{"id":123948,"date":"2025-06-23T14:42:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T14:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/?p=123948"},"modified":"2025-06-23T14:42:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T14:42:46","slug":"how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy Used Computer Hardware Without Getting Scammed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >\u062c\u062f\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u062a\u0648\u064a\u0627\u062a<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/#Summary\" title=\"Summary\">Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/#Know_Whats_Worth_Buying_Used\" title=\"Know What\u2019s Worth Buying Used\">Know What\u2019s Worth Buying Used<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/#Do_Lots_of_Research_Before_Buying_Anything\" title=\"Do Lots of Research Before Buying Anything\">Do Lots of Research Before Buying Anything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/#Where_to_Buy_and_How_to_Recognize_Scams\" title=\"Where to Buy and How to Recognize Scams\">Where to Buy and How to Recognize Scams<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/#Inspect_and_Test_the_Hardware_in_Person_If_Possible\" title=\"Inspect and Test the Hardware in Person (If Possible)\">Inspect and Test the Hardware in Person (If Possible)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/#What_to_Do_After_the_Purchase\" title=\"What to Do After the Purchase\">What to Do After the Purchase<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-key-points\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom key-points\" id=\"custom_block_0\">\n<h3 class=\"title icon i-list\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"custom_block-content key-points\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n                                        Key components like CPU, GPU, and RAM are mostly safe to buy used, and they can lead to significant savings.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        Do some research to figure out what parts you should buy and how much they should cost before pulling the trigger.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n                                        The best places to buy used hardware include sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Jawa, but always test hardware in person if possible.\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>With so many games to play, there&#8217;s never been a better time to build a gaming PC. However, with the high cost of new hardware, it&#8217;s hard to justify the price, especially when second-hand options are often much cheaper. The only problem? Avoiding potential scammers.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"know-what-rsquo-s-worth-buying-used\">\n                        Know What\u2019s Worth Buying Used<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<p>Before we can talk about buying used computer parts, let&#8217;s first go over what parts are even worth buying second-hand, and which ones you should stay away from in most circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Generally speaking, the main &#8220;power&#8221; components\u2014CPU, RAM, and GPU\u2014are usually safe to buy used for a few key reasons. First, they\u2019re among the most expensive parts of a build, so buying them second-hand can lead to very significant savings. Second, these components don\u2019t degrade much over time, so as long as they work properly (more on that later), they can be a great deal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" :56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Justin Duino \\\/ How-To Geek&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nvidia GeForce RTX logo on a 4070 Ti gaming GPU.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Justin Duino \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> I\u2019ve personally bought several used CPUs, RAM sticks, and GPUs without any issues. I even bought GPUs that mined cryptocurrency, and they still worked flawlessly. That said, your experience may vary, which is exactly why this guide is here to teach you how to buy this stuff and avoid problems.<\/p>\n<p>Motherboards, CPU coolers, fans, RGB strips, computer cases, peripherals, and monitors are in the &#8220;maybe&#8221; category\u2014these components degrade with age, but they do so slowly. If they don&#8217;t have any obvious issues, and you find a good deal, they&#8217;re worth buying.<\/p>\n<p>Motherboards, in particular, are complex components; electronic components like capacitors and resistors can go bad and cause issues (the same applies to GPUs, but to a lesser extent). That said, if you&#8217;re buying an older CPU, a used motherboard might be your only option. Motherboards can be a slightly safer buy if you&#8217;re getting them bundled with the CPU and RAM.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"4678-4f0c-bdf54a8a20d0\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\" :56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A retro PC with a screenshot of Quake on its monitor.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\t10 Tips For Building a Period Retro Gaming PC<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Build the old-school PC of your dreams.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Devices you should be more cautious about include power supplies and storage (SSDs and HDDs). While a good power supply can last up to 10 years without issues, the risk just doesn&#8217;t justify the relatively low price of these components. Honestly, you&#8217;re better off buying a new budget PSU like the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bestbuy.7tiv.net\/c\/156932\/614286\/10014?subId1=UUhtgUeUpU2014013&amp;subId2=ehtg&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fcorsair-cx-m-series-cx650m-semi-modular-low-noise-atx-power-supply-black%2F6459240.p\" class=\"norewrite noskim\">CORSAIR &#8211; CX-M Series<\/a> instead of getting a $200 Platinum PSU for $50.