I've refused to give up my laptop, a T420 i7 8GB, from 2011. It's the keyboard. SSD upgrade and battery. When leaving my manager tried to give it as a leaving gift, but was blocked (I bought a second hand one for myself with similar upgrades for a ridiculously low price instead). As a compromise it will forever sit in her desk 'in case you come back'.

Give the employer they want and need, justified. A business or tech head (not just manager, but someone the buck really stops with) has a budget and they should spend it as justifies the business case, not conforming to an arbitary rule.