I Found these Computers in a Ditch…
Linus Tech Tips · 2026-09-28 · 27 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1hZ3EalPQUVideo summary
Linus salvages two curbside PCs, upgrades one with a Radeon 9070 XT and 32GB RAM, then gives it to Felix at WHALE LAN.
During a midnight walk, Linus and Ivonne spot two dusty computers dumped in a yard and set out to build at least one working PC within 90 minutes. One has an Intel i9-9900K but is missing RAM, a GPU and a power supply; the other contains an i5-6402P. After troubleshooting, they find both systems work and suspect the graphics card was the main failure. They replace parts, add a Noctua cooler and 32GB of RAM, and turn the stronger machine into a polished gaming PC with a Radeon 9070 XT. The team also discovers that the discarded drives contain accessible Windows data, prompting a warning about full-drive encryption and the risks of tossing computers without wiping them. At WHALE LAN, they leave the upgraded computer beside the bathrooms with a free sign and candy. Felix is the first person to claim it and takes home the rebuilt PC.
Chapters
- 0:00Intro: Linus and Ivonne Find Two PCs and Set a 90-Minute Repair Challenge
- 1:26Inspecting the PCs: i5-9600K, 9900K, 860 EVO and Elijah’s WHALE LAN Plans
- 7:07Does the 9900K PC Work? Windows Reaches Repair, but a 9070 XT Exceeds the 600W PSU
- 9:25PSU, Cooler and SSD Decisions: Thermaltake and Noctua Upgrades, but No Gift SSD
- 11:58But We Do Get New RAM: A 32GB G.Skill Kit Is Detected by the Recovered PC
- 13:16Getting the Case Ready: Consolidating Fans, Finding a Second Windows Drive and Cleaning Up
- 14:48We’re in Windows: Two Ryan Accounts Reveal Unencrypted Drives and User Data Risks
- 17:19Testing the Other System and Building the Giveaway PC: Both PCs Work Apart from Their GPUs
- 18:43WHALE LAN: Upgraded PC, Coconut Signing and a Free-Candy Giveaway by the Washrooms
- 23:44Who Will Grab It? Linus and Elijah Wait for WHALE LAN Attendees to Take the PC
- 24:45You’re the Winner: Felix Takes Home the Rebuilt PC with a 9070 XT and 32GB RAM
What the full analysis includes
11 chapters · 52 key points · 11 section summaries · mind map
Preview of the first chapter · Intro: Linus and Ivonne Find Two PCs and Set a 90-Minute Repair Challenge
The remaining 49 key points, section summaries and mind map are in the full analysis. Analyze this video to see everything →
This is a Tier 1 public summary
Whether the chapter key points, section summaries and mind map are public is up to the person who shared it. Want the full analysis?Submit one yourself.
More from this channel
GTA 6 on PC May be Coming Sooner than We ThoughtLinus Tech TipsAI-assisted PS5 emulation runs Astro Bot at 4K/60 and Bloodborne near 85 FPS on a PC, hinting at future console ports.
My F-You To Sam AltmanLinus Tech TipsLinus builds a local AI workstation with two RTX 5090s, then runs Hermes and LM Studio without recurring cloud fees.
I Doubled My GPU’s Memory…Linus Tech TipsLuke and GPU Lab’s Greg upgrade two Nvidia RTX 4090s from 24GB to 48GB VRAM each, creating a 96GB local AI setup.
The ALL RAZER Gaming SetupLinus Tech TipsLinus builds an all-Razer gaming setup costing over $8,000, praising the Blade 16 and questioning several expensive peripherals.
The Most Permanent Tech Upgrade of All Time - AMD $5000 Ultimate Tech UpgradeLinus Tech TipsLisa from Creator Warehouse gets a $5,000 tech upgrade, including a Ryzen 5 8500G NAS and a tattoo-practice setup.
Related analyses
Valve Steam Frame VR Review vs. Meta Quest 3 | Privacy, Latency, & BenchmarksGamers NexusValve Steam Frame costs $1,060 and beats Quest 3 on tested latency, but Meta lasts longer on battery and raises major privacy concerns.
I Tested the Cheapest Ryzen CPU on EVERY GPUHardware CanucksRyzen 5 5500 beats the 2600X, but Radeon RX 9070 XT often outpaces RTX 5090 in 1% lows.
I Have Strong Feelings About Air Conditioning in the Tech HouseLinus Tech TipsLinus installs five mini-split heat-pump cassettes at the Tech House for about C$15,000, gaining independent room-by-room climate control.
Don’t Buy a "Pro" Controller. Do This InsteadLinus Tech TipsLinus and David turn an Xbox One 1708 and drifting DualSense into modded controllers with TMR sticks, paddles, LEDs, and more.
Finishing What we Started Seven Years AgoLinus Tech TipsLinus and Alex revive their abandoned 2004 PC build with EK water blocks, a GeForce 6800 Ultra, and gloriously over-the-top styling.