Is it ok to buy a used CPU? - Ask a PC expert
video description
Date: 2022-03-15
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 10
KMAC
LONG POST, BUT ITS ABOUT USED COMPONENTS. HOW CPUS STAY GOOD FOR A LONG TIME, AND WHAT COMPONENTS YOU SHOULD AVOID BUYING USED. THANKS FOR READING IF YOU DO! EITHER WAY: BEST OF LUCK WITH ALL OF YOUR BUILDS, WHETHER YOU BUY ALL NEW PARTS OR GET SOME USED COMPONENTS AS WELL!
So CPUs are the components that will probably last the longest out of anything. The motherboard will die WAYYYY BEFORE the CPU does, as will the power supply. Assuming you don't overclock them and run them at the absolute bleeding edge with the power cranked up, a CPU is more than likely going to last decades.
I had an Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 that I gave to a friend to mess around with: we studied Cybersecurity and got our Associates, so he wanted a desktop to try messing around with, and I had TONS of old parts from old builds. I do a new build around every 5 years, and although I don't get the ABSOLUTE BEST OF THE BEST when I do, I get parts that are good enough that they will last me those 5+ years.
ANYWAY, after we got him a working motherboard, the thing runs fine. That chip came out in 2007, and we put this together for him about 2, maybe 3 years ago? So, at the time, the chip was 12 years old, and ran absolutely fine once we got all the other parts sorted out; the CPU is now FIFTEEN (15) years old, and STILL runs he told me. So, once again: a FIFTEEN
As for an example of the types of builds I do: my most recent build is with a Ryzen 1700 a GTX 1080, all hooked up into an Asrock Taichi x370. At the time, a GTX 1080 was only outclassed by the 1080 Ti, and the Titan series; the motherboard was one of the best, most top of the line boards available at the time, and the 1700, while not as fast per core as the 1800/1800x/1900x, was stlil the highest core count available at the time. The system was about as future proof as it could get while still being within a -reasonable- price range (less than $2500, and I did this build around 5 years ago now (maybe more. This system STILL rocks super hard; I use this CPU every single day running almost 24 hours a day (I don't have a TV or console: I do EVERYTHING with my computer, from watching -TV- and streaming, to playing games, to doing classwork, to running multiple virtual machines to practice computer skills and building practice networks, servers, etc. So! This current PC runs at 18-24 hours a day, every day for the last 5 years, and the CPU is still chugging along fine. Granted, it's running at stock speeds/voltage, but nowadays most chips (at least, Ryzen chips, give you the most performance possible right out of the box, with great -self overclocking- capabilities with their Boost/Turbo/whatever they call it speeding up the cores when it's feasible. There isn't a TON left to be gained from manual overclocking and manual voltage adjustments, save UNDERVOLTING, which has many uses for low power systems that don't need a ton of performance, and would instead prefer to have a lower voltage to reduce heat, increase lifespan, and reduce power draw and electrical costs.
Anyway, this most recent system I built still running without any problems, save the motherboard which gives me issues sometimes (one of the highest end motherboards available at the time, an Asrock Taichi x370, and all I got out of it was a lesson to not buy Asrock boards ever again, and I'll be back to Gigabyte after this system dies)
(15) YEAR OLD CPU RUNNING FINE once we had a working motherboard and power supply.
Again, your motherboard and power supplies will die WAY BEFORE the actual CPU does, so don't fret too much over used CPUs, and, again, as long as the person selling it didn't overclock it to the ABSOLUTE EDGE, the CPU will still be in working shape.
