I recently upgraded my CPU and now have an Intel Core i7-12700K available. I'm considering building a compact desktop for my dad, mainly for casual everyday use. I already have a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and I'm located in the USA with a budget of about $300. Since DDR4 memory and compatible LGA1700 parts still cost a fair amount, would it be cheaper to build around the 12700K using used parts, or would I be better off buying a refurbished desktop or mini PC? I also have a Micro Center nearby.
4 Answers
For basic tasks, building around that processor may not be the best value. A refurbished business desktop could cost around $300–$330 and already include the motherboard, memory, storage, case, and power supply. You could sell the 12700K separately and put that money toward the prebuilt. Used HP EliteDesk systems and similar office PCs can sometimes be found for much less, especially if you’re comfortable shopping locally or on auction sites.
A used mini PC could be the simplest option. Older models often sell for roughly $50–$100 and should handle browsing, documents, streaming, and video calls without any trouble. The right choice depends mostly on what your dad actually plans to do with it. If you find good deals on used memory and storage, a $300 build is possible, but buying everything new will be difficult.
A new compact build with Wi-Fi looks closer to $350–$370 once you include the motherboard, DDR4, storage, case, power supply, and cooler. You could bring that down by buying used RAM and an SSD. Selling the 12700K for around $200 and buying a purpose-built mini PC may be the better route if small size and low cost matter more than using the processor.
That kind of build looks pretty solid. I already have a Noctua U12A cooler, but I’m concerned it may be too large for a compact case, so I’d need to check compatibility before reusing it.
If you want to use the 12700K, look for a used LGA1700 DDR4 motherboard-and-memory combination on the secondhand market. A rough budget would be about $50 for a case, $50 for a power supply, $100 for the motherboard, $100 for RAM, and $30 for a cooler, before adding storage. That puts the system right at or above your budget, and the CPU ends up being only a small part of the total cost.
Used business desktops can be surprisingly cheap. I found a previous-generation model with 8GB of RAM for around $70 last year, so it’s worth checking the used market before buying new parts.