I have recently received an older computer (ryzen x1600, vega56, 16gb ram, upgraded with an m2 ssd) and it went through some stages:

• tried to replace my DS918+ with unraid - didn‘t click with me
• host for vms - not enough uses cases
• fiddling and learning machine for IT stuff - nah, too wasteful
• streaming host for games with Sunshine - too many controller quirks

Then I found out about the alternative SteamDeck systems and ultimately stumbled upon Bazzite, HoloIso and ChimeraOS.

And while it takes some more fiddeling, installing the corresponding libraries and search around for tweaks; it‘s [the old hardwares] performance leaves me in awe. Emulators running great, I recently finished MGS3 on RPCS3, and steam games are a breeze to install. Even TLOU Pt.1 runs with medium-highish settings at 30-40 fps. On Windows, the performance, especially for emulators was rather poor.

So anybody who is working on those applications, frameworks, compatability layers, drivers - you‘re awesome and you make for a better gaming world. Thanks! :)