Dream PC

Dream PC Organ Donor Programme

Donate Your Old PC Parts - Save E-Waste

E-Waste is the ultimate end-of-life for any electronic device. It is the time when it is just no good to you anymore and you want to get rid of it. Unfortunately, millions of computers are disposed of every year into e-waste which is obviously bad for the environment. After all, what is better than recycling? Re-using! That’s why we dreamt up the idea of helping generous, fortunate people donate their PC parts to less fortunate people. 

What You Can Do To Help

Thinking to upgrade your PC but are not sure what to do with your original parts? You have a number of options available to you, such as:

Sell them on the second-hand market

Try to sell the parts on the second hand market. This can be a good way to gain some money back for your upgrades, but that can be fraught with people trying to low-ball you, multiple visits from strangers and potential time-wasters. 

Give them to a friend, or relative

Absolutely! This is a perfect use for those old parts. Perhaps your contact has an older PC and you can help them, that’s exactly what this is all about. You should definitely do that. Although, there is some effort and potentially if they don’t know how, you might need to help them install them. If you both don’t know how, then that’s also a problem. 

Donate to the Dream PC 'Organ' donor pot

This is an option for you, if you are open to donating your old Dream PC parts to us, and we can pay-it-forward by installing them into someone elses PC for you. 

Pledge Your Support

How it works

Donate to the Dream PC 'Organ' donor pot - It starts with you, you generous few

If you have a Dream PC, and you come back to us for an upgrade, you can sign up to the Dream PC ‘Organ’ Donor programme below and we will keep your old parts on hand, to give to someone else. 

Test and Refurbish

Let us know if you had any suspect issues with any of the parts, to avoid the possibility of them going to someone else. That said, each and every part we receive into the donor pool will be tested and cleaned so that it is in verified refurbished state. 

Identify a suitable candidate

The more people sign up to the programme the stronger the chance that we might be able to help someone with a less-spec Dream PC inherit a more powerful donor part. Anyone that signed up for receiving donor parts will be considered for your donation part. If your part is a stronger performance part than the next person’s PC, we will make contact with them to run it by them, and see if they wish to receive the donor part. 

Doing our bit

We pledge that once a customer opts-in to receive a donor part, that we will install the donor part without absolutely any cost to them. In other words, we will extend your generosity forward to the next person. We are sort of your remote arms, if you will.

You gave your parts, we will do the work. 

So a person may return their PC to us to buy a new processor upgrade, but in doing so, we find that your donor GPU is actually better than their GPU, so we will make contact with them to see if they would like us to perform this upgrade while it is here with us. If they agree, then we’ll do this extra work without any extra cost. 

What parts can be donated?

We thought about what we should be doing, or not doing and came up with a list of items we definitely would accept:

Core components:

  1. CPU We would only upgrade the CPU if the motherboard is compatible. If the donor CPU is from the same generation, we may just upgrade the BIOS of the existing motherboard and swap the CPU. Cooler dependent also. 
  2. RAM kits (they will remain as a kit, we won’t separate them)
  3. Graphics cards (if the power supply allows for it)

 

What we will NOT facilitate:

  1. Storage. To ensure full-data privacy, we will not accept or install donor storage drives, such as Hard disks, SSD’s, or NVME drives. It’s a potential minefield. 
  2. Power supplies – It is always a risk (albeit slight) to re-use power supplies in other people’s computers. Basically, if the receiving power supply isn’t strong enough to receive a donor part, we’ll have to pass unfortunately. 
  3. PC Case – Swapping out a PC case is a massive undertaking. Certainly in some liquid cooled systems. It is a full-rebuild. This would actually harm our return time to get the PC back to the customer, so its just going a bit too far, for little gain. Swapping the case won’t usually upgrade performance, so its a no-go for that reason. 

Further Questions?

Reach out to us for more information, by getting in touch via our contact form.

PC Organ Donor Program — Policy

Overview
The PC Organ Donor Program is a sustainability-driven initiative that lets eligible customers re-purpose working components to benefit others. Donated parts are refurbished and tested before being offered as free upgrades to other customers who opt in and whose systems are compatible. Storage drives are excluded from donation to protect data privacy. Both the donor and recipient must opt in, and the recipient will be contacted to confirm interest before any installation.

What can be donated
Only these core components are eligible for donation:
– Processor (CPU)
– Memory (RAM)
– Graphics Card (GPU)

Important exclusions:
– Storage drives (to protect data privacy)
– Any component not meeting refurbishment/testing standards
– Components that present safety or compatibility risks

Opt-in and eligibility
– Donor eligibility: The customer must have opted in to donate replaced components at the time of upgrade. Donated parts must pass refurbishment and testing standards before entering the donor pool.
– Recipient eligibility: The customer must opt in to be considered for donor-part upgrades. Donor parts will be offered only if they are a valid compatibility match for the recipient’s system.
– Consent for installation: Before installing a donor part, the recipient will be contacted to confirm interest. If the recipient declines, the donor part remains in the pool or is recycled per policy.