I'm looking to buy either a 3800, 3900, or 3950 to drop-in to replace the 1700 I have, since going from first gen to second/third gen Ryzen is a HUGEEE JUMP in performance, even if you don't go up core count like I'm trying to, and I'm looking ALL OVER for one of these chips used. For some reason, new stock of these chips STILL SELL FOR WHAT THE ORIGINAL MSRP WAS, which makes buying a new one through Neweg/Amazon/etc. just completely out of the question, because if I want to drop $500 on a NEW CPU, I'll drop it on a NEW CPU, so one of the 5xxx series chips. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to spend $500 on one of THESE CHIPS used, although there are DEFINITELY USED CHIPS where $500 would be a -steal- (e. g. certain series used Xeons, Threadrippers, etc. Basically, any expensive server components/HEDT that were once thousands of dollars and are still incredibly useful in a homebuilt server
Anyway, to wrap back around to the original question and topic of the video: CPUs last a LONG TIME. I have had multiple CPUs that lasted easily over a decade, and still have more life left in them. Again: put together a desktop with old parts for a friend, which included a E6420 Core 2 Duo from 2007, and the thing STILL RUNS TODAY, 15 years later. CPUs don't break easily. Don't be too scared to buy a used chip, as long as it's either through a website you're comfortable with, in case the seller tries to rip you off and sell you a broken chip, or, you could also purchase the CPU from a person you're comfortable with (i. e. a friend, a co-worker who also builds CPUs, etc.
DO NOT FEAR USED CPUS!
Used graphics cards are a BIT MORE SKETCHY IMO, especially with mining being so popular. While running a GPU at max everything for extended periods of time won't exactly kill it, as they're designed to do just that, a GPU just simply doesn't last as long because of the increased complexity of the part (so, what I mean by that is a GPU has it's own -board- with it's own heatsink, it's own memory, etc. It's almost like a -mini computer- that's part of your computer, in a sense, so there's a lot more possibility for things to break. And, again, when you factor in that some of these GPUs have been running 24/7/365 at the max they're capable of, it just means you need to be more careful when buying a used GPU.
As for other used parts? RAM is fine, I've bought used RAM several times. RAM is either good, or bad, and it usually doesn't -go bad- later on. Unless you fry it messing with the voltage, if RAM works, it'll work, for a long time, same as a CPU. When RAM is bad, it's almost always (probably >95% of the time) bad right out of the factory, gives you errors right out of the box, and you replace it THEN, since running a system with bad RAM can give you all sorts of headaches, ranging from BSODs to random restarts to buggy systems to any possible problem under the sun (when in doubt about your system doing weird shit and not working well? RAMs the most likely culprit.
Used motherboards? No thank you: again, too many things that can, and will, go bad on those things, from capacitors to solder points to different component slots. One of several components I would NEVER buy used, especially the next one, which are.
Power supplies: Used power supplies? Slap yourself for even thinking this. -NEVER buy a used power supply; never cheap out on a power supply, ever. - Invest that extra $20 in a pwoer supply from a reputable brand that you KNOW will last longer. Pass up on the modular cables to get a better, more reliable, power supply if you have to, because I'd rather have a good power supply that I KNOW isn't going to catch fire, and that I KNOW will be reliable for the duration of my computers life, than get a cheap-o off-brand power supply that I know nothing about, and that uses the cheapest components (like the capacitors) just so I can have nicer cables. Power supplies are one of the most important components in your system, -because everything else relies on them. - A power supply going bad and dying can take other parts with it, especially if its a cheap-o power supply. I have made the mistake on skimping on a power supply, and I will never do so again. Anyone who doesn't take this advice from someone who has experienced it WILL experience it themselves firsthand, and then THEY will have learned the same lesson someone tried to impart upon them. Learning this lesson cost me a GPU that my system relied upon (not a cutting edge new one, but an AMD 7850 that my system, and I, relied on, and I had to use integrated Intel graphics for a year or so until I did my new build; lucky for me, the chip I had, a 3570k, even HAD integrated graphics. If my GPU were to go in this Ryzen build I have now, I'd be boned, because there's no integrated graphics on the chip I have.
Another example of power supply woes: I had a friend do a build about a year and a half ago. I warned them that the power supply they were getting was not a good brand and too cheap for the build they were doing. They said they already bought it, and that's what they were going with. A week later they send me a message: the power supply died in a VERY conspicuous way: according to them, -started smoking- which is how they knew they were in trouble. Rarely do power supplies die in such -violent- fashions: usually they just stop working. But, they CAN die in these ways, and, when they do, they are like to take other components with them. In the case of SMOKING/SPARKING power supplies, they can -start a fire- in some circumstances, which has the potential to not only kill the computer, but burn down a building. Lucky for them, I think it only took either 1 spinning disk hard drive, or 1 stick of RAM with it, but if they were unlucky, it could've actually killed the CPU or even, god forbid, the GPU.
