Off Topic Discussions

[red5]

I just wondered what everyone else does. I typically don't save ALL my boxes, but I will for the important components. I have a bunch of boxes right now due to rebuilding my LAN gaming setup, but I'm not sure how long I'll keep them.

[Justifier]

Nope. Tend to toss them asap.

I move around a lot. Tend to live in smaller spaces to save cash, and all of my old hardware goes to others in my family who are too young to work, or who are not in a position to get their hands on it at the time.

Boxes are just in the way for me, with two exceptions. I keep my computer's case box and the GPU box for when I move. While they're sitting there in my way, I tend to use them as my "computer component overflow" boxes Can always repurpose the next box if it's necessary, or repurpose a box from a different product

[johnnyenglish]

Yes Please!

I do save every box. I'm a..
what do you call it? A tech hoarder 😄

But a good tech Hoarder.

I had my youtube set covered with the old boxes, but now I'm renewing the set to a more modern look.

[red5]

I try not to be a hoarder because my wife's grandfather was the type that should have been on TV.  However, I have the space in my basement to keep boxes for the time being, so why not?

[rtbh99]

i keep all of my tech boxes in the box my pc case came in.

[GreatnessRD]

I've started to keep boxes. I don't buy as much as the enthusiast of course, but when I do, its a special purchase and I need to keep the box, lol.

[SubtleIQ]

Yes most definitely but not every box,

  I strongly recommend others do the same, but only your Monitor and Case box.  That way when you move you have a nice safe box to put your pc in.  I recommend saving console boxes and TV boxes for the same reason.  And even if you do not move, it is an easy way to make your PC, Monitor, TV, Gaming Consoles Hurricane resistant or flooding.  Put them in the box and wrap them up with garbage bags and your super all purpose duct tape.

[hrpuffnstuff]

I have my monitor boxes as they are still under warranty and plus if I move I want to pack them up securely.  My case is 13 years old so I no longer have its box but I would wrap it up I had to transport it over a long distance.  I also have the boxes of components that I'm not using. 

I used to be much worse about saving original packaging but I had the room for it and could shelve it out of the way in the garage.

[BigAl01]

I also save them for a while.  About 10 years ago, we heard a crash in the basement storage room.  I ran down there to find that a stack of boxes had fallen over.  It was at that time that I acknowledged that I had too many boxes, so a bunch of them went in the recycle bin.

I try to keep component boxes at least 90 days from when I open them, just in case I need to send something back.  How often do I return a computer component?  Maybe once in 20 years.

How often do you return a component? Hardly ever...

[red5]

Years ago the GPU boxes had some pretty interesting box art, and I think people saved them just for that. The art isn't nearly as interesting any more.

[Amber_AMD]

This is a good question. I pretty much keep all boxes, especially for tech accessories in case I want to sell them later or for moving later 🙂 

[jamesc359]

I tend to keep my boxes - with the intent of discarding them after I'm reasonably sure I won't need to return the component for RMA. However I usually end up keeping them for much longer than that and I end up with a room piled full of boxes. Going forward I'm trying to stop saving boxes... Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.

[Dragokar]

I don't keep all of them, I keep the boxes for parts that I intend to keep after main rig usage and the parts that I “love”. However, I usually don't store monitor and case boxes.

[Key-J]

I absolutely keep my boxes, until I don't need them.

Right now my RX480 is still sitting in its box after just upgrading it. Will figure out what to do with it soon.

I still have an old MB box that has a ton of random doodads in there.

Overall though, I try not to keep the boxes for solely aesthetic sake.

[Vynski]

Key-J

Don't recycle it, ever.  Take it to your grave.  I just recycled an old ATI 9800 PRO AGP card about 2 months ago and regretted it ever since.  The card still worked fine when I put it back in the "original box", but try to find an AGP board to put it in.

