If you’re looking to build a new gaming computer, you might want to consider reusing old parts instead of buying brand new ones. It’s a great way to save money and get better performance out of your system.
But before you start building, there are a few things you should know first.
In this article, I’ll explain how to reuse old parts for a new gaming computer build.
Contents
Should You Reuse an Optical Drive for a New PC?
The optical drive is one part that will be reused in most cases when building a new gaming computer. The reason why it can’t be replaced with an SSD or hard disk drive is because the optical drives have their own power supply unit which needs to remain connected to the motherboard during operation. This means that if you replace the optical drive with another storage device such as an SSD or HDD, then you need to connect its PSU directly to the motherboard.
Should You Reuse a Case for a New PC?
If you plan on using the same case for both builds, then you don’t really need to worry about whether you use the original case or not. However, if you decide to buy a completely different case for the second build to build your own pc, then you may end up having some problems later down the road.
Should You Reuse a Power Supply for a New PC?
The power supply is also something that cannot be changed between two builds. If you choose to change the power supply from the first build to the second, then you would probably encounter issues like overheating, unstable voltage output, etc. So unless you absolutely must do so, make sure you keep the original power supply for the next build.
Do You Really Need All-New Parts?
When building a new gaming computer, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all components need to be entirely new. In fact, many people prefer to recycle existing parts rather than spending more money on purchasing them. For example, if you already have a graphics card lying around, then you could just install it into your new build without replacing anything else.
However, even though recycling old parts isn’t always necessary, sometimes it makes sense to go ahead and purchase new hardware anyway.
The Case and Fans
For starters, you shouldn’t bother changing any fans at all since they won’t affect the overall performance of your machine. But if you still feel compelled to swap out the fan, then you should definitely look for a quieter model. And depending on what kind of cooling solution you opt for, you may find yourself needing to upgrade the heatsink too.
The Graphics Card
You can easily reuse almost every component inside your current GPU except for the memory chips themselves. That said, if you intend to stick with GDDR5 RAM, then you should definitely avoid upgrading to DDR4. Instead, you should try to find a compatible version of GDDR5 RAM that the drive bays because otherwise you will end up having problems accessing data stored on the drives later down the road.
Connect an Old Power Supply to a New Motherboard
This step might seem unnecessary but it’s actually quite important. When connecting an older power supply to a newer motherboard, there are chances that the voltages being sent by the power supply aren’t exactly right. As a result, the motherboard may experience unexpected behavior. To prevent this problem, you should check the specifications of each individual component before plugging everything together.
Connecting Modern PC Components to an Old Power Supply
In order to ensure compatibility between modern PCs and older ones, we recommend checking the specs of each component individually prior to installation. Also, make sure that the connectors used by the components match those found on the motherboards.
Reusing Existing Hard Drive Bays
Hard disks come in various sizes and capacities. Therefore, it wouldn’t hurt to take advantage of these extra bays and add additional storage devices instead of buying a whole bunch of empty slots. However, when doing so, make sure that you don’t overfill the hard disk bays as well. This way, you’ll be able to access files efficiently.
If you’re looking to save some cash while building a new gaming rig, then you should consider using recycled parts. After all, not only does it help reduce costs, but it also helps preserve our planet!
What If You Can’t Use Your Old PSU?
It is possible to use an old power supply unit with a different motherboard. The trick here is to first determine whether or not the voltage output from the PSU matches the requirements set forth by the motherboard. If it does, then you can simply connect the two units together. Otherwise, you would need to replace the PSU altogether.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, reusing existing computer parts doesn’t have to mean spending more money than usual. In fact, it could potentially lead to significant savings. So next time you plan on purchasing a brand-new system, why not give recycling a shot? It just might turn into one helluva bargain!
