Ripping apart an old computer. What can I use? What is worth using?

[tpl2000]

Title is fairly descriptive.

I have an old Dell, and it's basically sitting in the closet doing very little of anything.

I've already stolen the mouse and monitor (1024x1280 monitor, logitech laser mx1000.) I'm really asking about the internal parts, composed of:

Case
motherboard (I won't bother.)
cd drive (player, doesn't burn.)
Floppy disk drive (Yes, it's that old.)
HD (not going to use. It's IDE, I think.)
network PCI card (not using.)
USB PCI card (1.0, might use to broaden my horizons a little?)
sound card (Would it be worth it? would an onboard audio on a motherboard right now exceed the capabilities of a dedicated one then?)
Video card (not bothering.)
PSU(not bothering. probably can't handle my newer system.)
RAM (ddr, not bothering.)

 

[obsidian86]

well you could use the case to make a fancy fishtank well thats bout it

 

[tpl2000]

well you could use the case to make a fancy fishtank well thats bout it

Well, there's an idea. Only problem with that thought is that the case is a solid color, and I don't feel like waterproofing it, adding a window, etc.

 

[lindley010]

Title is fairly descriptive.

I have an old Dell, and it's basically sitting in the closet doing very little of anything.

I've already stolen the mouse and monitor (1024x1280 monitor, logitech laser mx1000.) I'm really asking about the internal parts, composed of:

Case
motherboard (I won't bother.)
cd drive (player, doesn't burn.)
Floppy disk drive (Yes, it's that old.)
HD (not going to use. It's IDE, I think.)
network PCI card (not using.)
USB PCI card (1.0, might use to broaden my horizons a little?)
sound card (Would it be worth it? would an onboard audio on a motherboard right now exceed the capabilities of a dedicated one then?)
Video card (not bothering.)
PSU(not bothering. probably can't handle my newer system.)
RAM (ddr, not bothering.)

Havent you basically answered your own question here? The dedicated audio is probably worse than the onboard audio yes. so dont bother with that. IDE HD's can still be used, you could use it as a back-up drive.

other than that, every single thing is useless, your psu could be saved for troubleshooting later on.

 

[tpl2000]

Fair enough. Do you have any suggestions for it, then?

(And would the USB ports be worth using?)

 

[lindley010]

Fair enough. Do you have any suggestions for it, then?

(And would the USB ports be worth using?)

usb 1.1, no. useless & pathetically slow, usb 2 is slow enough as it is.

Other than using it as doorstep or footrest. keep the psu. keep the hdd. Bin the rest.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Other than keeping system as a file server or backup repository, I see no value.

 

[lindley010]

Other than keeping system as a file server or backup repository, I see no value.

i dont think think its even worth that, its extremely old and worthless.

 

[tpl2000]

Best answer selected by tpl2000.