results
94% Normal
Based on 16 votes (15 yes)
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Comments ( 17 )
  • [Old Memory]
    3 years ago

    Nothing wrong with salvaging parts from an old computer. I would do that if I threw one away probably.

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  • Ellenna
    3 years ago

    What do you mean by "throw away"? Just about everything in electronic and electric devices can (and SHOULD) be recycled!

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    • Somenormie
      3 years ago

      As in throwing away the computer shell after taking everything out of the computer.

      Why would anyone keep the internal hard drive if it has personal information?

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  • Bad_Script
    3 years ago

    Well, it's always a good idea to keep parts from a computer, just in case, (no pun intended) BUT, as what you had was a Dell Optiplex, i dont think any of the parts would be good at all for building a *proper* gaming PC. maybe keep them to sell later, or something along those lines, but none of the parts to an optiplex 380 would be very good in a custom build.

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  • freakyman69
    3 years ago

    In our current society its not normal. people like to just throw things in the trash and replace with something shiny and new. good on you for realizing things have value and can be reused.

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  • SmokeEverything
    3 years ago

    If everyone just parted everything nobody would have to buy new things.

    Rock on. Fuck stores.

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  • bbrown95
    3 years ago

    I'd say it's normal. It's always useful to have extra parts around handy. Any time something of mine breaks, if there's anything salvageable off of it, I will usually keep it (within reason, of course).

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  • olderdude-xx
    3 years ago

    I used to do the same thing; until I discovered that everytime I decided to upgrade or build a computer that I wanted newer components. I almost never reused the obsolete parts that I had.

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  • Boojum
    3 years ago

    One thing I wouldn't keep the power supply. The power supplies of mass produced PCs are built to minimum possible specification and lowest possible price. Even the best power supplies don't last forever, and it's not unknown for electronic components like capacitors to fail, although it's usually the fan that dies first, since it's running constantly when the machine is on. Good quality power supplies aren't expensive new, and the power connections are pretty much standard across brands (although I know some Lenovo mainboards require an adaptor, and the same could apply to some Dell models).

    As for the other components, I don't think there's anything weird about keeping them if you have the room. I've upgraded my PCs several times over the years, and although I don't bother keeping mainboards, processors and coolers, I've got quite a few old video cards, HDDs and assorted expansion cards, and they've occasionally come in handy.

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    • Bazinga
      3 years ago

      It's no fun throwing anything away unless you know how it works. When I was merely 8 years old, my Dad let me use his tools to take apart anything he threw away. Alarm clocks, outboard boat motors, electric toothbrushes; it didn't matter. After I had it in pieces he insisted that I tell him how it worked. If I was correct, I got my allowance for the week.

      Disassembly is good mental exercise to develop spatial reasoning at a young age. Works real well on 12 year old girls, too.

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      • McSorley
        3 years ago

        That's a much cooler way to earn your allowance than the mundane shit I had to do. Take out the trash, keep up my B average, go a week without pissing a teacher off or beating up some loser who fucked with me. Meh.

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      • Boojum
        3 years ago

        I loved to do that stuff when I was a kid. I can't say my parents actively encouraged it, but they at least tolerated me dissecting mechanical and electrical stuff that was going to be thrown away.

        Of course, it's not quite so easy these days, since so many products are sealed in plastic rather than held together with screws, and once you've seen one surface-mounted circuit board where the only active component is a programmable controller, you've pretty much seen them all.

        I have tried to interest my daughter in such things and she humours me to some extent, but it's clear her curiosity doesn't run in that direction, and I'm not about to force the issue. We're planning on her starting working towards her Physics IGCSE next year (if you're American, that's basically high-school level), and basic mechanisms, electricity and electromagnetism are all part of that, so maybe that will trigger something. I've also bought an Arduino kit with a huge range of sensors and output devices a little while ago, and I do plan on us messing around with that at some point.

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        • Bazinga
          3 years ago

          Sounds like fun. Btw, after many years of mentoring new grad female engineers at Lockheed Martin, I discovered a little known fact. All of them had once helped their younger brothers assemble plastic models when they were young girls.

          There must be something out there that girls would want to assemble, other than the usual male oriented military shit. Like maybe, a bright green dune buggy with flowers on the doors, etc.

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    • Ummitsstillme
      3 years ago

      Okay, so you guys are obsessed with with power supplies. Did China power the world with her ugly virus?

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    • Somenormie
      3 years ago

      I guess it was stupid of me but hey I guess the power supply that I took out will come in handy if I sell it.

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  • [Old Memory]
    3 years ago

    Sure

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  • Somenormie
    3 years ago

    Its was also because I've had this computer since the late 2000s.

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