Question Re-use old PC case, PSU and fan to build a new PC ?

[peterng70]

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 first pc build.
I am looking for a Ryzen 8500G, no dedicated GPU, no WiFi, no RGB system.
Can I re-use the PC case, power supply and fan from an old Acer prebuilt to build a new PC?
The case is 17x14x7 inches ( https://photos.app.goo.gl/P69GLsXSgD4kgfGCA ).
The old motherboard size is 9.6 × 8.9 in.
Will a 9.6-in x 9.6-in motherboard fit the old case?

The old case does not have a USB-C port, what is an affordable USB-C cable / adaptor as a workaround?
If the old case cannot be re-used, please suggest an affordable, easy to setup case for MicroATX motherboard.
If I cannot reuse the 180W PSU please suggest an affordable one.
Please also suggest affordable fans.

 

[Lafong]

Don't know how old that Acer is.

The older, the less likely it is to reuse the case.

A 180 watt PSU is virtually useless today. Even more so if old.

Regardless of age, pre-built PCs are notorious for being poor upgrade candidates.

I'd think for 200 or less Canadian, you could get a tolerable new case and power supply. The 8500G isn't power hungry as I recall.

Not sure what "affordable" means to you. 200 may be a very big deal?

 

[albertkao]

Don't know how old that Acer is.

The older, the less likely it is to reuse the case.

A 180 watt PSU is virtually useless today. Even more so if old.

Regardless of age, pre-built PCs are notorious for being poor upgrade candidates.

I'd think for 200 or less Canadian, you could get a tolerable new case and power supply. The 8500G isn't power hungry as I recall.

Not sure what "affordable" means to you. 200 may be a very big deal?

Would you mind suggesting link for a tolerable new case, power supply and fans?

 

[Moonstick2]

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.

 

[geofelt]

To answer your question, you (could) reuse the case.
The psu is 180W and the tdp of your processor is modest at 65W.
FSP is a major maker of power supplies, but it is unknown how long it will last.
The case has room for a 5.25" bay where you can front mount a USB C device.
Cpu cooling is not great, but it does not need much.

I would not go that way.
Particularly if your livelihood depends on the pc.
One of the joys of a new build is a nice, new case.
Buy only a quality psu. Think 7 years warranty or better.

 

[Eximo]

They don't really make high quality small PSUs that much any more. Can probably still get them, but you would have to shop around on less reputable places.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 8500G 4.1 GHz 6-Core Processor ($199.00 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: MSI PRO B650M-P Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Crucial P3 Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Cooler Master Q300L V2 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($59.99 @ Memory Express)
Power Supply: Corsair RM650 (2023) 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($116.96 @ shopRBC)
Total: $725.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-11-14 10:32 EST-0500

 

[Moonstick2]

The psu is 180W and the tdp of your processor is modest at 65W.

I really don't think the OP could use the PSU if they tried. Even a basic AM5 microATX has an 8-pin +12V CPU connector, and that PSU only has a 4-pin. Maybe the motherboard won't complain, but it's a 15+ year old basic PSU for a 15+ year old basic pre-build PC. I wouldn't even take the risk, personally.

 

[geofelt]

I really don't think the OP could use the PSU if they tried. Even a basic AM5 microATX has an 8-pin +12V CPU connector, and that PSU only has a 4-pin. Maybe the motherboard won't complain, but it's a 15+ year old basic PSU for a 15+ year old basic pre-build PC. I wouldn't even take the risk, personally.

Good point.