We Downgraded our PCs to Prove You Don’t Need a New One
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Promos
Outsmart algorithms and optimize the way you read the news. Go to ground.news to get 40% off the Ground News Vantage plan or subscribe to their Pro Plan for just $1/month. Try Pulseway FREE today, and make IT monitoring simple at: lmg.gg We know you probably WANT a new computer, but do you really NEED one? Odds are good that, for most people, a brand new rig is simply not necessary. To prove it, we swapped our writers' sick gaming rigs full of modern hardware like the latest CPUs and raytracing graphics cards, for something a tad more...quaint. Specifically, 6th gen machines from Dell and HP. Will they be able to protect their jobs and meet their deadlines, or will the lag of old hardware stop them in their tracks? Buy a Dell OptiPlex 7040 Computer (Refurbished): geni.us Buy a HP ProDesk 600G3 Computer (Refurbished): geni.us Buy a UGREEN M.2 NVMe to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Adapter Card: geni.us Buy an ASUS XG-C100C m10G Network Adapter PCI-E x4 Card: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss this on the forums: linustechtips.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:13 Requirements and Concerns 3:08 Welcome our new machines 3:40 What went well? 4:32 Power and GPUs 5:15 Networking 6:06 Compatibility Issues 8:46 Overall Experience 9:27 Conclusions
The video investigates whether a modern high-end workstation is truly necessary for everyday office work by swapping out the team’s newer rigs for older refurbished machines. The editors and writers are provided with Dell Optiplex 7040 and HP ProDesk 600 G3 systems, featuring older CPUs like the 6th-gen Intel lineup, mixed GPUs such as RX 550, GT 1030, and 750 Ti, and PCIe configurations that limit upgrades. Early expectations center on sluggish performance, especially when handling large 4K video files and high-bitrate footage stored on a network drive, and the team is concerned about bottlenecks in the CPU, disk speed, and network throughput. The crew experiments with hardware workarounds, including PCIe adapters to boot from NVMe on older generations and removing drive cages to fit larger drives. The experiment reveals surprising levels of responsiveness in day-to-day tasks like word processing and browsing, with the “glorified Chromebook” remark turning into a workable daily driver for many roles, despite occasional delays and bugs. Throughout, the team logs real-world pain points: slow startups, intermittent monitor glitches, a problematic front headphone jack, and RAM pressure when dozens of Chrome tabs are open. The conclusion emphasizes that while older systems can handle basic work, budget-conscious organizations may still prefer standardized, newer workstations for reliability and speed, reserving in-house building for specialized tasks. The final takeaway suggests a blended approach: older machines can suffice for routine tasks, but modern, uniform workstations remain advantageous for performance-critical roles, and IT budgets should reflect a sustainable mix rather than constant replacement.
Topics · technology · computers · it-infrastructure · workflows · video-essays
Questions answered
- Can an office still run on older refurbished PCs for everyday tasks without major slowdowns?
- Yes, for basic tasks such as word processing and web research, older refurbished PCs can be workable, but users will experience longer startup times, occasional slowdowns, and potential compatibility issues with modern software.
- Did upgrading components or improving software management make the old PCs viable for more demanding work like 4K video review?
- Upgrading power supplies and adding faster networking helped, but bottlenecks remained in CPU performance and disk IO, so 4K playback and large file handling were still constrained, limiting the PCs’ ability to fully match modern workstations.
- What is the main takeaway for teams considering hardware refresh vs. sticking with older hardware?
- The takeaway is that for many roles, modern midrange hardware offers the best balance of reliability and performance, while older machines can suffice for routine tasks with careful management, a standardized setup, and a willingness to tolerate occasional issues.