Using older hardware for new build?

jj4491

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Apr 23, 2014
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Im building a new gaming pc and im of course going to buy a brand new processor, graphics card, etc. I have an old emachines pc laying around the house from 2003 (i think).

Would it be ok to use the case, psu, and optical drive from this pc? The think the case is an ATX mid tower, and the psu is an Antec and says 350 watts. The optical drive is a samsung and is labeled as a cd/ cd rom drive.

So basically i am asking if it would work to use these parts in a new build? (I will most likely replace them down the line though).
Also, will the optical drive work for dvds? And are most games and discs cds or dvds and would they work with a cd rom drive?
 

argeru

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Oct 5, 2012
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You can reuse the case and CD drive, I'd recommend getting a new power supply, as that one is likely 11 years old, and is only 350 watts. You'll need a bit more if you get a dedicated graphics card.
500W is a good place to start.
 
If that's a CD rom not a DVD-ROM, it's junk. Also if it is from 2003 it's probably IDE. If the back of the unit looks like this:

ide.jpg


with lots of pins, it's obsolete since newer drives use a completely different connector.

That PSU is probably junk. 350W isn't a lot and brand name PCs use cheap PSUs. Also it probably won't have modern connector types
 

jj4491

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Apr 23, 2014
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I plugged my components into a couple of online psu wattage calculators and the most i got as a recommendation was about 300 W. Are those calculators even reliable or should i play it safe and get a new psu?

Also, if i did get a new psu, id need one for probably 35 bucks or less as ive already maxed out my budget. Any ideas?