Where to find cheap/free computer parts...

[Mr_Chapendi]

I'm a computer engineering student looking to build some Franken-computers to play around with - any advice on how get my hands on free/cheap computers and/or parts (especially old/crappy ones) to play with?

I've read somewhere that often school districts and large businesses will dump their old computers on anyone with the initiative to ask for them - has anyone had any luck with this approach?

[zeno23]

Maybe contact someone at:
http://freegeek.org/
http://freegeekcolumbus.org/

[grossaffe]

when I was in high school, they gave out relatively decent computers for free to those who passed the A+ exams. not to mention we had free reign to scavange all we wanted in Computer Systems Tech class. good times.