Scrap value in old computers?

RomfordNavy

Is there any value in the metal or other bits from old computers?  Got about thirty old ones to get rid of and just wondering if they are worth stripping down for the value of the metals.

GDB2222

RomfordNavy said:

Is there any value in the metal or other bits from old computers?  Got about thirty old ones to get rid of and just wondering if theye are worth stripping down for the value of the metals.

This website suggests £700 per ton for hard disks. I'm guessing you have a few pence worth with 30 PCs. 

https://www.reclamet.co.uk/scrap-metal-prices

noitsnotme

The raw metals would be worth pennies.  There’s more value in breaking them down and selling the parts on eBay.  It’s surprising how much people will still pay for some older GPUs and PSUs.  Bundle up things like HDDs, CD/DVD drives or even floppy drives and put them on eBay as joblots.  Even bundles of SATA and IDE cables still sell for a few quid.

You’ll just have to work out how to get rid of the empty towers after they’re stripped.  A domestic recycling centre might not take them in bulk as will probably see it as business waste, but you’d could probably dump them at a commercial scrap merchant.  It won’t be enough weight to get any money back.

Neil_Jones

RomfordNavy said:

Is there any value in the metal or other bits from old computers?  Got about thirty old ones to get rid of and just wondering if theye are worth stripping down for the value of the metals.

Not really.

Strip anything useful out and flog it on eBay.  You'll get more that way than you would extracting the metals.  Which would only be in the components anyway, as the case is almost certainly going to be steel (or mostly steel) - which is practically worthless - and maybe a bit of aluminium and a lot of plastic.

getmore4less

What sort of age are these?

Can you be bothered to create a parts list to do a what do these sell for?

One guide is CEX don't buy it anymore your left with ebay and give away.

I still run 2008 core2 machines  and they are fine for basic internet work.

if suitable vintage there may be someone that resurrects old machines to give away to those that cannot afford the more modern ~£50 machines for their kids.

Our local freecycle used to have someone but they seemed to have gone now I want to get rid of a couple of really old dells.

Some old stuff has gone from cheap to rare as most gets thrown out anyone trying to keep some old machine going might be interested.

I think someone on here was looking for backup kit for some very old machine tool.

GDB2222

"I still run 2008 core2 machines  and they are fine for basic internet work." 

My wife still runs a 3 GHz C2D, and it works fine with  W10. You do need an SSD, though.

grumpycrab

RomfordNavy said:

Got about thirty old ones 

How many with Windows7 (or greater) license stickers?

getmore4less

Currys will give you £5 off £25 if there is anything you need.

https://www.currys.co.uk/services/delivery-installation/recycling.html

RomfordNavy

Most of these machines are ancient, probably run NT4 but perhaps not even XP.  Only value really is scrap I think.

forgotmyname

Ripout any heatsinks and sell it by weight on ebay.  Same with any chips/RAM that unplug and do the same. Mainboards may sell
in a bundle.

Hardrives and heatsinks melt down nicely, I have a nice stock of them. You can get a small amount of brass from drives but not worth the
effort/postage costs. Although you may get a sale if you gather enough.  Small spirals maybe useful to someone building a project though.

GDB2222

Are any of the HDDs SCSI?