How the process works (step-by-step)
1) Upgrade and donor intake
– When a customer upgrades, eligible donor parts are identified and logged with a unique ID, model, generation, and donor consent status.
2) Refurbishment and testing
– Each donor part undergoes a standardized refurbishment workflow: cleaning, physical inspection, and functional testing on a bench system. Results are recorded in the part’s file.
3) Matching and notification
– If a donor part could benefit another customer, our team will identify potential recipient matches and contact eligible recipients for consent.
4) Recipient consent and installation
– If the recipient consents, the donor part is installed by a qualified technician. The recipient is informed of the upgrade details, including any performance differences from a new part.
5) 60-day hold-back of original parts and installation window
– Upon donor-part installation, the recipient’s original components are set aside and kept off-limits for a 60-day hold-back period. This gives us a window to detect any issues with the donor part and to revert if needed.
6) Post-install and warranty window
– Donor-installed parts carry a 60-day limited warranty starting from the installation date.
7) Reversion path if issues occur within 60 days
– If any issues arise with the donor part during the 60-day hold-back window, we may revert to the original components exactly as they were prior to the upgrade. The donor part used in the upgrade will be recycled and not returned to the donor pool.
8) End of the 60-day hold-back
– If no issues have been detected within the 60-day period, the held original parts are released and become part of the donor pool for future upgrades, subject to refurbishment/testing standards.
9) Ongoing support and post-install
– Donor-installed parts retain the donor-part warranty for the defined period. Standard post-install support applies within the warranty window.
10) End of life for unused parts
– Donor parts not used within the defined window are recycled or disposed of responsibly.

Technical compatibility and installation criteria (core components)
Processor (CPU)
– Compatibility requirements:
– The CPU must be compatible with the recipient’s motherboard socket type and BIOS version. BIOS microcode support and CPU compatibility lists will be checked.
– The recipient’s cooling solution must be adequate for the CPU’s power/thermal characteristics (TDP) to avoid overheating.
– The system power delivery (PSU) must be capable of supporting the upgraded CPU’s requirements.
– Installation note:
– If compatibility or cooling requirements cannot be met, the donor CPU will not be installed and will remain in the pool or be recycled.

RAM (Memory)
– Compatibility requirements:
– RAM must be a full replacement of the existing kit (no additive memory). Do not mix donor RAM with existing modules.
– The replacement kit must match or exceed the original capacity and be compatible in speed and timings with the motherboard’s supported specifications.
– For multi-channel configurations, ensure a complete kit is used to preserve stability and performance.
– Installation note:
– If the recipient’s motherboard or BIOS cannot support the donor RAM kit, the upgrade will not proceed.

Graphics Card (GPU)
– Compatibility requirements:
– The GPU must physically fit the recipient’s case (case clearance, PCIe slot alignment) and be within the system’s power supply limits (PSU wattage and available PCIe power connectors).
– The GPU must provide the display outputs the recipient requires (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort) in the correct quantities and types for their monitor setup.
– BIOS/firmware compatibility and driver support will be checked to avoid instability.
– Installation note:
– If the GPU does not fit the case, exceeds PSU capabilities, or cannot meet the recipient’s display-output needs, the upgrade will not proceed.

Testing, safety, and quality control
– Refurbishment standards:
– All donor parts are cleaned, inspected, and tested for basic functional operation.
– All testing results are logged with the part’s record, including any notes on wear, age, or prior troubleshooting.
– Safety:
– Parts that pose a safety risk (e.g., unstable power draw, physical damage that could cause short circuits) are excluded from donation and recycled.
– Data privacy:
– Storage drives are excluded from donation to prevent data leakage. All donor parts are handled according to our privacy and data-handling policies.

Warranty, liability, and disclosures
– Donor-part warranty
– Donor-installed components carry a 60-day limited warranty starting from the installation date. The exact duration is communicated at the point of installation.
– The warranty covers obvious defects discovered within the 60-day window; it does not guarantee identical performance to a new part.
– Hold-back lifecycle (original parts)
– The original parts installed in the recipient’s system are held off-limits for 60 days. If issues arise with the donor part within this window, we may revert to the original components exactly as they were prior to the upgrade.
– If a revert occurs, the donor part used in the upgrade is recycled and not returned to the donor pool.
– If no issues arise during the 60-day hold-back, the original parts are released into the donor pool for future upgrades and are subject to refurbishment/testing standards.
– Interaction with existing warranties
– The customer’s existing warranty on the remainder of their PC remains in effect as issued by the original manufacturer or previous provider. The upgrade does not void or modify those pre-existing warranties.
– Donor-part warranty is separate and applies only to the donor-installed components during the 60-day window and as described.
– If a revert occurs or the donor part is removed, the original components return to their prior warranty context, if applicable.
– Liability
– Our liability is limited to the terms of the warranty and service policy. We are not liable for issues arising from non-compliance with installation instructions, misuse, or external factors outside our control.
– Performance expectations
– Donor parts may perform differently from new components due to age, wear, and prior usage. Clear expectations should be set with recipients.

