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Up to date: Dec 20, 2022 5:00 pm
Desk of Contents
Desk of Contents
Shopping for used graphics playing cards will be tough enterprise. In fact you need your new (to you) GPU to be in full working situation, or as near that as doable. GPU shortages could also be much less of an issue than they’ve been lately, however that doesn’t imply that we don’t acknowledge that some savvy buyers shall be on the lookout for used graphics playing cards on a budget.
This can be a detailed information for getting used GPUs, so we’re going to sort out the frequent points you may face with a used GPU buy, the place to purchase them, what costs and ranges of efficiency to anticipate, and extra.
READ NOW: Finest GPU offers proper now
Whether or not it’s an older Nvidia RTX 20-series, and even one thing far more latest like an RX 6700 XT or RTX 3060 for instance, you’ll need to hold a eager eye out for any issues or tough dealing with by the earlier proprietor. Right here is all it’s essential learn about used GPUs.
By the tip of this text, you’re going to be greater than prepared to begin shopping for used GPUs. For those who’re already accustomed to the lingo, be at liberty to skip the following part – in any other case, let’s carry you as much as par.
The Graphics Card Lingo
Listed here are frequent phrases used all through this text that it is best to know earlier than persevering with.
GPU – Whereas that is typically used as an alternate time period for “graphics card”, there are some graphics playing cards on the market that truly have a number of GPUs inside them, such because the GTX 690 and Radeon HD 7990. Assume the previous utilization on this article until acknowledged in any other case.VRAM – That is reminiscence used completely by your GPU, which is commonly a lot sooner than DDR3/DDR4 RAM. VRAM often impacts efficiency at greater show resolutions and with higher-resolution textures.Mining – This refers to cryptocurrency mining. If a GPU has been used for mining by an irresponsible reseller, it might have issues with overheating. You sometimes need to keep away from these simply to be protected, however you too can use this as leverage whereas bargaining.Overclocking – Overclocking refers back to the follow of pushing your GPU’s efficiency to greater tiers, although it might come at the price of worse thermal efficiency or instability. Some playing cards you purchase could also be overclocked, although manufacturing facility overclocks often don’t endure the identical issues related to doing it your self.PCB – Printed Circuit Board. That is typically seen on the “again” of your GPU, although some GPUs might include backplates to guard it.
Widespread Used Graphics Playing cards Issues And How To Repair Them
These issues are often fairly fixable however might require some further work in your half. For those who purchase a used GPU, particularly from an unbiased reseller, these are the most definitely points you’ll face.
Downside: Mud Buildup
That is the most typical of all of them: an previous GPU that merely has numerous mud inside it. This often received’t trigger extreme overheating, however it might probably increase your temps noticeably. Most frequently, this shall be discovered within the heatsink behind the followers and will be troublesome to do away with throughout routine PC upkeep.
Resolution: Compressed Air
Happily, taking good care of it’s fairly simple. You’ll need to take the GPU out of your system fully and take a can of compressed air to it, eradicating any pockets of mud you’ll find. For those who’re blowing compressed air wherever close to the followers, you’ll need to maintain the followers to keep away from damaging their bearings.
Downside: Extreme Overheating
If taking compressed air to your card hasn’t labored, you might be coping with a deeper cooling difficulty. Typically, mud shall be in locations that you just can’t attain along with your compressed air, your cooler will not be mounted onto your graphics card securely, or your thermal compound could also be lengthy expired. In any of those instances…
Resolution: Exchange Thermal Compound
You’ll need to take away the fan and cooler out of your GPU totally so you’ll be able to extra completely clear them of mud and apply the brand new thermal compound to the GPU die. Directions for this may fluctuate relying on the precise make and mannequin of your card, however if you happen to’re comfy with a screwdriver and have a protected, static-free workspace, you shouldn’t want to fret an excessive amount of.
For those who’ve ever eliminated your CPU cooler and added new thermal paste, you’re just about coping with the identical idea right here.
Want thermal paste? Click on right here!
Downside: “GPU Sag”
If a graphics card has been in use for a very long time, you might discover it start to sag. This phenomenon is known as “GPU sag”, and if you happen to’re shopping for an older used GPU, you’re pretty more likely to encounter it. Happily, GPU sag is innocent to your {hardware}, as graphics playing cards are literally constructed with some flex to account for it. (In any other case, they’d merely snap in half.)
For those who actually need to repair it, although…
Resolution: Add GPU Brace
You’ll have to discover a mounting arm or brace to repair the issue. You may both jerry-rig this your self or use the answer we’ve linked beneath.
Need a GPU brace? Click on right here!
Extreme Issues With Used Graphics Playing cards
These issues are far more extreme, and certain fully unfixable. The one “resolution” you’ve got listed below are returns and refunds. These are comparatively uncommon, although, and if you happen to observe the perfect practices you shouldn’t often encounter them.
Downside: Broken Card/PCB
By “harm”, we imply harm. Mud buildup and expired thermal paste will negatively impression your card, however don’t essentially represent harm. In case your card is broken, the most definitely a part of it to be broken is the PCB, often with small elements of it being scraped or blasted off.
A standard explanation for that is utilizing an air compressor as an alternative of compressed air to scrub a GPU. Whereas a compressor works, if it’s too robust it might probably and can blast off elements of the PCB.
Signs of broken graphics playing cards embody:
Frequent instability and crashing in gamesBlue Screens of DeathFaulty temperature readings
Be sure that your graphics card isn’t overclocked. For those who’re nonetheless encountering any of those issues, particularly the primary two, likelihood is your GPU is broken and must be returned.
