# New use for older desktop computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997 "2010-02-22T18:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/1 "2010-02-22T18:02:39Z")
I have a Windows XP desktop computer, maybe 7 years old, that still works fine but is used by no one in the house. I already have an external USB drive to back up our main computer. What’s a practical/fun use for this machine? Some server-type function, maybe for music/video files for playback on the main computer or on our Xbox 360? Maybe some home automation project? ---
**Author:** ![mil0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mil0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mil0)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/2 "2010-02-22T19:11:04Z")
Irregularly shaped uncushioned ottoman. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/3 "2010-02-22T19:23:04Z")
Someone mentioned on one of these threads that they took an old computer and hooked it up to a tv in their work out room for streaming Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/4 "2010-02-22T19:53:39Z")
You could use it as a processing box for SETI @ Home. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/5 "2010-02-22T20:06:34Z")
One of the best uses I’ve seen for an older computer that I’ve seen in a while. [Link](http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/pc-case-bookshelf-mod) Or you could set it up as a [home media server](http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/turn-an-old-pc-into-a-home-media-server/). Use it to send movies & music to all the televisions in your home. ETA: Or Google [Home Media Server](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS211US211&q=home+media+server) for many more ways to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/6 "2010-02-24T03:15:58Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Or you could set it up as a [home media server](http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/turn-an-old-pc-into-a-home-media-server/). Use it to send movies & music to all the televisions in your home. > > ETA: Or Google [Home Media Server](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS211US211&q=home+media+server) for many more ways to do the same. That’s exactly what I did with my old Pentium 4. I’m using FreeNAS as my server software and it works great! ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-use-for-older-desktop-computer/529997/7 "2010-02-24T16:52:27Z")
There are also organizations that take computers considered obsolete here, and donate them to places that have a good use for them.