Tips for buying hardware?

[m654321]

[member=6733]TheDead[/member] I mean, together we could make a difference

Yes, that's the only way progress on the environment will happen - us all collectively working together. The environment (pollution, habitat loss, climate change & energy consumption) has to be the biggest issue for the planet - well done Greta Thunberg for raising global awareness!

but ultimately, I think there are bigger concerns than one PC eating up this extra bit of power

... but it's a question of scale, is it not? By that I mean if everyone on the planet, who has a "PC eating up this extra bit of power", that means a lot of extra power when scaled-up, planet-wise. It's a sobering thought that computing alone makes up 10% of the total energy consumption on the planet - that's enormous and that % will grow, as more and more societies on the globe become increasingly digital. To work together, we need to think globally - you & me. Also, inbuilt obsolesence by Microsoft of hardware running Windows OS should be made illegal - it generates environmental pollution, plastic & electronics waste. Most of the population don't know that the slow PCs they chuck out can be resurrected with Linux ...  You and I do but we only represent 3% of the PC user population. 

I'll get off my soapbox now  :-[ 
I just feel very strongly about the throw-away society we live in and the issues that are raised as a consequence of that, but its also linked to choices about buying shiny new or reusing old when it comes to computers ...