Best place to get cheap AT/ATX cases is electronics recycling centers. Sometimes you can come across someone who doesn't know what they're selling on local/regional/country specific forums and ad sites. Ads like - selling / giving away old PC. That's how I get most of my stuff...

Your best bet is still a recycling center - I go to a center 300km away twice a year and come back home with empty pockets and a car full of parts, computers and / or peripherals.

I'm pretty sure my recycling center won't allow it.

Local seller sites (facebook, craigslist) and recyclers are just about all you can do. Far too many go to recyclers to get shredded.

Might want to check with https://www.meetup.com/North-Dallas-Area-Retro-Computing/

Here's a Reddit post from a couple years ago about that subject in Dallas: https://www.reddit.com/r/Dallas/comments/56tu … computer_parts/

Edit: Oh, and *ask* the different recyclers in the area, one or more may sell parts. They definitely never like it when people just dig around without asking.

One of the smaller ones near here said "No one ever asked before... so okay!"

Try digging around on Amibay.

Merovign wrote:

Edit: Oh, and *ask* the different recyclers in the area, one or more may sell parts. They definitely never like it when people just dig around without asking.

One of the smaller ones near here said "No one ever asked before... so okay!"

Aren't there cameras and dire warning signs all around your e-waste recycle drop-off location? There are at mine.

Save up some more money or be patient to find a bargain.

feipoa wrote:

Merovign wrote:

Edit: Oh, and *ask* the different recyclers in the area, one or more may sell parts. They definitely never like it when people just dig around without asking.

One of the smaller ones near here said "No one ever asked before... so okay!"

Aren't there cameras and dire warning signs all around your e-waste recycle drop-off location? There are at mine.

Hoodie and ski mask FTW 🤣

I mean... if I were a recycling center and I have the option of either paying to have the materials processed responsibly, or giving them away free (or maybe even selling them for a small sum!) -- why would they NOT let you take what you want? I could understand if there are privacy concerns, so you don't get to keep the HDD. But other than that..?

eric1992 wrote:

I'm pretty sure my recycling center won't allow it.

Most recycling centers will sell stock. Try talking to one of the employees there.

SirNickity wrote:

I mean... if I were a recycling center and I have the option of either paying to have the materials processed responsibly, or giving them away free (or maybe even selling them for a small sum!) -- why would they NOT let you take what you want? I could understand if there are privacy concerns, so you don't get to keep the HDD. But other than that..?

1> you are on their property, so they are responsible if something happens..
2> things get sorted there, you might make a mess..
3> ICT recyclers MAKE money, it doesn't cost them anything to process. There is gold and other precious metals in there, just need to have volume to make a nice profit..
4> More sooner than later more and more people will come and search for nice stuff to buy, it would not be safe and/or possible to do their work properly..
5> Asking never hurts, maybe you get lucky. Just be NICE and act normal.. I got lucky that way.