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How to donate old CRT monitors, ancient Pentium 1/2/3 desktops?

E

edi sucks

Member
I've got a bunch of old computer tech sitting in my basement, and need to figure out how to get rid of it. These things include:

-old keyboards/mice
-old drives (3.5"/5.25" floppy, ancient hd's, cd/cd-rw drives, etc)
-around 6-8 15"-17" CRT monitors (NEC, Nokia, etc)
-several old computers (ranging from Pentium 266MHz desktops to I think P3 800MHz desktops)

I'm aware these aren't really worth anything, though I'd love to be able to donate them (the desktops are mind numbingly slow, but they work)...I've never been a big fan of throwing things out if they can be used by someone else. And if I can get donation receipts so I can write a few bucks off, even better.

I guess my question is.. does anyone know of a charity which would take ancient tech like this these days?
 
I'd be surprised if anyone would take that equipment. Even if it was a charity that re-deployed old hardware to those in need, why would you give something like that out when there are plenty of P4 and newer machines around?
 
no one will want it. administration/maintenance/restoration would cost too much. its just too old. computers too cheap now. schools have lcds and decent pcs aplenty... power/space of crt cannot be justified either. many school pcs all use the same os for ease of administration/remote admin. running old os on custom obsolete pc not worth the effort.
 
I tried to donate equipment like that 8 years ago and goodwill wasnt taking anything except complete systems and flat panel monitors.
 
yinan said:
I tried to donate equipment like that 8 years ago and goodwill wasnt taking anything except complete systems and flat panel monitors.
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well, the thing about CRTs makes sense, but still, goodwill cracks me up like no other. I've seen things there that I could buy for less in a retail store.
 
there's a freebies thread here too, you'd be surprised at the age of some parts people request. Anything PII or better still has some value to someone for a firewall or file server.
 
We tried to donate equipment like that and sadly nobody wanted it and most ended up in the trash. Such a waste. I wish there was better recycling programs for stuff like this.

You almost have to pay someone to take a CRT lol.
 
just advertise it on craigs list. a pentium 3 will certainly get someone on the internet and do office stuff decently, there have got to be people out there that could use that stuff, esp if it has win xp
 
i have a bunch of brand new sony crt's from the old onsale auction days in one of my rooms. i could use the space but its sort of hard to throw perfectly good stuff like that out
 
An old CRT monitor is literally worth less than nothing. They cost money to throw away. That said, when I have some trash I want to get rid of I put it at the end of my driveway with a cardboard free sign on it and it disappears in about one day. I have a lot of useless shit inside my house but there are people with packrat disorders that will take anything, even stuff like a VCR with a paper sign that says "broken" on it. I sometimes ask myself "What are these people doing with this garbage?" The answer: Who cares? Its gone.

I doubt any charity would want that shit though. What does a complete smelleron system with legit OS and cheap monitor even cost these days? Like $400 or something?
 
OBLAMA2009 said:
just advertise it on craigs list. a pentium 3 will certainly get someone on the internet and do office stuff decently, there have got to be people out there that could use that stuff, esp if it has win xp
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A P3 is definitely a good machine. I've known people that would love to have something like that. It would make a great granny email machine. Hell, I'd even use something like that for a jukebox or other specialized task.
 
lxskllr said:
A P3 is definitely a good machine. I've known people that would love to have something like that. It would make a great granny email machine. Hell, I'd even use something like that for a jukebox or other specialized task.
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I think the nettops are killing the market for old computers. Fry's this week has a SFF Atom 330 (dual core) for $140 including everything but a hard drive and the OS. I'm sure someone will buy an old P3 for $50 and that's Frys deal is quite good, but now you can get cheap computers made for the ultra low end market that can easily compete with the former high end computers.
 
Take the CRT's out and throw rocks at the screen from a distance. This is much more rewarding than donating them to charity.
 
rockyct said:
I think the nettops are killing the market for old computers. Fry's this week has a SFF Atom 330 (dual core) for $140 including everything but a hard drive and the OS. I'm sure someone will buy an old P3 for $50 and that's Frys deal is quite good, but now you can get cheap computers made for the ultra low end market that can easily compete with the former high end computers.
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Yea, if you're spending money a P3 doesn't make as much sense. I was assuming it would be given away. I know people that don't have any extra money for a computer, but would love to have one. You can play older games, use Open Office, email.... Throw in a wifi adapter and you may get lucky with some broadband :^D
 
lxskllr said:
Yea, if you're spending money a P3 doesn't make as much sense. I was assuming it would be given away. I know people that don't have any extra money for a computer, but would love to have one. You can play older games, use Open Office, email.... Throw in a wifi adapter and you may get lucky with some broadband :^D
Click to expand...

Yeah, but places like the Goodwin do try to sell them so you'd have to find a place that gives them away.

Maybe contact a local school that could give away computers to low income families?
 
Actually turn a monitor on and pour water on it. I've always wanted to do that but never had the opportunity. Film it and post it to youtube.
 
Ship the CRT to Africa or China. Please include lighter fluid and some matches. They can somehow extract copper, but I don't know how.
 
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