best machine to keep

I have a 9 or 10 old desktops laying around. I was planning to  get rid of some and turn what I can into Linux machines. My thought was to keep the ones with the fastest CPU as I can always potentially add ram or devices from the other machines. Of course you can swap CPU's but I have never done that before and you probably get into motherboard compatibility.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Get them running so single parents / kids can use them with Linux Mint.      If only need one keep one as a media server or file server but if no use recycle them all with their dried up thermal paste :=}

Or you end up leaving it to some one else sooner or later .

If these are old Windows98 machines or older, there are a lot of older DOS games that may run on them. 

Yes for sure. They are a combination of Win 95, Win 98, XP and Win 7. I was amazed how well the Win 95 machine runs. I need to keep one older one for now to run a scanner I have. Some have issues with video and power supply. I will see what I can do.

I kept a 98se PC (in the loft) for well over a decade to run a SCSI Scanner.

You would not be alone with your thinking

Yes, I have a large collection of older DOS based games, and when friends come to visit with their kids, they really get a hoot out of the older games. My W98 unit runs as good as it did years ago. My XP unit is great for the Mechwarrior series games that were made when M/Soft bought the franchise, as well as Wing Commander movie/game (4 DVDs) starring Mark Hamilll. Now THAT was one amazing game!

Edited by ranchhand_, 04 July 2025 - 02:05 PM.