The darker it is, the better it's going to look. The color of your surface that you're projecting on is going to be the darkest black a projector can produce since it can only add light to the surface that's already there, not take it away.
For best results, you'll want it as dark as you can get it. That might mean waiting until night time to watch stuff or you could get room darkening curtains if there aren't too many windows that let light into the room. Basements work best.
I don't know how much that computer equipment is worth used.
Too bad she's getting the PC.
🙁 All the HT stuff was mine during my breakup so I didn't lose anything.
If you can't get your room really dark, then I would look elsewhere for a display.
For example, this is what a Finding Nemo shot looked like with lights off
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...20by%209/Nemo%2005.JPG
This is a shot with a light way off in a different room on that leaked a bit onto the lower left corner of the shot
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...2C%20light%20on%29.JPG
It was still way to dark to read in that room for a reference point for how bright it was.
My previous projector:
Lights off
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...%27s%20Room/jello1.jpg
Light on in the room
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...%27s%20Room/jello2.jpg
The degree to which this will happen will depend on the brightness of your projector, but in general you're looking for as dark as possible.