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Give-a-LOT | Donate your old PC

Donated Computer SpecsMinimum Base Specs - PC or Laptops Recommended Specs - PC or LaptopsMISC Hardware: Acceptable Peripherals & ComponentsAdditional Hardware we can useHardware we don’t accept

Donated Computer Specs

Even though LOT can technically make a 20 year old computer purr like a newborn computational device due to Linux Distros still available for those machines, they don’t lend themselves to a modern acceptable computing standard use in 2026. Below is the minimum specs we can accept.

This Q4/2026 Give-a-L​OT Computer Donation Drive is being held during StartUP​+Tech We​ek. 

Minimum Base Specs - PC or Laptops 

Best for: Web browsing, word processing, and basic educational tools.

Laptops / PC

  • CPU: Dual-Core processor (Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3 or equivalent)
  • RAM: 4GB (Minimum)
  • GPU: Integrated Graphics
  • Storage: 128GB HDD or SSD

Chromebooks

  • We can only accept some Chromebooks. They must be Intel or AMD based. All ChromeOS devices have a board/device name, which determines which firmware, OS build, etc., a device uses. The board name is listed at the bottom of both the Recovery Mode and Developer Mode screens -- it's the first part of the hardware ID (HWID), before any spaces or hyphens. Only Chromebooks from this list are supported: Which Chromebooks?


Recommended Specs - PC or Laptops

Best for: Coding, multitasking, media editing, games, scientific education.

  • CPU: Quad-Core processor (Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or equivalent)
  • RAM: 8GB or higher
  • GPU: Integrated or Dedicated Graphics
  • Storage: 256GB+ SSD (Highly preferred for speed)

MISC Hardware: Acceptable Peripherals & Components

We are also collecting the following hardware to complete our workstations:

  • Monitors: Flat panel (LCD/LED)
  • Input: Keyboards and Mice (USB or Wireless)
  • Storage: External Hard Drives, SSDs, and USB Flash Drives
    • We fully erase and format all disk drives, and can provide you with the eraser certification of proof, if needed.
  • Cables: Laptop Chargers, PC Power, HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA cables
  • Audio: MIDI Piano/Musical Instrument keyboard devices, Speakers
  • CASH $$$: If we have incomplete hardware or laptops, like missing power supplies, we might have to go buy components for these devices to make them usable. Financial donations help with this! For cash donations, contact: jesse@devsanantonio.com

Additional Hardware we can use

Smartphones: Google Pixels, or any phone on this list: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

These allow us to showcase alternative operating systems on Android based phones for mobile development and more secure uses for old phones.

Hardware we don’t accept

  • Printers
  • CRT Monitors (the big, thick, heavy ones old TV style monitors)
  • non-working or broken hardware, unless you know what the issue is and it has salvageable parts.