Anyway, that was my LONG POST about used components. Source: been building computers for 15 years, and been posting on PC websites, such as overclock net, for that entire time.
Again: BEST OF LUCK WITH ALL YOUR BUILDS!
reply
LONG POST, BUT ITS ABOUT USED COMPONENTS. HOW CPUS STAY GOOD FOR A LONG TIME, AND WHAT COMPONENTS YOU SHOULD AVOID BUYING USED. THANKS FOR READING IF YOU DO! EITHER WAY: BEST OF LUCK WITH ALL OF YOUR BUILDS, WHETHER YOU BUY ALL NEW PARTS OR GET SOME USED COMPONENTS AS WELL!
So CPUs are the components that will probably last the longest out of anything. The motherboard will die WAYYYY BEFORE the CPU does, as will the power supply. Assuming you don't overclock them and run them at the absolute bleeding edge with the power cranked up, a CPU is more than likely going to last decades.
I had an Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 that I gave to a friend to mess around with: we studied Cybersecurity and got our Associates, so he wanted a desktop to try messing around with, and I had TONS of old parts from old builds. I do a new build around every 5 years, and although I don't get the ABSOLUTE BEST OF THE BEST when I do, I get parts that are good enough that they will last me those 5+ years.
ANYWAY, after we got him a working motherboard, the thing runs fine. That chip came out in 2007, and we put this together for him about 2, maybe 3 years ago? So, at the time, the chip was 12 years old, and ran absolutely fine once we got all the other parts sorted out; the CPU is now FIFTEEN (15) years old, and STILL runs he told me. So, once again: a FIFTEEN
As for an example of the types of builds I do: my most recent build is with a Ryzen 1700 a GTX 1080, all hooked up into an Asrock Taichi x370. At the time, a GTX 1080 was only outclassed by the 1080 Ti, and the Titan series; the motherboard was one of the best, most top of the line boards available at the time, and the 1700, while not as fast per core as the 1800/1800x/1900x, was stlil the highest core count available at the time. The system was about as future proof as it could get while still being within a -reasonable- price range (less than $2500, and I did this build around 5 years ago now (maybe more. This system STILL rocks super hard; I use this CPU every single day running almost 24 hours a day (I don't have a TV or console: I do EVERYTHING with my computer, from watching -TV- and streaming, to playing games, to doing classwork, to running multiple virtual machines to practice computer skills and building practice networks, servers, etc. So! This current PC runs at 18-24 hours a day, every day for the last 5 years, and the CPU is still chugging along fine. Granted, it's running at stock speeds/voltage, but nowadays most chips (at least, Ryzen chips, give you the most performance possible right out of the box, with great -self overclocking- capabilities with their Boost/Turbo/whatever they call it speeding up the cores when it's feasible. There isn't a TON left to be gained from manual overclocking and manual voltage adjustments, save UNDERVOLTING, which has many uses for low power systems that don't need a ton of performance, and would instead prefer to have a lower voltage to reduce heat, increase lifespan, and reduce power draw and electrical costs.
Anyway, this most recent system I built still running without any problems, save the motherboard which gives me issues sometimes (one of the highest end motherboards available at the time, an Asrock Taichi x370, and all I got out of it was a lesson to not buy Asrock boards ever again, and I'll be back to Gigabyte after this system dies)
(15) YEAR OLD CPU RUNNING FINE once we had a working motherboard and power supply.
Again, your motherboard and power supplies will die WAY BEFORE the actual CPU does, so don't fret too much over used CPUs, and, again, as long as the person selling it didn't overclock it to the ABSOLUTE EDGE, the CPU will still be in working shape.
