What to do with old PC hardware?

[Darth Wong]

Hey guys, I've got some old hardware that's taking up space and collecting dust in my basement:

• An old Dell Dimension XPS600. Yes, it's a 600MHz Pentium-3.
• A home-built 3GHz Pentium-4 with 1 GB of RAM, a Hercules sound card with breakout box, a hard drive whose capacity I've forgotten, and no video card.
• A Hauppage WinTV-PVR USB2. It works fine but I want to get rid of it because I find the drivers to be really, really annoying.

Does anyone know what the best way to dispose of this crap would be?

[General Zod]

Ever consider freecycling it? It's a great way to get rid of stuff you don't need anymore.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Well aside from Frankenstining for someone who doesn't use a computer that much, you could always send it to Goodwill/Salvation Army who will be happy to frankenstine it to resell at one of their stores. Or you could part it out onto E-bay....

[Darth Mall]

Some towns do computer recycling. I know my town does, but they charge a $25 fee and take up to 6 computer items.

But if you want, I could take the tuner off your hands

[Keevan_Colton]

There's a fair few charities in Toronto that are always on the lookout for servicable computer bits.

[Joviwan]

A tiny, tiny Beowulf cluster?

[TimothyC]

Hey guys, I've got some old hardware that's taking up space and collecting dust in my basement:

• A home-built 3GHz Pentium-4 with 1 GB of RAM, a Hercules sound card with breakout box, a hard drive whose capacity I've forgotten, and no video card.

Were I closer I'd ask how much for the P-4.

Oh Hell - How much for the P-4, and how much does it weigh?

[Braedley]

Do you know what socket the P4 is? I may want just the CPU and give my myth computer a little boost.

[Lagmonster]

Mike, I don't know if it's available in your area, but here in Ottawa the best place is The Trailing Edge recyclers. They not only take old equipment off of people's hands, but they re-sell cheap used frankenmachines at good prices to people who can't afford big. It's also a great way to pick up used parts you might need at insanely low prices.

There absolutely HAS to be an equivalent business in Toronto. Just feed 'computer recycling Toronto' into google. Failing that, enquire at your local technical college. Sometimes they have programs to take old electronics on as learning scrap.

[Aaron]

Try some of these guys Mike:

Toronto Recycling

Computation

TechnoTrash

Free Recycling

[Solauren]

Too bad the Dell XPS600 isn't a laptop, or I'd offer to give it a good home.

Oh well.

Or, you could try Kijii, and sell them to make money

[Alferd Packer]

The P4 plus the tuner card would make an excellent homebrew PVR, if you don't already have a TiVo or the like. Solutions like Mythbuntu are getting pretty close to turnkey with the proper hardware installed. And even if you have no need for it, it would still be a fun project, maybe something to do with your kids.

[CaptainZoidberg]

I'd give it to the good will. I'm sure someone out there needs an old computer...

[aerius]

Simple. I call dibs on the P4 and WinTV PVR. My parents could use a new computer whenever they get back from their world trip.

[Rye]

I'm going to pass on my computer to a hospice when I buy my new shit.