I was cleaning out a corner of my basement the other weekend, a place where forgotten things go to gather dust. Tucked behind a box of old college textbooks, I found it: my old desktop computer from around 2015. It wasn’t anything special, a modest mini-tower that had served me well for years. My first thought was to just haul it to the recycling center. It’s old, slow, and I have a much better machine now.

But I stopped. There’s something that feels wrong about tossing a perfectly functional piece of technology, isn’t there? It felt like a waste. That old box has a story, and maybe, just maybe, it had a few more chapters left in it.

So if you’ve recently unearthed a similar digital fossil—maybe an old family PC with an i3 or i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a decent-sized hard drive—don’t write it off. That machine isn’t trash. It’s a weekend project waiting to happen.

First, Is It Even Powerful Enough?

Let’s be real. A computer from 2015 isn’t going to run the latest AAA games or handle heavy video editing. But the specs on a lot of these older machines are surprisingly capable for specific, focused tasks.

An old Intel Core i3 or i5 processor from that era is plenty powerful for streaming media, running simple servers, or emulating old games. And 8GB of RAM is more than enough for most of the projects we’re about to cover. The 1TB hard drive? That’s a huge asset.

So, instead of thinking about what it can’t do, let’s focus on what it can do.

5 Cool Projects for Your Old PC

Forget about its outdated version of Windows. We’re going to give it a new purpose. Here are a few ideas that turn that dusty box into something genuinely useful.

1. Build Your Own Private Netflix

This is my favorite use for an old PC. With a 1TB hard drive, you have a perfect starting point for a home media server.

• What it is: Using free software like Plex or Jellyfin, you can organize all your movies, TV shows, music, and photos into a beautiful, user-friendly library. Then, you can stream that media to any device you own—your TV, your laptop, your phone—whether you’re at home or on the go.
• Why it’s cool: It’s your content, organized your way, with no ads or monthly subscription fees. It’s incredibly satisfying to scroll through your own personal streaming service.

2. Create a Retro Gaming Time Machine

Remember the glory days of the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, or the original PlayStation? That old PC is more than powerful enough to play games from those eras, and many more.

• What it is: You can install a free, dedicated operating system like Batocera or an application like RetroArch. These pieces of software turn your PC into an all-in-one emulation station.
• Why it’s cool: It’s pure, uncomplicated fun. You can introduce your favorite childhood games to your kids or just relive the magic yourself. All you need is the old PC and a USB controller.

3. Host a Private Server for You and Your Friends

If you and your friends love playing games like Minecraft or Valheim, you know that paying for a private server can be a hassle. Why not host it yourself?

• What it is: You can set up a dedicated server on your old PC that runs 24/7. Your world is always on, waiting for you and your friends to log in and play together.
• Why it’s cool: It gives you complete control. You can manage the world, install mods, and you don’t have to worry about a monthly bill. Most indie or older multiplayer games have very low server requirements that a 2015-era PC can easily handle.

4. Give It a New Life as a Speedy Linux Desktop

That old version of Windows might be slow and unsupported, but that doesn’t mean the hardware is useless for everyday tasks. Installing a lightweight Linux operating system can make it feel brand new.

• What it is: Distributions like Linux Mint or Zorin OS are incredibly user-friendly (they look and feel a lot like Windows) and run beautifully on older hardware.
• Why it’s cool: It’s a free and effective way to create a perfectly good computer for browsing the web, checking emails, writing documents, or doing online schoolwork. It could be a kitchen computer for recipes, a homework machine for your kid, or just a simple, secure browser.

5. Block Ads Across Your Entire Home Network

This one is a little more technical, but it’s a project that provides a massive daily benefit to every single device in your home.

• What it is: Pi-hole is a piece of software that filters your internet at the network level, blocking ads on websites and in apps before they even reach your devices. You install it on the old PC, point your router’s DNS settings to it, and you’re done.
• Why it’s cool: Websites load faster, you use less data, and you get a cleaner, less annoying internet experience on your phone, your smart TV, and your computers—all from one old machine working silently in a corner.

So, before you decide to get rid of that old computer, take another look. Don’t see a relic covered in dust. See a media server, a retro arcade, a private world for your friends, or a tool for a better internet.

All it takes is a little bit of time and a willingness to tinker. You might be surprised by the hidden potential you unlock.