I'm looking to buy either a 3800, 3900, or 3950 to drop-in to replace the 1700 I have, since going from first gen to second/third gen Ryzen is a HUGEEE JUMP in performance, even if you don't go up core count like I'm trying to, and I'm looking ALL OVER for one of these chips used. For some reason, new stock of these chips STILL SELL FOR WHAT THE ORIGINAL MSRP WAS, which makes buying a new one through Neweg/Amazon/etc. just completely out of the question, because if I want to drop $500 on a NEW CPU, I'll drop it on a NEW CPU, so one of the 5xxx series chips. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to spend $500 on one of THESE CHIPS used, although there are DEFINITELY USED CHIPS where $500 would be a -steal- (e. g. certain series used Xeons, Threadrippers, etc. Basically, any expensive server components/HEDT that were once thousands of dollars and are still incredibly useful in a homebuilt server
Anyway, to wrap back around to the original question and topic of the video: CPUs last a LONG TIME. I have had multiple CPUs that lasted easily over a decade, and still have more life left in them. Again: put together a desktop with old parts for a friend, which included a E6420 Core 2 Duo from 2007, and the thing STILL RUNS TODAY, 15 years later. CPUs don't break easily. Don't be too scared to buy a used chip, as long as it's either through a website you're comfortable with, in case the seller tries to rip you off and sell you a broken chip, or, you could also purchase the CPU from a person you're comfortable with (i. e. a friend, a co-worker who also builds CPUs, etc.
DO NOT FEAR USED CPUS!
Used graphics cards are a BIT MORE SKETCHY IMO, especially with mining being so popular. While running a GPU at max everything for extended periods of time won't exactly kill it, as they're designed to do just that, a GPU just simply doesn't last as long because of the increased complexity of the part (so, what I mean by that is a GPU has it's own -board- with it's own heatsink, it's own memory, etc. It's almost like a -mini computer- that's part of your computer, in a sense, so there's a lot more possibility for things to break. And, again, when you factor in that some of these GPUs have been running 24/7/365 at the max they're capable of, it just means you need to be more careful when buying a used GPU.
As for other used parts? RAM is fine, I've bought used RAM several times. RAM is either good, or bad, and it usually doesn't -go bad- later on. Unless you fry it messing with the voltage, if RAM works, it'll work, for a long time, same as a CPU. When RAM is bad, it's almost always (probably >95% of the time) bad right out of the factory, gives you errors right out of the box, and you replace it THEN, since running a system with bad RAM can give you all sorts of headaches, ranging from BSODs to random restarts to buggy systems to any possible problem under the sun (when in doubt about your system doing weird shit and not working well? RAMs the most likely culprit.
Used motherboards? No thank you: again, too many things that can, and will, go bad on those things, from capacitors to solder points to different component slots. One of several components I would NEVER buy used, especially the next one, which are.
Power supplies: Used power supplies? Slap yourself for even thinking this. -NEVER buy a used power supply; never cheap out on a power supply, ever. - Invest that extra $20 in a pwoer supply from a reputable brand that you KNOW will last longer. Pass up on the modular cables to get a better, more reliable, power supply if you have to, because I'd rather have a good power supply that I KNOW isn't going to catch fire, and that I KNOW will be reliable for the duration of my computers life, than get a cheap-o off-brand power supply that I know nothing about, and that uses the cheapest components (like the capacitors) just so I can have nicer cables. Power supplies are one of the most important components in your system, -because everything else relies on them. - A power supply going bad and dying can take other parts with it, especially if its a cheap-o power supply. I have made the mistake on skimping on a power supply, and I will never do so again. Anyone who doesn't take this advice from someone who has experienced it WILL experience it themselves firsthand, and then THEY will have learned the same lesson someone tried to impart upon them. Learning this lesson cost me a GPU that my system relied upon (not a cutting edge new one, but an AMD 7850 that my system, and I, relied on, and I had to use integrated Intel graphics for a year or so until I did my new build; lucky for me, the chip I had, a 3570k, even HAD integrated graphics. If my GPU were to go in this Ryzen build I have now, I'd be boned, because there's no integrated graphics on the chip I have.
Another example of power supply woes: I had a friend do a build about a year and a half ago. I warned them that the power supply they were getting was not a good brand and too cheap for the build they were doing. They said they already bought it, and that's what they were going with. A week later they send me a message: the power supply died in a VERY conspicuous way: according to them, -started smoking- which is how they knew they were in trouble. Rarely do power supplies die in such -violent- fashions: usually they just stop working. But, they CAN die in these ways, and, when they do, they are like to take other components with them. In the case of SMOKING/SPARKING power supplies, they can -start a fire- in some circumstances, which has the potential to not only kill the computer, but burn down a building. Lucky for them, I think it only took either 1 spinning disk hard drive, or 1 stick of RAM with it, but if they were unlucky, it could've actually killed the CPU or even, god forbid, the GPU.
