Old CPU

[eedwinn]

Dear all,

 

I have a pretty old CPU which I intend to get rid of since it's spoilt (do not know which part of it is giving problem). However, I am thinking of whether the information in the hard disk can be retrieved and the ram can be used for my next computer. Anyone care to let me know how should I go about doing it?

 

Also, will the rest of the parts like motherboard etc. be able to sell to computer or second hand shops or are they worthless and just be thrown away?

 

Thanks!

[rodman74]

i think u can sell second hand . things like harddisk can reuse. CD drive.

[chuan.z]

If pretty old, then probably the only reuseable part is the HDD. RAM is probably incompatible... btw, how old is old...?

 

Maybe just pull out the HDD and sell the rest as scrap.

[crazydj]

If you wanna throw your HDD, take a sledge hammer and whack it. Burn it. Maim it. Throw it 24 storeys down. Use it as a weapon. But dont lose it. If you do, the police can track you.

 

And it depends how old is your PC. When i was trying to sell my p3 mobos to so,e shops, they wouldnt even take them in for money.

[redbeacon]

Actually, eedwin, there are computer scrap shops (computer 'junkyards') that will gladly take in your old wares. In fact, there's one at Ubi Road 3 - on the same road where you can find bikeshops like Planet Motors, but this PC shop is just opposite.

They sell parts of to third-world countries that have just begun computing...believe it or not, countries like The Philippines and Indonesia are getting onto the Internet and MSN Messenger bandwagon!

 

Anyhoo, first and foremost, you need to ask yourself:

[1] In what "era" are your old RAM sticks born in? DRAM, SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3?

[2] Is my old hard drive IDE, or of the newer sATA technology? More specifically, if I transplant it into a new computer, can it support it? In layman's terms, can I plug it in and are the cables and connectors the same?

[3] Motherboard. What's its speed (in MHz) and which "era" was it born in - Pentium 1, 2, 3, 4, 4+HT ?

 

Lemme supply you with hypothetical answers that you can think about, before making a trip to the store.

[a] For [1] and [3] above, shops will find out how old those parts are, and whether they work or not. Like a pawnshop, this is how they determine how much they can buy those off of you.

For your old hard drive as described in item [2] above, you can either:

- Buy a new 3.5 inch USB or Firewire hard drive enclosure, drop your old HDD into it, and use it as an external drive that you can carry around.

- (if you're sure opening your computer's casing does not void its warranty) install it into your new computer if its supported (see #2 above)

- If you really don't want it anymore and want to throw it out, you need to "scrub" it first. "Scrubbing" a hard drive involves a software that write and rewrite random data many times onto it. This stops others from ever attempting to undelete your data from your hard drive.

 

Macs have an in-built scrubbing feature under "Disk Utility", Windows users can get freeware HDD "scrubbing" programs from the Internet.

 

Hope this helps in addition to what the rest has suggested here also.

[xiaobanz]

actually if you have the time to slow find out the prob and solve it, you can buy an internal software or something which connections your PC to you tv and use it to record movies.. You can also use to as a small server in your house if you like and use it as a centralise storage...

[crazydj]

Actually, eedwin, there are computer scrap shops (computer 'junkyards') that will gladly take in your old wares. In fact, there's one at Ubi Road 3 - on the same road where you can find bikeshops like Planet Motors, but this PC shop is just opposite.

They sell parts of to third-world countries that have just begun computing...believe it or not, countries like The Philippines and Indonesia are getting onto the Internet and MSN Messenger bandwagon!

 

Anyhoo, first and foremost, you need to ask yourself:

[1] In what "era" are your old RAM sticks born in? DRAM, SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3?

[2] Is my old hard drive IDE, or of the newer sATA technology? More specifically, if I transplant it into a new computer, can it support it? In layman's terms, can I plug it in and are the cables and connectors the same?

[3] Motherboard. What's its speed (in MHz) and which "era" was it born in - Pentium 1, 2, 3, 4, 4+HT ?

 

Lemme supply you with hypothetical answers that you can think about, before making a trip to the store.

[a] For [1] and [3] above, shops will find out how old those parts are, and whether they work or not. Like a pawnshop, this is how they determine how much they can buy those off of you.

For your old hard drive as described in item [2] above, you can either:

- Buy a new 3.5 inch USB or Firewire hard drive enclosure, drop your old HDD into it, and use it as an external drive that you can carry around.

- (if you're sure opening your computer's casing does not void its warranty) install it into your new computer if its supported (see #2 above)

- If you really don't want it anymore and want to throw it out, you need to "scrub" it first. "Scrubbing" a hard drive involves a software that write and rewrite random data many times onto it. This stops others from ever attempting to undelete your data from your hard drive.

 

Macs have an in-built scrubbing feature under "Disk Utility", Windows users can get freeware HDD "scrubbing" programs from the Internet.