[johnnyenglish]

Actually I found a way to display the GPU's

https://youtube.com/shorts/VlSpqAgvqNE?feature=share

[Amber_AMD]

Uh, those are awesome!! @Sam_AMD - tagging you in this because I know you'll love it too. 

[Vynski]

Amber, I agree with you in response to johnnyenglish.  That is awesome.  I wish I had done something like that with my old video cards.  I would never have disposed of the ones that even went bad.  Have you watched any videos of these river tables woodworkers build.  Wouldn't that be neat to build an acrylic table with old video cards in it.  I've seen a couple where they use rifle cartridges and they are fantastic. 

[GreatnessRD]

That is pretty slick and I'd like to have something like that one day. But I'd LOVE to see it holding up a beefy 6950 XT or a 3090. Probably be struggling for its life! lol

[johnnyenglish]

You're right, don't try a beefy one, this is the schematic for a 2 slot graphics card.

But there are designs for a 3+ slot design.

Even test benches. I'm trying to find one suitable for my set.

[Vynski]

Looks like my closet.  Heck yes I save my boxes.  Might need one someday.  That's as good enough reason as any.

[Sam_AMD]

I recently built a gaming rig and "naturally" decided to keep all the boxes of the parts in the PC case box. But I'm planning on recycling them by the end of the month. I have done this for decades, I keep the boxes for a month or two just in case I need to return any of the parts. 

[blazek]

I used to, until I moved in a smaller space and had to throw out a lot of boxes 🙂

[tgr486]

I don't keep boxes, never likely to resell so seems pointless to keep the boxes.

[anselmakraus]

I sometimes do. For return/warranty purposes.

[Pepe1]

Yes. I keep the boxes.

[Mitsui14]

I usually keep the boxes for decoration purposes 😅 I think they look cool if you have the space!

[red5]

Going old-school with that Sempron box 😄

[Wally_AMD]

I used to keep my boxes for a variety of things (PC parts, game consoles, etc.), but they started taking up too much space... I'm no longer a box hoarder. 😅

[USN-DC2-RET]

I keep all boxes, all documentation, all accessories and spare parts, take lots of photos and videos, but I have an entire HVAC controlled shelf lined carpeted storage room 10 X 10 feet and 9 feet tall, specifically for this purpose, I keep moving boxes and other types of boxes and moving supplies in there as well...I have a moving business as well as IT business. Once the gear starts to get obsolete, if I haven't sold it, I may or may not keep the boxes, probably after 5 to 7 years. 

[BigAl01]

You are more organized than most of us.

[stateofdade]

I always resell my equipment because I keep them in top shape.  By providing the original packaging, it looks great and provides adequate protection for shipping.  Plus the buyer feels like they've gotten a product that was well cared for.  Sometimes I keep the parts for spares and it's easy to keep them from being damaged while in storage.

[TR2]

Well I guess I have to say yes to some. The first thing I do is take photos of all the model and serial number tags. I keep mobo boxes, case boxes, and I keep a few gpu boxes but not all. I store all kinds of stuff in the mobo boxes till I retire the mobo. I have way too much stuff hanging around but I hate discarding older working hardware. AGP video cards anyone. I wish there was like a tech depot or a tech Goodwill. I know ebay is a solution but its more hassle than its worth. But I digress, the answer is yes to some. Tech boxes are pretty sturdy and can be used for storing lots of stuff. 

[soullodolo]

After my 3rd time moving living by myself, I ditched all the boxes and never really missed the boxes. I only keep the box for monitor and chassis in case I need to move them in whole pieces.

[plaidygami]

Some boxes I toss away, like those for my case, but I try to save the smaller ones, like GPU and CPU boxes for when I sell them.

[mrpipster]

Yes, I save mine.

Great to have if I sell on a component.

I try to cram the all in the case box so they are all together for that build. Also there are usually spare drive caddys and CPU cables hanging around, so it's good to know where they are kept.

But... I'm moving house soon, so I might have to ditch some older Boxes. 😭