<\/p>\n<p>As for storage, both SSDs and HDDs degrade over time, so while they can be an okay purchase if you find a good deal, you&#8217;re still risking losing all your data. That said, if the seller has checked the storage health, and it&#8217;s above ~95%, then it could be an okay purchase.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"do-lots-of-research-before-buying-anything\">\n                        Do Lots of Research Before Buying Anything<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<p>Now that you know what hardware is worth buying, it&#8217;s time to learn how to identify good deals. This step involves a bit of time and effort on your part, but trust me, every minute you spend learning about the current market prices will be well worth the savings in the end. Regardless of what component you&#8217;re planning on buying, you need to learn about the current market prices so that you can determine if the deal is worth the risk.<\/p>\n<p>Start by setting your maximum budget for the component in question. Let&#8217;s say you have $400 to spend on a graphics card. First, learn a bit about the current offerings by NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel, then check how they stack up against the past two generations. For instance, AMD sells the RX 9060 XT 16GB for $349, and NVIDIA has the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB for $379. I&#8217;m skipping over the Intel B580 because it wouldn&#8217;t be a fair comparison given the card&#8217;s $250 MSRP.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"81e8-4df6-8988c76ff04d\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\" :56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_187_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Intel Arc B580 graphics card.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_187_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_187_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\tYou Should Probably Wait Before Buying an Intel B580<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">A good deal with a potentially short expiration date.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s see which older GPUs compare to the AMD RX 9060 XT 16GB and NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 8GB in terms of performance and price. On the AMD side, the RX 7700 XT (<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jawa.gg\/parts\/gpus\/radeon-rx-7700-xt-126d5a\">~$370\u2013$400 used<\/a>) and RX 6800 XT (<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jawa.gg\/parts\/gpus\/radeon-rx-6800-xt-1f4857\">~$360\u2013$390 used<\/a>) are strong contenders. NVIDIA\u2019s closest equivalent is the RTX 3080 (<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jawa.gg\/parts\/gpus\/geforce-rtx-3080-5e50a\">~$380\u2013$420 used<\/a>). I personally picked up a used RX 6800 XT for $330 before the RX 9000 Series launched, and I&#8217;ve been very happy with the value I got.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img square \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" :100%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_856_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Ismar Hrnjicevic \\\/ How-To Geek&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Two Sapphire Pulse RX 6800 XT graphics cards next to each other against a white background.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_856_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_856_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Ismar Hrnjicevic \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Performance can vary quite a bit between these cards due to factors like ray tracing capabilities and upscaling technologies. Also, the new cards currently cost well above MSRP, and used cards cost more than usual, too, due to high demand. These are just rough comparisons, so take them as general estimates.<\/p>\n<p>If you were able to buy the new cards at MSRP, they could actually be a better deal than these used cards. You might sacrifice a bit of raw performance, but you&#8217;re getting a warranty, better long-term driver support, and additional features like AMD FSR 4 and NVIDIA Multi-Frame Generation, which can boost performance significantly.<\/p>\n<p>However, since new cards are currently priced well above MSRP, if you need a GPU right now, a well-priced used card is likely the better choice.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"405f-4dc5-9ee689b85536\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\" :66.666666666667%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_328_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A GPU with a pile of money around it.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_328_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689754_328_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\tHow to Buy a Used Graphics Card Without Getting Scammed<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">A used GPU is a great way to save money on your PC build&#8230; as long as you don&#8217;t get scammed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This situation highlights how quickly market conditions can change\u2014a principle that applies to all types of hardware, not just GPUs. Always do your own research based on current prices and trends. Compare benchmarks for the hardware within your budget, but don\u2019t forget to factor in long-term driver support, reliability, and other features.