Extra parts - LOTS of extra parts

[dragon1]

So, Geeks of the World - what do you do with all the extra parts and pieces that you know, in good faith, you'll probably never get around to using, but really can't bear to throw away

Comments

[litch]

goodwill

2nd the motion.

[sheilagh]

My brother in law works with special ed kids at LBJ high school. Every week or so, they round up his class & take em to a Goodwill-run session on building/maintaining computer hardware. So... your hardware doesn't just get sold again, sometimes it's literally used to put people to work. Badass!!

Addendum:

[sheilagh]

He takes them every Thursday.

[bapcyk]

I've often used leftover parts to make Frankenputers to make functional if not speedy computers for friends who need them.

Haven't done it in a while, because my friends are mostly financially secure these days, but I bet assembled and working machines could be donated to worthy and needing organizations or individuals.

I've been looking at my parts lately too...

Perhaps we could all pool our parts and see what we might be able to build?

[nancynewt]

We stuff them into one closet and keep stuffing. I don't know what we will do when the closet is full

[astronomos]

One word: Skynet

[hillgiant]

I have been hanging on to two (well, now three) systems worth of spare parts. In all honesty, I am kidding myself if I think that they will be used again. But I hang on to them. I am planning on resurrecting one of the systems to use as a NAS. Having a NAS around will make it easier for Jenn and I to share pictures/videos/whatnot and also provide a place to do backups. I think I can do it for ~$150 of drives and maybe $20 of new parts.

What worries me the most about this sort of frankenputer is the power consumption. It is hard to argue with the 14w draw that some of the newer embedded systems pull. They cost 2x-3x more though...

As you can see, I am still on the fence.