Threadripper PC with RTX 2080 Ti found in the trash? Garbage collectors often come across valuable or intact items, but discovering a largely functional, premium PC might be one of the luckiest finds in recent memory. Despite the components being a few years old, the system booted up perfectly after some clever repairs and minor upgrades.
Reddit user and garbage truck operator “Siezio” recently shared (and then deleted) photos of a gaming PC he reclaimed from the dumpster and successfully restored. The setup featured an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X, a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti with 11GB of VRAM, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM.
The only missing part was internal storage, and as a precaution, Siezio replaced the water-damaged power supply unit (PSU). After thoroughly cleaning the other components with isopropyl alcohol and allowing them to dry for two days, the system powered on without any issues.
While Siezio had found other PCs in the trash before, they were either irreparably damaged or decades old. In contrast, the 3970X and 2080 Ti are fairly recent, being just five and six years old, respectively. Both were top-tier components at launch and still perform admirably today.
The Threadripper 3970X is a powerhouse with 32 cores that was launched in 2019 with a hefty price tag of $1,999. We gave the workstation processor high praise in our review at its release.
On the other hand, the GPU, which originally retailed for $999, was a leading contender when it hit the market in 2018. It was last tested in our benchmarks for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 last September, where it performed on par with contemporary mid-range graphics cards like the RTX 3060 Ti. Acquiring a used 3970X and 2080 Ti together in 2024 would likely set you back around $1,000.
Not surprisingly, many users reacted to Siezio’s discovery with envy, questioning why someone would discard a computer that likely cost over $3,000 without making an attempt to sell it. The hardware was released shortly before external factors like the cryptocurrency boom, import tariffs, and supply chain issues inflated electronics prices.
While this PC is the most valuable find in Siezio’s three-and-a-half years of work, it isn’t the only useful item he’s salvaged. He has also discovered a power drill worth €250, multiple ratchet sets, an unopened Bluetooth keyboard that now operates his TV and a chainsaw that needed only a new spark plug.
Moreover, almost all of Siezio’s tool collection for his car was rescued from the trash. While many of the items were initially broken, tutorials on YouTube made the repairs straightforward.
Images via Tom’s Hardware