 

Hope this helps in addition to what the rest has suggested here also.

 

Bro! Take me to this PC junkyard which you speak of! I still have my P3 Mobos+ CPUs with me. Need to get rid of them.

[eedwinn]

Actually, eedwin, there are computer scrap shops (computer 'junkyards') that will gladly take in your old wares. In fact, there's one at Ubi Road 3 - on the same road where you can find bikeshops like Planet Motors, but this PC shop is just opposite.

They sell parts of to third-world countries that have just begun computing...believe it or not, countries like The Philippines and Indonesia are getting onto the Internet and MSN Messenger bandwagon!

 

Anyhoo, first and foremost, you need to ask yourself:

[1] In what "era" are your old RAM sticks born in? DRAM, SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3?

[2] Is my old hard drive IDE, or of the newer sATA technology? More specifically, if I transplant it into a new computer, can it support it? In layman's terms, can I plug it in and are the cables and connectors the same?

[3] Motherboard. What's its speed (in MHz) and which "era" was it born in - Pentium 1, 2, 3, 4, 4+HT ?

 

Lemme supply you with hypothetical answers that you can think about, before making a trip to the store.

[a] For [1] and [3] above, shops will find out how old those parts are, and whether they work or not. Like a pawnshop, this is how they determine how much they can buy those off of you.

For your old hard drive as described in item [2] above, you can either:

- Buy a new 3.5 inch USB or Firewire hard drive enclosure, drop your old HDD into it, and use it as an external drive that you can carry around.

- (if you're sure opening your computer's casing does not void its warranty) install it into your new computer if its supported (see #2 above)

- If you really don't want it anymore and want to throw it out, you need to "scrub" it first. "Scrubbing" a hard drive involves a software that write and rewrite random data many times onto it. This stops others from ever attempting to undelete your data from your hard drive.

 

Macs have an in-built scrubbing feature under "Disk Utility", Windows users can get freeware HDD "scrubbing" programs from the Internet.

 

Hope this helps in addition to what the rest has suggested here also.

 

Hi redbeacon, thank you for your post. It is indeed very helpful to me. However, being a I.T. idiot, I do not know how to differentiate the different versions of my ram, hard disk and motherboard.

 

I have provided a few pictures of them below. Do you mind taking a look and let me know if the motherboard and processor is worth anything? I also wish to transfer the ram and hard disk to my new desk top. Let me know if these pictures are sufficient.

 

Thank you very much!! Not to forget the rest of you who replied as well!

 

Picture of the Ram + logo close up

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3899262639_829f7aaae3_b.jpg

 

the Ram

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/3900044320_e034319e95_b.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3899255851_7cca7788a1_b.jpg

 

the Hard Disk

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3899268801_3494726608_b.jpg

 

overall motherboard

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/3900057328_acbb7726e7_b.jpg

[crazydj]

CPU not worth much. Socket 478 P4. RAM not worth anything. Kingston 400Mhz 512Mb DDR-SD RAM. Video Card useless.

 

Try to sell for above $200 everything.

 

Why not use the PC for something like simple internet surfing or give your friends who don't have computers?

[eedwinn]

CPU not worth much. Socket 478 P4. RAM not worth anything. Kingston 400Mhz 512Mb DDR-SD RAM. Video Card useless.

 

Try to sell for above $200 everything.

 

Why not use the PC for something like simple internet surfing or give your friends who don't have computers?

 

Hi, the problem is the CPU is unable to power up (do not know what is the problem). Gave up and rather just buy a new one. Just that I was thinking of whether the ram and hard disk is able to be added into my new desktop.

 

Thanks for your time.

[crazydj]

The HDD definately can. The RAM not too sure. You building a new rig or just changing the CPU? (The little small thing under the large fan-like struture)

 

If a new rig you got to know whether your mobo supports the ageing PC3200/400Mhz DDR-SD RAM that is currently on your mobo pictured.

 

For your HDD, i'm sure your new MOBO has a PATA slot to slot the thing for your old HDD in.

 

[redbeacon]

crazydj: Apologies to you dude, I was busy nowadays so didn't respond to ya.

 

By the way, I found another shop that sells old computing stuff at SLS. KCS Computers #03-44. I'm not sure whether they take in stuff though, might wanna ask before bringing it in.

 

eedwinn: You've got your answers from crazydj there

[eedwinn]

The HDD definately can. The RAM not too sure. You building a new rig or just changing the CPU? (The little small thing under the large fan-like struture)

 

If a new rig you got to know whether your mobo supports the ageing PC3200/400Mhz DDR-SD RAM that is currently on your mobo pictured.

 

For your HDD, i'm sure your new MOBO has a PATA slot to slot the thing for your old HDD in.

 

 

eedwinn: You've got your answers from crazydj there

 

Thank you very much mates! Appreciate the help.