Privacy and data handling
– Data-bearing components:
– Storage drives are excluded from donation. Any data-bearing parts in the recipient’s possession will be handled per our privacy policy and applicable laws.
– General handling:
– All donated components are treated with care and sanitised as appropriate to ensure safe handling and operation.

Communication and transparency
– Recipient communications:
– We provide clear, upfront information about what is being offered, the compatibility checks, potential performance outcomes, and the limited warranty.
– Donor disclosures:
– Donors are informed about how their donation may be used and the conditions under which their parts will be refurbished and deployed.

What this means for customers
– If you upgrade and opt in as a donor, your compatible CPUs, RAM kits, or GPUs may be refurbished and offered to other customers who opt in as recipients.
– If you are a recipient, you may receive a donor part free of charge and you consent to installation.
– All upgrades are subject to compatibility checks, consent, and the refurbishment testing results described above.

FAQ — PC Organ Donor Program

1) What is the PC Organ Donor Program?
– It’s a sustainability-focused program that lets eligible customers donate certain old components to a pool. Donated parts are refurbished and offered to other customers as free or low-cost upgrades when there’s a compatible match. Storage drives are excluded to protect data privacy. Both donor and recipient must opt in, and the recipient will be contacted to confirm interest before installation.

2) Which parts can be donated?
– CPU (processor)
– RAM (memory)
– GPU (graphics card)

3) Why are storage drives excluded?
– To protect data privacy and prevent any risk of data leakage between customers.

4) Do I have to opt in to participate?
– Yes. Both donors and recipients must explicitly opt in to the program.
– Donors opt in to contribute their eligible parts to the donor pool.
– Recipients opt in to be considered for donor-part upgrades.

5) How do I opt in?
– During or after your upgrade, you’ll be asked to opt in via a simple form or through our support team. You can choose to participate as a donor, as a recipient, or both.

6) How is a donor part matched to my system?
– Each upgrade is assessed for compatibility:
– CPU: socket type, BIOS version, cooling adequacy, and PSU capacity.
– RAM: complete kit replacement (no mixed memory), compatibility with motherboard specs, and proper speed/timings.
– GPU: case clearance, PSU capacity, required display outputs, and driver/BIOS compatibility.
– If there’s no safe, compatible match, the donor part stays in the pool or is recycled.

7) What is the 60-day hold-back for original parts?
– After a donor part is installed, the recipient’s original components are set aside and kept off-limits for 60 days. This gives us a window to detect any issues with the donor part and to revert if needed.

8) What happens if something goes wrong within the 60-day hold-back?
– If issues arise with the donor part, we may revert to the original components exactly as they were prior to the upgrade. The donor part used in the upgrade is recycled and not returned to the donor pool.

9) What happens after the 60-day hold-back?
– If no issues are detected, the original parts are released into the donor pool for future upgrades (subject to refurbishment/testing standards).

10) What is the warranty on donor-installed parts?
– Donor-installed components carry a 60-day limited warranty starting from the installation date. The warranty covers obvious defects but does not guarantee identical performance to new parts.

11) Do the customer’s existing warranties on their PC still apply?
– Yes. The customer’s pre-existing warranty on the rest of their PC remains in effect as issued by the original manufacturer or previous provider. The donor upgrade warranty is separate and applies only to the donor-installed parts during the 60-day window.

12) Will the donor parts look or perform exactly like new parts?
– Donor parts are refurbished and tested, but performance can vary with age and prior usage. We’ll communicate any expected differences and provide honest guidance.

13) How is data privacy handled with donor parts?
– Storage drives are excluded from donation. All data-bearing components are handled per our privacy policy and applicable laws. Donated parts are sanitized as appropriate to ensure safe handling.

14) How will I know if a donor part is available for my build?
– If a compatible donor part is identified, we’ll contact eligible recipients to confirm interest and obtain consent before installation.

15) Is there a cost to me if a donor part is used?
– Donor parts are offered to recipients that are returning their computer for a paid upgrade. That said, while it is here with us, if we do identify a donor part that we can use in your PC, we will fit that component at no cost for the part, or the labour time involved in upgrading to the donor component. It literally is a free upgrade, from a generous person that donated it to you! 

16) What if I don’t want to participate or want to opt out later?
– Participation is voluntary and can be stopped at any time. If you opt out, any donor parts already donated will proceed according to policy (refurbished, recycled, or used as intended).

17) How long does the whole process take, from match to installation?
– Timelines vary by upgrade request and part availability. We’ll provide an estimated window when a donor-part match is identified and consent is obtained. It shouldn’t usually hold things up to what you were already upgrading. We’ll just run some extra tests to make sure the donor part performs as intended in your system. 

18) How do I get more information or help?
– Contact our support team.