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"where-to-buy-and-how-to-recognize-scams\">\n                        Where to Buy and How to Recognize Scams<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" :66.666666666667%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpeg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Lucas Gouveia \\\/ How-To Geek&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Illustration of several marketplaces side by side marked as spam, the Facebook logo on the ground, and a security icon.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Lucas Gouveia \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The safest places to buy used computer parts are sites that sell refurbished goods, such as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.microcenter.com\/\">Micro Center<\/a>, Amazon, and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/deeplink?id=2QzUaswX1as&amp;mid=44583&amp;u1=UUhtgUeUpU2014013&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2Fp%2Fpl%3FN%3D100006519%2B4016\" class=\"norewrite noskim\">Newegg<\/a>. While you\u2019re unlikely to find the absolute lowest prices, it\u2019s also much harder to get scammed. Many items are inspected, certified, and often include a warranty and return protection.<\/p>\n<p>That said, if you&#8217;re looking for the best deals, you&#8217;re more likely to find them on general-purpose digital marketplaces like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/\">eBay<\/a> or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/marketplace\/\">Facebook Marketplace<\/a>. These platforms often include local listings, which let you save on shipping and inspect the item in person. Plus, with seller review systems in place, it\u2019s easier to spot trustworthy listings and avoid scams. This is my preferred method for buying most things, especially expensive computer hardware.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"0e46-4479-a387ea56da51\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\" :56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_193_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A Ryzen 5 5600X CPU inside a B550M motherboard with some DDR4 RAM and an NVMe SSD.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_193_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_193_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\tBuilding a Budget PC? 4 Reasons Why Last-Gen Hardware Still Rocks<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Most of the performance for way less of the cost.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The third option is specialized used computer hardware platforms like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jawa.gg\/\">Jawa<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/computers\">Swappa<\/a>, and even subreddits like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/hardwareswap\/\">HardwareSwap<\/a>. These sites fall somewhere between the previous two options\u2014potentially better prices than retailers, but with fewer protections and deals than digital marketplaces.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of the platform, stick to the more popular listings and sellers to avoid scammers. The old proverb of &#8220;If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is&#8221; definitely holds true here. I\u2019m not saying you should avoid the cheapest options on your site of choice, but be cautious. For example, if someone is selling a used RTX 4070 for $200 while most others list it at $400 or more, there\u2019s a very good chance the card either doesn\u2019t work or doesn\u2019t even exist.<\/p>\n<p>Once you contact the seller, if you find that they\u2019re not answering your questions and are overly eager to sell you the item, be cautious. While there\u2019s always the off chance they just need quick money, scammers often use this tactic to sell broken or stolen parts. They might say something like, &#8220;I have other buyers lined up, so if you don\u2019t order now, someone else will take it!&#8221; Don\u2019t fall for those tricks.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inspect-and-test-the-hardware-in-person-if-possible\">\n                        Inspect and Test the Hardware in Person (If Possible)<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" :56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_256_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Ismar Hrnjicevic \\\/ How-To Geek&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A hand screwing a motherboard into a PC case.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_256_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_256_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Ismar Hrnjicevic \/ How-To Geek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> The most important step of all is to test the hardware in person. While not everyone will agree to these terms, and you might not always find the part you\u2019re looking for locally, that\u2019s okay. If you\u2019re not in a rush, you can simply wait and keep an eye out for a local listing. I\u2019ve bought and sold dozens of computer parts this way, having both had sellers test the hardware for me and tested hardware for my buyers.<\/p>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-warning\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom warning\" id=\"custom_block_35\">\n<div class=\"custom_block-content warning\">\n<p>Always meet in public, well-lit places when buying or selling used computer parts. Bring a friend if you can and trust your instincts\u2014if something feels off, walk away.