I found a 16GB DDR4 kit made up of two 8GB sticks for £40 and an RTX 3070 8GB for £250 at a second-hand retailer in the UK. Do those prices represent good value, or would I be better off looking elsewhere?
2 Answers
The memory is priced about right for the current market, but £250 is too much for an RTX 3070. I’d aim for £200 or less, or compare it with newer cards that offer similar performance for the same money. Whatever you buy used, test it thoroughly. Run MemTest on the RAM and check a graphics card under load, since used hardware may only have been tested enough to power on. The retailer’s return policy is useful, but don’t assume every component has been fully stress-tested.
£40 is a reasonable price for 16GB of DDR4, and buying RAM from a retailer with straightforward returns can be worthwhile. The RTX 3070 is less appealing at £250, though. Used cards are often closer to £210–£220, with good deals around £190–£200. You may even find an RTX 3080 near £280 if you shop around. Used CPUs can also be worth considering, but for power supplies, buying new is usually the safer choice.
I’ve had decent experiences buying CPUs from the same kind of retailer too.
If you buy online, check the parts carefully when they arrive. I’ve received mismatched RAM kits and a graphics card with a noisy fan before. Returns were easy, but buying RAM in person lets you verify that both sticks are the correct matching model.
Would an RTX 4060 at £260 be a better option than the used 3070?