Don't sell your old computer, use it for...

Old computer = NAS

You've probably heard of a network attached storage device, or NAS. You may have even seen one at a friend's house, but most likely at the company you work for. Simply put, a NAS is like having your own private cloud that gives you access to your data. With a NAS, you can free up space on your primary computer, share files between devices on the same network, use it to run dedicated servers like Minecraft, or run multiple virtual environments. For most people, a NAS is their own personal library of files without having to pay a subscription fee to a tech corporation. But in the hands of more experienced users, a NAS can be a lot of things.

Of course, it would be easier to buy a dedicated NAS, but why not avoid that expense if you can. Besides, you know your computer best and what it's capable of. Maybe you have a perfectly decent card in your computer that you can use to stream 4K (HEVC) video.

You won't be able to set up a NAS in a few clicks, but the whole process isn't as difficult as you might think. You can use a desktop or laptop, but it makes sense to have multiple drives. In addition to your old computer, you will need to buy additional specialized NAS drives. Also, check how many connectors you have on your motherboard to avoid buying too many drives unnecessarily.

Backups, file sharing, media server... Decide what you need it for and turn your old computer into a NAS.

An old computer can be a media server (Plex, Jellyfin)

Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Max, and the like are getting more expensive every year. If you're signed up for multiple platforms, you're paying a hefty monthly fee. You may have wondered why you're even bothering with them, as you rarely find a new series or movie you really like. On the other hand, you've been collecting a rich library of movies and series on your computer for years, or you plan to do so. And as a bonus, they can be in higher resolution than the streaming service providers offer.

To share your local archive with others or access it via a TV or other device (phone, tablet, etc.), you will need to turn your old computer into a media server. You will need a dedicated program. We recommend Jellyfin, which is open source, although it is a bit more difficult to understand than Plex, which is more popular due to its ease of use and setup. A third alternative is Kodi.

What good is Windows 11 if you can have Windows XP?

Don't laugh, because we're serious. The problem with old games is that they're old. Shocking, I know. But since they're 20 years old or more, they haven't heard of Windows 10 or 11 yet. It's a shame, because that means we can't go back to the glory days of games like Call of Duty 1 and 2, Star Wars: Racers, Need for Speed, and the like. We could create a virtual environment in Windows 11, or use one of the dedicated solutions like DOSBOX, but at least here, laziness is a virtue.

Instead, you should install an old operating system on your old computer. Which one is up to you and decide for yourself whether it makes sense for your needs. You can also install more than one and manually select which one you need for gaming.

Gaming server for playing games remotely

We recently described how you can turn your computer into a dedicated server that lets you play all your installed games on another device, such as a TV, phone, tablet, handheld, or similar device. You'll need the Sunshine (or Apollo) and Moonlight apps. The only requirement is that your computer is turned on while you're playing remotely, as the burden of running the game falls on it, while the other devices are just receivers of the signal.

Instead of burdening your main computer with this, you can use your old one. While you play Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 on your new computer, your little brother or sister (or friend) can play their favorite game in the other room. Convenient, easy, and free.

He likes the role of the control system.

One of the most useful things you can do with an old laptop is to use its webcam to set up a home security system. Place the laptop in a place where you can cover the most space with the camera and use free tools like Agent DVR to notify you of (unexpected) motion via SMS, email or call.

You can access your laptop's camera footage from a browser on any device.

If you don't have a laptop that's collecting dust, you can use an old webcam that you used to use for video calls. Use a program like Alfred to turn your webcam into a surveillance camera. You can access the live feed from any device via a browser. There's no need to install an additional app. You can also use the same solution by using an old phone as a security camera, although we don't recommend keeping it plugged in all the time, as this can cause battery drain issues.

Is the computer really for the elderly?

Computer components are very durable. You can easily reuse the power supply, RAM, and SSD in a new computer. Or give them a different role. The old SSD can be a secondary drive for storing less-played games or as an archive for movies, series, and photos. Or buy an external USB enclosure and turn the NVMe SSD into a great external backup drive.

If you have already chosen a power supply with more room for maneuver for the first time, you may be able to use it in your new computer, even if you have chosen a more powerful processor and graphics card. If you do not have a suitable one, this may be an incentive to buy a slightly more powerful power supply this time, which you can use in 5-6 years when you upgrade your computer again.

Do you have a younger brother, sister, or nephew who needs a better computer than their "old one"? We encourage the idea of donating old devices - and who would you give it to if not your loved ones? Especially since you know that the computer still has a lot of life left in it and can make someone else happy.

Obscure but interesting ideas

They won't be for everyone, but there are projects you can do yourself. All you need is an old computer. You can turn an old laptop into a tablet, although we don't think it's a project that everyone can handle. You'll find tons of tutorials online from users who have successfully completed the task. It's easier to buy a cheap tablet (if you need one at all), but you'll miss out on an interesting lesson in how computers work.

A less technically demanding idea is to lend your computer to organizations for development and research purposes. Such projects are not advertised on every corner of the Internet, so you will have to do a little digging. And of course, remove the barrier called trust in your mind. You will be granting strangers access to your computer, so make sure that you do not mind this and that you do not store any personal data on it.

Try to find a new role before selling

If you don't have the knowledge or motivation to tackle any of the projects listed, sell (or donate) your old computer and use the funds to buy a new one. However, if you have a technical streak and are curious about what you can do with an old computer, then we hope we've given you some interesting ideas.