I'm in Canada and was originally planning a new build with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Radeon RX 9070 XT, and 32GB of DDR5, but the total would be around $4,000 CAD after tax. My main game is World of Warcraft, which I understand can be CPU-heavy, though I'd also like the system to handle GTA 6 at around medium settings.
I found a used PC for approximately $1,500 CAD and would like to know whether it's a sensible alternative or if the newer build is worth paying more for. The used system has an RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, Intel Core i7-13700F, MSI MAG B660 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 motherboard, 32GB of Corsair DDR4 memory, MSI 750W power supply, Arctic Freezer i35 cooler, and a 1TB SSD.
Would this used PC run WoW well and likely handle GTA 6 reasonably, or are there reliability and upgrade concerns that make the newer AM5/DDR5 system a better choice?
4 Answers
At $1,500 CAD, the used system is a pretty compelling deal if it’s in good condition. The 13700F is still a strong gaming CPU, and the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is more than capable for WoW and should be suitable for GTA 6 at sensible settings. You won’t get the same upgrade path as an AM5/DDR5 build, but you’re also saving roughly $2,000 CAD. For this use case, that price difference is difficult to justify unless you specifically want new parts and longer-term upgrade flexibility.
Before buying, test the used machine thoroughly and check the parts in person. Confirm that the GPU and CPU maintain normal temperatures under load, make sure the SSD health is good, listen for unusual fan or coil noise, and verify that all memory is detected. Also inspect the power supply and ask how old the system is. The B660 board limits CPU upgrades, and LGA1700 systems have had reports of CPU degradation, so a warranty-free purchase carries some risk.
You could also reduce the cost of the new build without giving up much for your needs. WoW should run well with less than 32GB of memory, although 32GB is reasonable for a new system, and you may not need such expensive storage or other premium components. Even after trimming the build, though, the used PC still offers much better value if it passes testing and the seller is trustworthy.
The 9800X3D system would be faster in CPU-limited games like WoW and gives you a better future upgrade platform, but you don’t need a $3,000–$4,000 CAD computer to play these games well. The used PC already has a high-end GPU and plenty of CPU performance. I’d only choose the new build if the extra cost fits comfortably and avoiding used-hardware risk is important to you.
That makes sense. I’m mostly trying to figure out how much the newer platform and peace of mind are actually worth compared with saving around $2,000 CAD.