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The best and safest way to test hardware is to bring your own test rig to a public space with accessible power outlets where you won\u2019t be disturbed, such as a coworking space or library. You could also ask a local tech shop if they can help you test for a small fee.<\/p>\n<p>Once your test rig is set up, first inspect the computer part for physical wear or damage like bent motherboard (or CPU) pins, then run a stress test and benchmark for at least 15 minutes while monitoring GPU and CPU temperatures. Run a few demanding games as well, since these can reveal issues like GPU artifacting or overheating.<\/p>\n<p>Also, don&#8217;t forget that this is your opportunity to ask questions. Don&#8217;t be shy\u2014ask about the part&#8217;s history and if it has any issues that they&#8217;re aware of. If it&#8217;s a GPU, ask if the card was used for mining and if the thermal paste and pads have been replaced.<\/p>\n<p>If your only option is to have the computer part shipped to you, contact the seller and ask them for a quick video showing the computer part in action. Even better, ask them for a quick video call and have them run a stress test and some games with <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.msi.com\/Landing\/afterburner\/graphics-cards\">MSI Afterburner<\/a> or the GPU&#8217;s overlay enabled.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"f7de-44ef-9da09101af4e\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\" :66.666666666667%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_609_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A laptop with some benchmark graphs beside it.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_609_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689755_609_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\tA Crash-course in PC Benchmarking<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">The least you need to know in as little time as possible.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"what-to-do-after-the-purchase\">\n                        What to Do After the Purchase<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve finally brought the purchased computer part home, there are a few things that you should do. If it&#8217;s a dusty GPU or cooler, give it a thorough dusting and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. If it&#8217;s a CPU, clean off the old thermal paste with rubbing alcohol. Next, add it to your PC if you&#8217;ve already bought the other components.<\/p>\n<p>If it&#8217;s a motherboard or CPU, install the latest chipset drivers and consider updating the BIOS. If it&#8217;s a GPU, get the latest drivers. For storage, RAM, and fans, you generally don\u2019t need to install anything, except RGB software if the components have RGB lighting.<\/p>\n<p>Once everything is installed, I usually test the hardware thoroughly with stress tests and games one more time, especially if it\u2019s a graphics card. For example, my friend bought the same graphics card from the same seller as me and only started experiencing problems under load during demanding games. He was able to get a replacement from the seller without issue, but if he hadn\u2019t tested and reported the problem within a few days, the seller might have blamed him and refused the replacement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"cb19-448e-ae9ea8cec414\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \">\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-featured-4-pin-single-size-featured-secondary\" :56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689756_304_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure>\n        <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px)\" data- \/><source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" data- \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A used AMD RX 6800 XT graphics card inside of a PC.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689756_304_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689756_304_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\t7 Things You Should Do After Buying a Used GPU<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Get that old card back into shape.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Buying used computer hardware is one of the best ways to save hundreds of dollars on a new build, but only if you do it carefully. Know which parts are worth buying, avoid listings that seem too good to be true, and always test your hardware before committing. With a bit of patience and some hunting for deals, you can assemble a powerful gaming PC\u2014and don\u2019t be afraid to mix and match new and used parts!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary Key components like CPU, GPU, and RAM are mostly safe to buy used, and they can lead to significant savings. Do some research to figure out what parts you should buy and how much they should cost before pulling the trigger. The best places to buy used hardware include sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, &#8230; <a title=\"How to Buy Used Computer Hardware Without Getting Scammed\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/how-to-buy-used-computer-hardware-without-getting-scammed\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How to Buy Used Computer Hardware Without Getting Scammed\">\u0625\u0642\u0631\u0623 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0632\u064a\u062f<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computer-hardware"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750689760_How-to-Buy-Used-Computer-Hardware-Without-Getting-Scammed.png?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123948\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}