Any danger in using an old processor or RAM?

[Wiruz]

I have al ot of old parts lying 'round, and im currently building my future internet server (K5-90, 32 mb, 1.6 gig Caviar).

Some of the memory might not be working any more - is there any danger in inserting them? could it fry the motherboard?

I also have an old cyrix 6x86 133, which has been overclocked to 150 (the cyrix formely known as 133 *lol*) - but it has just been lying around... on speakers... a drawer... and i haven't been treating it very nice - any danger in testing it?

It would be nice having a little extra power for RC5....

~Wiruz

[dos7]

well,,i wouldn't think that the old memory or cpu would pose any threat to the mainboard, unless of course there is any noticeable physical damage that is quite evident, then it could potentially cause a short circuit if any of the external circuitry is damaged on the ram chips. Hopefully the parts in question haven't been exposed to any static charges either, as for the cpu, there isn't much you can do to the cpu that will render it dangerous to use other than hitting it with a hammer or bending or breaking the pins. Go ahead and see if they work, if they don't, your motherboard will let you know pretty quick if they are damaged.

at least,,that's been my experience, perhaps other members can add something to this that i am unaware of or have omitted.

dos7

[Dputiger]

The parts you've listed should either 'work' or 'not work'. If they don't work it's highly unlikely they'd damage the machine--though mis-inserting the CPU could definitely blow components.