I like to buy a box full of parts online and/or at my local computer stores and building them from scratch. I'm using a PC I built ten years ago. I've replaced the motherboard, PSU and graphics card since then but otherwise it is still going strong. Put in a better PSU and mobo to support the upgraded vid card. Being both a tabletop and computer gamer, I tend to upgrade now and then. I enjoy the challenge, but in some ways am glad that installing hardware drivers is easier than it used to be.

I've upgraded and at times practically rebuilt PCs for friends and family. It's fun and they really appreciate it. I used to work for several different computer stores like CompUSA, Circuit City and Fry's before deciding to go back to doing it as a hobby. I enjoy doing it more when it's on my own schedule.

I'm like a black hole for computer stuff. When people upgrade their systems they bring me their old stuff. Or if it breaks they give it to me. A friend of mine had a hard drive fail so he gave me the system and bought a new one. The hard drive had a five year warranty so I returned it for a new one. I told him and he thought that was cool.

That's great! I've a PC Junkyard box and Wire Box of Doom in storage that I check before I buy any new hardware for PCs and other gadgets. My wife jokes that I could open an online store with what I've got in those boxes. :) Some of it is so old that I may never use it again, but you just never know.

Every so often I have to decide what's too old to use anymore and throw it away.