Yes, you can reuse an old PC case, PSU, and fan when building a new PC.
Yes, you can reuse an old PC case, PSU, and fan when building a new PC.
Budget Range: affordable
System Usage: full stack software development. No games.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: amazon.ca, newegg.ca
Location: Canada
Additional Comments:
This is my initial PC build.
I need a Ryzen 8500G without a dedicated GPU, no WiFi, and no RGB components.
Can I reuse the existing PC case, power supply, and fan from an older Acer prebuilt to assemble a new system?
The case dimensions are 17x14x7 inches (https://photos.app.goo.gl/P69GLsXSgD4kgfGCA).
The current motherboard size is 9.6 × 8.9 inches.
Will a 9.6-inch x 9.6-inch motherboard fit the old case?
The old case lacks a USB-C port; what is an inexpensive USB-C cable or adapter to use as a solution?
If the old case cannot be reused, recommend an affordable and straightforward MicroATX case.
If the 180W power supply is not suitable, suggest a more budget-friendly alternative.
Also, please advise on affordable fans.
Don't know the age of that Acer.
The older it is, the less chance there is to reuse the case.
A 180 watt PSU is almost worthless nowadays, especially if it's old.
No matter how old it is, pre-built PCs are known for being hard to upgrade.
For someone earning 200 or less in Canada, a decent new case and power supply would be possible. The 8500G doesn’t seem to be very demanding.
Unclear what "affordable" means here. Could 200 be a big amount?
Sure, here are some links for a suitable replacement case, power supply, and fans.
From the Vista sticker and the processor (Athlon 5200), that PC is more than 15 years old. The PSU wouldn't have even been good at the time, and as for the case, never mind USB-C as you won't even have USB 3.
For your purposes the PC is junk. You could probably eBay the (working?) processor/motherboard/RAM as people do buy vintage tech for retro PC builds. HDD just destroy or erase and bin/sell, depending on what's on it.
This is whole new PC time, so what have you bought or obtained already if anything? That could influence case and PSU recommendations. What monitor do you have? If it's as old as the PC you should be budgeting for a replacement really.
With a system as basic as you're wanting to build, any new case is going to work no matter how cheap. For example, you could go as cheap as possible at
35 CAD
, or up your budget to
45 CAD.
Except on the $45 case it has no 5.25" bay and you might need that, or you might hate the look so you might consider spending
55 CAD
on a decent make. Or it might be you think 80 - 100 CAD is affordable which gives you far more options. But it might be that you haven't budgeted for RAM or a new SSD...
Case and PSU are the last pieces of the puzzle, not the first. You also need to be more specific with terms such as "affordable" and "tolerable" as they're so relative.
To address your inquiry, you might consider using the same setup again.
The power supply unit is 180W, while your processor's power draw stays low at around 65W.
FSP is a well-known manufacturer of power supplies, but its lifespan remains uncertain.
The case accommodates a 5.25" bay for mounting a USB C device.
Cooling performance isn't exceptional, yet it's sufficient for basic needs.
I wouldn't pursue this option.
Especially if your income relies on the computer.
A fresh build offers the satisfaction of a stylish new case.
Purchase only a reliable power supply with a warranty of at least seven years.
They don't really produce high-end small PSUs much anymore. You might still find them, but you'd need to compare different sellers on less trustworthy sites.
I truly believe the original poster wouldn't benefit from using the PSU in that situation. Even a simple AM5 microATX model includes an 8-pin +12V CPU connector, while this PSU only has a 4-pin. It's unlikely the motherboard would handle it, and it's a very old power supply for a relatively old PC. I wouldn't risk it at all.
Thank you for your feedback!
I'm just beginning to explore PC builds.
I haven't specified terms like "affordable" yet since I'm still learning.
My goal is to lower costs by reusing old components such as the case, power supply, and fan if possible.
I'm still in the research or learning phase and haven't made any purchases yet.
I really appreciate Eximo's ca.pcpartpicker.com list—it helped me get a completely new system.
Please be patient and understanding; I'm still focused on reducing expenses.
It looks like the old case might be usable again—what affordable USB-C cable or adapter could work as a temporary solution?
Also, since the 8500G draws relatively little power, can a smaller and cheaper power supply be used?
So far you haven’t specified any particular tasks for this project. It would be useful to know more about the kind of work you plan to do here. It’s really helpful to understand that this isn’t intended for gaming or similar applications, as that greatly influences what can be recommended. However, "full stack software development" is quite unclear. Usually it demands a lot of processing power and memory, but you’ve been using a system with just two cores and 3 GB of RAM. Even a very basic setup will represent a significant improvement. If you’re just beginning to learn development, you don’t need the kind of hardware a professional would use.
If your goal is to run a typical office computer, I’d suggest a $50-$60 400 W power supply like the one from EVGA (a generally reliable brand). For now, 16 GB should suffice so you can save costs. Similarly, without games, you probably won’t need a 1 TB hard drive and would be comfortable with 500 GB.
You can still use that case if necessary, but since you don’t have front USB 3 support, consider what you actually require. Do you need USB-C? Should it be on the front or back? You might be fine with a cheap $20 USB adapter, but if you need front access, you could end up spending $30 to $60 on a case that won’t save much by not replacing your current one.
What monitor do you have? And which version of Windows are you using? Do you have the license key for your operating system? Since you have a pre-built machine, there’s a chance it’s an OEM license that can’t be transferred, and you might need to purchase a new copy. It would be wise to check if the license works on your new setup before buying anything.