So me and my fmaily members have a bunch of old junky desktops,computers, and laptops but they refuse to get rid of any they wont even let me get rid of any of my old ones. i have pc and laptops dating from windows xp to windows 8.1 and most of them are missing minir parts that are needed like a good amount of ram, sound card, wifi, etc. is there something i cna do with old pc’s escpecially ones with no sound card? i would buy upgrades buy pc parts are so pricey even old ones and i tend to collect diffrent computers fom thrift stores aswell, the pc rang from 1gb of ram-to 2gb of ram so there all slow, old and janky but just plan annoying.

any tips or suggestions would be very helpful.

  • xycu@programming.dev
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    1 year ago

    You could install Chrome OS on them, at least then they can safely be used on the internet. There may be charities in your city that accept donations of computers like that for people who cannot afford one.

    https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-install-chromeos-flex-on-an-old-laptop/

    You could also install Linux and use them for different projects (though something like a Raspberry Pi is probably going to have more speed and use less electricity.)

  • BlinkerFluid@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    Here’s my beef. At some point, old computers use up their usefulness due to power requirements. A more modern, be it cheap AIO system ~$250 would stomp any of them and sip power. Laptops are sort of an exception, they can make OK servers, but mostly, same same. Just get a modern AIO. Your electric bill will thank me.