Anyway, that was my LONG POST about used components. Source: been building computers for 15 years, and been posting on PC websites, such as overclock net, for that entire time.
Again: BEST OF LUCK WITH ALL YOUR BUILDS!
reply
Jax
As someone that has bought 99. 9% used parts and items on ebay for the past 10+ years let me tell you, i've never been scammed or even gotten a faulty item, ofcourse faulty items happen and you simply have to open a complaint and ebay are on your side (even if its not broken or faulty because ebay will not check) as I have sold an item that was returned, wasn't faulty, still had to fully refund including postage at my cost and then sold to someone who knew what they where doing and had the GPU working instantly, i think it was just buyer regret more than anything, but that is a seller thing to worry about anyway not for a buyer.
My last 2 PC gaming builds where ALL used parts, minus the motherboards only because motherboards are often comparable price wise everywhere, and the big issue with motherboards is bent pins, if it is used and a seller hasn't checked it is REAL easy to find people clean the motherboard and bend the pins without realising it and if you don't know how to fix them or don't want to, you're returning it.
Things i've bought that where absolutely fine that where used
R9-280x / 1060 / 1070 / two 1080s / 2070 / 3060 / multiple sticks of ram just make sure you buy known brands not cheap chinese non brands / monitors just make sure the person selling it either has sold them before or ask that they package it well / i5-4670k overclocked great to 4. 2 for 5 years until i wanted a new build / ryzen 2700 overclocked to 4. 1 for 3 years (still have it but getting a 5900x soon) / keyboards (hardest part is knowing what you want personally that suits you which means research before hand) / mice / audio equipment
Honestly it isn't that ebay don't have scare stories, but the majority of them are a very small percentage, don't let the idea of 'used' put you off getting upto 30% or more off of an item, just consider warrantys for some stuff, but most the time manufacturer warranties last quite some time and aslong as you have the box and details it can be started in your name when needed alot of the time (samsung can be a pain in the ass though without a receipt lol)
reply
As someone that has bought 99. 9% used parts and items on ebay for the past 10+ years let me tell you, i've never been scammed or even gotten a faulty item, ofcourse faulty items happen and you simply have to open a complaint and ebay are on your side (even if its not broken or faulty because ebay will not check) as I have sold an item that was returned, wasn't faulty, still had to fully refund including postage at my cost and then sold to someone who knew what they where doing and had the GPU working instantly, i think it was just buyer regret more than anything, but that is a seller thing to worry about anyway not for a buyer.
My last 2 PC gaming builds where ALL used parts, minus the motherboards only because motherboards are often comparable price wise everywhere, and the big issue with motherboards is bent pins, if it is used and a seller hasn't checked it is REAL easy to find people clean the motherboard and bend the pins without realising it and if you don't know how to fix them or don't want to, you're returning it.
Things i've bought that where absolutely fine that where used
R9-280x / 1060 / 1070 / two 1080s / 2070 / 3060 / multiple sticks of ram just make sure you buy known brands not cheap chinese non brands / monitors just make sure the person selling it either has sold them before or ask that they package it well / i5-4670k overclocked great to 4. 2 for 5 years until i wanted a new build / ryzen 2700 overclocked to 4. 1 for 3 years (still have it but getting a 5900x soon) / keyboards (hardest part is knowing what you want personally that suits you which means research before hand) / mice / audio equipment
Honestly it isn't that ebay don't have scare stories, but the majority of them are a very small percentage, don't let the idea of 'used' put you off getting upto 30% or more off of an item, just consider warrantys for some stuff, but most the time manufacturer warranties last quite some time and aslong as you have the box and details it can be started in your name when needed alot of the time (samsung can be a pain in the ass though without a receipt lol)
reply
Dean
In recent 3 months I got a matched pair of Xeon L5620's for $5 and they OC to 4gh and proly more and air, A matched pair of X5675's for $48 &they OC to 4. 6GHz on air for good 'old Tylersburg but it's those well built reliable Tylersburg mobos you're gonna pay for to get these core there for good OC. $500 for matched pair of E5-2667v4 Now I'm interested in used high end AMD Workstation options but I'm not as familiar w/ their models yet. Whats the better of the 1st gen Threadripper TRX4?
