What to do with an old PC?

[Vulg]

Hello,

I'm going to be replacing my PC very soon, I can't decide what to do with the old one though.

The old Pc is:
Quad Core Q9300
Nvidia GTX 275
4GB RAM
10,000 RPM primary HD

I'm not sure what the best ideas are, here's what i'm thinking,

1, Take it apart and try sell the bits? Only pain about this is, I don't think I have all the boxes etc or if any of the parts would be worth any money.

2, Sell it as a whole gaming PC, cheap? It still runs most games, newer stuff can't really be maxed out but it's not far off.

I'm open to any other suggestions.

Also, I have been told it's possible to erase HD's properly before selling, so there is no trace of your files, a look on google seems this is fairly easy, is it basically just like doing a format except properly? meaning can I reinstall the OS and such without problems or am I better getting someone less useless to help me out?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Griffolion]

You'll more than likely be better taking it apart and selling it for parts. I tried selling my whole old PC once, didn't work at all. Sold the parts individually, each one went like hot cakes. When it comes to stuff like this, people don't like the concept of a WHOLE old thing put together, but second hand parts they have a hand in putting into something else is much more appealing.

As for wiping your HD, if you format it using a wiping utility about 6 or 7 times, that is usually enough. Personally i keep the HD's and either re-use them as storage drives or put them in cheap side projects for a friend with a re-installed OS etc.

 

[DefunctTheory]

You can always do what I do when I replace PC parts.

Turn off the safeties and overclock it till it blows.

As for selling... part it out. All together, its an old computer. As parts, its cheap upgrades for people strapped for cash.

EDIT: How much do you want for that quad?

 

[Zoe Castillo]

It?s a hassle but you can make more money by selling individual parts .

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

As for wiping your HD, if you format it using a wiping utility about 6 or 7 times, that is usually enough.

Usually, yes... but if you're paranoid you can go the route of:

Reformat - Reinstall OS - Fill HDD with any olf data - Repeat Process until satisfied.

Sure, someone who runs data recovery on your old HDD might wonder why you filled it with copy/pastes of the same linux distro but they're never gonna find what you did have on it.

Do that a several times and not even forensic data recovery specialist will be able to dig underneath it.

 

[Hashime]

Or you could wipe with Dan's Boot and Nuke using the 7-pass NSA standard.

 

[Vulg]

You can always do what I do when I replace PC parts.

Turn off the safeties and overclock it till it blows.

As for selling... part it out. All together, its an old computer. As parts, its cheap upgrades for people strapped for cash.

EDIT: How much do you want for that quad?

I wouldn't know mate, I have no idea on pricing of these things, I'm not after a lot of money though, I'm just trying to get something out of my old pc rather than letting it rot in storage. feel free to contact me via pm if you want to look at buying it, though it may take a while for me to get my ass into gear and get it taken apart.

Thanks for your suggestion though. And you Griffolion.

Or you could wipe with Dan's Boot and Nuke using the 7-pass NSA standard.

Does this completely clear things without having to go to extra lengths?

Thanks, everyone, for your help.

 

[Arachon]

Install Linux and tinker around with it.

 

[Hairetos]

You can always do what I do when I replace PC parts.

Turn off the safeties and overclock it till it blows.

As for selling... part it out. All together, its an old computer. As parts, its cheap upgrades for people strapped for cash.

EDIT: How much do you want for that quad?

I wouldn't know mate, I have no idea on pricing of these things, I'm not after a lot of money though, I'm just trying to get something out of my old pc rather than letting it rot in storage. feel free to contact me via pm if you want to look at buying it, though it may take a while for me to get my ass into gear and get it taken apart.

Thanks for your suggestion though. And you Griffolion.

Or you could wipe with Dan's Boot and Nuke using the 7-pass NSA standard.

Does this completely clear things without having to go to extra lengths?

Thanks, everyone, for your help.

Technically, there is no true sure-fire way to wipe data. Gutmann's 35-wipe method is the most effective algorithm developed so far, but eventually security organizations will find ways to recover from that. Even broken hard drives have been scoured and the data pieced together.

But your best shot if you wanna keep the hard drive intact is the gutmann wipe.

 

[KiraTaureLor]

You can always format it, and donate to someone less fortunate than you.
If that doesn't please you then take it apart and sell it, faster and more profitable.