A Long-Awaited Reunion: Unboxing My Gifted PC After Three Years

For three long years, a special gift sat undisturbed in a box, patiently waiting for the right moment to come to life. It all began when a kind soul from a community I cherish saw my humble setup while I was in Syria. They generously decided to gift me their older PC, complete with original packaging, thermal paste, additional fans, and even took care of shipping costs. Another generous individual also contributed by sending me a 1030 graphics card and a used SSD. Just two weeks ago, I received a further upgrade—a 3070 graphics card.

Unfortunately, circumstances left the PC in storage at a friend’s house as I sought refuge from instability. Living in inadequate conditions meant I couldn’t access it; I lacked space and the privilege of using electricity. For three years, I found myself dreaming about the day I could finally unbox this treasure. Today was that day.

Now that it’s finally time to set it up, my first task will be to acquire a used monitor and a power cable, all while hoping that this PC survived the years tucked away, gathering dust. Here’s what I’ve learned about the specs:

• CPU: Either an Intel Core i7-3960X or an Intel Core i7-3930K
• CPU Cooler: Water cooler
• GPU: Nvidia 3070
• RAM: Eight sticks, some of which are DDR3-1600 CL11
• Motherboard: Asus P9X79 WS
• SSD: Two 240GB drives

I recognize that this build has its limitations; it’s certainly not at the cutting edge of technology. However, as a desktop, it offers much easier opportunities for future upgrades compared to a laptop. I’m eager to gradually enhance it as my finances allow. Regardless, it represents a significant upgrade from my previous MX130 laptop GPU.

As for the extra CPU, I’ve heard that it was quite an investment at its launch. I’m unsure about its current market value—perhaps eBay could be a solution?

With the final touches on my desktop complete, I’m contemplating launching a Twitch or YouTube channel. My goal is to relive the nostalgia of classic games that were previously out of my reach due to my lack of a credible graphics card.

This journey has been parallel to my efforts to upgrade my bare-bones vehicle for a forthcoming race. Soon, I