Whereas used GPUs don’t often include a guaranty, some producers could also be keen to restore or exchange your card for an inexpensive value. It will fluctuate on a case-by-case foundation, although, and often, you’ll be higher off simply getting your a reimbursement.
Downside: Pretend GPUs
Pretend GPUs are notably malicious as a result of solely essentially the most attentive clients will be capable of catch the ruse. For those who don’t know what sort of efficiency to anticipate out of a graphics card you’re shopping for, you might not ever discover out that the “GTX 1060” you’re utilizing is definitely a rebranded GTX 960, for example.
To detect this drawback, your greatest guess is to make use of GPU-Z, which can take superior readings out of your graphics card and provide you with a warning if you happen to’re utilizing a pretend. For those who discover out you’ve been offered a pretend GPU, report the issue to eBay and attempt to get your a reimbursement. For those who bought it instantly, nonetheless… you might be out of luck.
Used Graphics Playing cards: How To Purchase
The issues above might sound scary, however with the best practices, they are often simply prevented! Listed here are the highest three guidelines of shopping for used GPUs.
1. Solely Purchase From Trusted Sellers
There are a variety of viable locations to seek for used GPUs. Much like many merchandise, you’ll be able to look on eBay or the Fb Market, however be sure to’re shopping for from a trusted vendor. Irrespective of how attractive a value may look, if a vendor has a score any decrease than ~95% p.c, you in all probability shouldn’t purchase one thing from them.
Whereas there are honest-hearted sellers on the market simply getting began, it’s not on you to guess a whole lot of {dollars} on them. Be sensible and keep on with sellers who’ve constantly excessive rankings.
2. Completely Analysis Pricing
This will likely go with out saying, however don’t seize the primary nice deal you see! Maintain trying round for various choices, and likewise examine to ensure that the “nice deal” you’ve noticed is definitely an incredible deal. We’re going to present present examples of GPUs to purchase and anticipated value ranges afterward within the article, which ought to function an incredible place to begin.
3. By no means Purchase MSRP or Full Value
This is applicable to something used, actually. For those who’re going to pay full value for one thing, simply purchase it new from Amazon. If it’s used and it’s wherever close to MSRP, don’t trouble! Both hold on the lookout for a greater deal or discover a completely different card with the same efficiency degree. The GPU scarcity ended a very long time in the past, so there’s no purpose to purchase used playing cards at MSRP anymore.
Used Graphics Playing cards: What To Purchase
Lastly, let’s get to the graphics playing cards that you ought to be shopping for and the anticipated value vary you’ll be shopping for them in! For those who’re unfamiliar with the trendy graphics card panorama, then take a look at our GPU hierarchy or greatest graphics card information.
Funds Vary (As much as $130)
Within the price range vary, you ought to be on the lookout for GPUs that carry out higher than or on par with the GTX 1050/1050 Ti, if not these actual playing cards.
These playing cards will often have 2GB or much less of VRAM, which is simply tremendous for 1080p and 720p gaming, although you might want to show down a number of texture-related element settings.
Playing cards that you could be discover on this vary embody:
GTX 760GTX 770 (whole lot)GTX 960GTX 970 (nice deal)RX 560RX 470/570 (superb deal)
Midrange ($200 to $350)
On this vary, you’ll discover essentially the most playing cards, essentially the most competitors, and essentially the most offers. Nearer to $200, you ought to be on the lookout for playing cards that carry out on par with the GTX 1060 6GB. Nearer to $300, you ought to be on the lookout for playing cards that carry out on par with the GTX 1070.
On this efficiency vary, you’ll discover playing cards which might be better-suited for tackling 1440p and VR gaming. Anyplace from 4GB to 8GB of VRAM is frequent right here, with the upper that means the higher for VR/1440p.
Low-Mid (~$200)
RX 480RX 580 (superb deal)GTX 970GTX 780 Ti (superb deal)
GTX 980/980 Ti (superb deal)
Excessive-Mid (~$300)
RX Vega 56 (superb deal)RX Vega 64 (superb deal)GTX 1070 (superb deal)GTX 1070 Ti (greatest deal, however unlikely)
Excessive Finish (As much as $450)
Reality be advised, you in all probability aren’t going to seek out a lot in the way in which of bargains right here. Since all of the GPUs that carry out on this value vary are nonetheless current-gen, their used costs are sometimes very lackluster, usually lower than $50 off from MSRP, which actually isn’t price dropping your guarantee over.
We’ll nonetheless go forward and checklist GPUs right here, however we’re additionally going to checklist their MSRPs so you’ll be able to decide for your self whether or not or not the deal you’ve discovered is price it. You shouldn’t be spending greater than $450 on any of those used, although.
The final efficiency degree it is best to anticipate on this value vary is fairly excessive, although. 1440p maxed and 4K excessive begin to grow to be doable right here.
GTX 1080 – $549GTX 1080 Ti – $699GTX 2070 – $599
Price noting is that with the discharge of the RTX GPUs, GTX 1080s and 1080 Tis are beginning to see extra noticeable reductions, even when being offered new. For those who really need high-end efficiency and are keen to spend so much further for it, hold an eye fixed out for offers on these playing cards.
Parting Phrases
We expect it’s honest to say, fairly definitively, that that is the perfect used GPU shopping for information that you simply’re going to seek out on the market since shopping for used GPUs nonetheless appear to be flying below the radar considerably. We additionally monitor our remark part fairly intently, so if you happen to occur to note any points or simply want some assist with shopping for a used graphics card, be at liberty to go away a remark and we’ll do our greatest that can assist you out!
Now that you realize what’s on the market, what do you’ve got your eyes on? Personally, we’re eyeing offers on the RX 580! It’s already the perfect price-performance card from a brand new perspective, and amongst used GPUs that appears to solely be exemplified.
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