reply
In recent 3 months I got a matched pair of Xeon L5620's for $5 and they OC to 4gh and proly more and air, A matched pair of X5675's for $48 &they OC to 4. 6GHz on air for good 'old Tylersburg but it's those well built reliable Tylersburg mobos you're gonna pay for to get these core there for good OC. $500 for matched pair of E5-2667v4 Now I'm interested in used high end AMD Workstation options but I'm not as familiar w/ their models yet. Whats the better of the 1st gen Threadripper TRX4?
reply
Orestes
Just curious. I am building my first PC and I ran across an Asus crosshair vi hero for $150. I bought it because it was a good deal as opposed to other motherboards I had seen and also was am4. After I bought it. It looked like new and had everything included the only issue I noticed over it was on one of the mounting screw hole one of the grounds was almost rubbed into the others. I seen that it cost roughly $600 for this motherboard.
reply
Just curious. I am building my first PC and I ran across an Asus crosshair vi hero for $150. I bought it because it was a good deal as opposed to other motherboards I had seen and also was am4. After I bought it. It looked like new and had everything included the only issue I noticed over it was on one of the mounting screw hole one of the grounds was almost rubbed into the others. I seen that it cost roughly $600 for this motherboard.
reply
Derek
CPU has got to be one of the safest parts to buy used. I wouldn't have any hesitation buying a used CPU if there was a decent saving to be made. Possibly the only safer to buy used part would be memory sticks from a brand that offers a lifetime warranty. If they turn out to be dead or defective then you just RMA them and get brand new ones. They pretty much never care whether you are the original purchaser or not.
reply
CPU has got to be one of the safest parts to buy used. I wouldn't have any hesitation buying a used CPU if there was a decent saving to be made. Possibly the only safer to buy used part would be memory sticks from a brand that offers a lifetime warranty. If they turn out to be dead or defective then you just RMA them and get brand new ones. They pretty much never care whether you are the original purchaser or not.
reply
Andrew20
I am thinking of buying a used ryzen 3 3200g from amazon warehouse just so that I can get it before next month
The less costy deal for that same cpu says it will arrive between 25 of september and 22 of october
WITH PRIME.
I am not sure of buying it but jeez (generally between) 30-60 days is too much for my patience. what should i do?
reply
I am thinking of buying a used ryzen 3 3200g from amazon warehouse just so that I can get it before next month
The less costy deal for that same cpu says it will arrive between 25 of september and 22 of october
WITH PRIME.
I am not sure of buying it but jeez (generally between) 30-60 days is too much for my patience. what should i do?
reply
Mr11ESSE111
80% of peoples want to sale used old shitty cpu for bigger price then it is new much better one in stores! peoples think that if cpu-s are older that they are better like old wine or they are just assholes who want to sold shit for golden price
reply
80% of peoples want to sale used old shitty cpu for bigger price then it is new much better one in stores! peoples think that if cpu-s are older that they are better like old wine or they are just assholes who want to sold shit for golden price
reply
Carp
On Craig-s list I got an in box, never used, 6th month old, Noctua NH-DH 15 for $65 with a copy of the amazon invoice so I have warranty coverage. I also got a sapphire nitro RX580 8 gb for $100 from another guy on Craig-s list.
reply
On Craig-s list I got an in box, never used, 6th month old, Noctua NH-DH 15 for $65 with a copy of the amazon invoice so I have warranty coverage. I also got a sapphire nitro RX580 8 gb for $100 from another guy on Craig-s list.
reply
frank
i want to buy used i5 4670K processor but i am afraid that it might have been overclocked before because of the K at the end obviously, what should i do? is it worth the risk i am getting it quite cheap actually about 70$
reply
i want to buy used i5 4670K processor but i am afraid that it might have been overclocked before because of the K at the end obviously, what should i do? is it worth the risk i am getting it quite cheap actually about 70$
reply
Honesty
Thinking about getting a used Ryzen 5 3600. There's some really, really good deals on eBay for them at the moment. Found a lightly used one for 111 euros which is literally half the retail price where I live.
reply
Thinking about getting a used Ryzen 5 3600. There's some really, really good deals on eBay for them at the moment. Found a lightly used one for 111 euros which is literally half the retail price where I live.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
