I'm putting together my PC build and I'm wondering which parts are generally safe to buy used. Here's my parts list if you want to take a look: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/q8WnC8. I have an RX 570 that I plan to use for now, but I'm not sure about the other components. What do you all think?
5 Answers
From my experience, buying used parts can be a great way to save money. I'd say cases and fans are typically safe bets since they usually don't have issues unless they're physically damaged. Just make sure the seller has a return policy in case things go sideways!
If you're using platforms like eBay, many offer a money-back guarantee, making it a safer bet for used parts. Just do your homework to ensure you're protected when shopping!
Most parts are alright to buy used, but I'd steer clear of power supplies and hard drives. Power supplies can fail and potentially harm your entire setup, and with hard drives, you never know how much they've been used. Always best to get those new.
I agree with others here. You can buy almost everything used, except for PSUs, AiOs, and storage devices. They have a higher risk of failure, and with PSUs, if something goes wrong, it could take other components with it. Just be cautious and ensure you have buyer protection.
Honestly, a lot of parts are fine to buy used. Cases are usually good, same goes for air coolers as long as they're in decent shape. I wouldn't recommend used motherboards unless they’re fairly new, and video cards can be tricky - stick to last-gen models or newer. Avoid SSDs and PSUs unless you know they're working perfectly.
For sure! I've bought several used GPUs over the years, and I always check return policies. Just returned one without any hassle!