Hey everyone! I'm considering buying a used PC that features an Intel i7 12700 and an RTX 3070. The catch is, the graphics card is already 5 years old, and I'm worried about potential wear and tear. Is it still safe to go for a 30 series card like this? I'm planning to keep the PC for at least the next 3-4 years. Thanks for any insights! Cheers!
4 Answers
That 3070 is far from old! It's still a top contender and often cheaper than a new 4060, which is actually slower. As for the i7 12700, I’d recommend looking into an entry-level AM5 setup instead. They offer better upgrade paths over the next four years. If you stick with the 12700, just be ready with a good cooler and power supply since it's quite power-hungry compared to Ryzen options! But either way, the 3070 should serve you well if it's working correctly.
The 3070 is still popular and highly regarded; it's consistently among the top GPUs on Steam. I’ve used mine since launch for gaming without any issues, so I think you’ll be okay.
Honestly, I wouldn’t stress too much about GPU degradation. I've had my GTX 970 for over 10 years and it’s still running solid in my wife’s PC. Same goes for my RTX 2060; it’s now in my home theater PC after a few years of heavy use. If you keep it clean and watch the temps, you should be totally fine. If thermal issues pop up, consider reapplying thermal paste, but that’s usually not necessary if the card’s well taken care of.
Most CPUs don’t really need repasting unless they’re overheating. If it’s been running fine, it’s probably good to go!
You can't really tell how a card was treated by its previous owner. If it was used normally for gaming, then it should be fine. But if they overclocked it or used it for mining, that could be problematic.
Just to clarify, I’m buying from a well-known shop in Japan, so it’s not a random seller. They even offer a 3-month warranty, which gives me a bit of peace of mind!
That’s good to hear! A warranty is always a plus, and if it was maintained well in a store, it’s likely in decent shape.
Thanks for the reassurance! I was pretty worried about it, but it's good to know these cards can last. Do you think I should also repaste the CPU since it's 4 years old?