A user receives an old computer as a gift from their family, but the joy is short-lived. For the components are hopelessly outdated, as the community explains to him.
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The first own gaming PC or computer is a special event for many. Because a gaming PC offers many more options and usually significantly more performance than a PS5 or an Xbox.
A user recently explained on reddit that he received his first computer as a gift. The family member simply said that “it would cost something to get it running again.”
Components of the “gift” are partially 15 years old
What kind of PC is it? The community quickly explains to the owner of the “gift” that it would not only cost something to get the PC running again. Because the hardware is hopelessly outdated:
- The processor uses the LGA1156 socket and is therefore about 14 years old.
- The motherboard comes from 2010 and offers no modern features.
- The graphics card is supposed to be a GTX 1050 (Ti). While it is now also 7 years old, it still provides enough performance for some games.
- Some warn about a cut cable on the power supply. This could pose a fire hazard if he connects the PC to the mains and tries to boot it. This definitely needs to be replaced.
Can you still play with it? He would need to invest around 100 euros if he wants to play very old titles. Because he needs new memory (DDR3), a storage medium, and a new power supply. Many also explain that it would not be worth investing in hopelessly outdated technology.
Basically, he would have to replace every part and could just buy or build a new computer. Unless he just wants to play very old titles like the aging Skyrim.
If you want to play current games beyond simple eSports titles, then you should better start from scratch instead of trying to use this device. It is simply too outdated.
You might be able to save the case and power supply, but you need a new motherboard, CPU, and GPU, plus the missing components RAM/storage, basically a whole new computer if you want to play something current with a reasonable frame rate.
Some also politely but firmly explain to him that his family member probably disposed of their electronic waste in a particularly elegant way. Because the unsuspecting thread starter was not sure, as he writes himself, what exactly he had received as a gift.
Upgrading old hardware with similarly old hardware is rarely worth it
If you want to upgrade outdated hardware, the components quickly impose very hard limits. Because many components are tied to interfaces or features:
- If you want to replace an outdated Intel processor with a new one, you need a new motherboard.
- You cannot install DDR4 RAM into a motherboard with DDR3 memory.
- Modern graphics cards often require more than one power connector, but older power supplies often offer fewer or different connectors that are no longer supported. How dangerous an adapter for graphics cards can be, has been demonstrated by a YouTuber.
If you upgrade outdated hardware with similarly old hardware, then you are technically moving into a dead end from which you cannot get out – unless you switch to modern hardware.
And even for a modern processor like a Ryzen 5 5600, you are currently paying no more than 130 euros.
A well-known tech YouTuber recently explained why old hardware can quickly become a cost trap and why buying old high-end models is only worthwhile to a limited extent:
Expert explains why old high-end processors can truly become a cost trap for you
