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In the present day we’re looking at used vs. new GPU costs, and whether or not shopping for a used graphics card is price your whereas.However earlier than we dive in, some context: Graphics Playing cards are Costly in 2023 Common readers of this weblog will know that, arguably, PC components are headed within the improper course.For example that time, let’s return in time. With the assistance of the great Web Archive, we will see that as not too long ago as 2017 there have been very reasonably priced GPUs on the Logical Increments charts, beginning as little as $50, and showing within the “Minimal” tier.From about 2018 on to the current day, the most affordable standalone GPU has appeared on the charts at a comparatively whopping $90-$100, within the “Entry” tier, a complete tier above “Minimal” for efficiency.GPU costs are greater in each single tier if evaluating 2018’s chart to right this moment’s. (Excluding 2018’s “Extremist” and “Monstrous” tiers on the highest finish of the chart, with their ludicrous, dual-wielded GTX 1080s and 1080 Tis. We’ve single playing cards robust sufficient for these quite absurd value tiers now.)Probably the most excessive comparability is within the “Very good” tier; when contrasting 2018’s chart to right this moment’s, GPU costs for a balanced “Very good” gaming construct have absolutely doubled. Can Used GPU Costs Assist Save the Day? It’s a compelling query. You possibly can’t get far in discussing right this moment’s new GPU releases (and their excessive launch costs!) with out somebody suggesting you skip right this moment’s latest-generation GPUs solely, and purchase a earlier technology or used graphics card as an alternative.Certainly, the earlier technology of playing cards seem prominently on Logical Increments’ charts. They’re typically a fantastic worth right this moment.However what about used playing cards? Sadly, Logical Increments’ official chart doesn’t contemplate any used PC components. Comprehensible, however nonetheless a bummer for bargain-hunters.Don’t inform the Logical Increments workers, however hypothetically, if I had made a ‘used GPU chart’ final month, once more simply hypothetically talking…It might look one thing like this: A Chart for Used GPUs (as of mid-October, 2023) Notes on These PricesThe new costs on this chart replicate the most recent new GPU costs I noticed on the likes of Amazon and Newegg on October sixteenth, 2023.The used costs on this chart are the most effective costs I noticed on eBay on October sixteenth, 2023.Worth ranges for each new and used GPUs are the bottom costs I may discover, whereas nonetheless having the ability to select between at the very least two sellers or variants for a similar GPU. (With one exception, see bullet level slightly below).* As an exception to the above bullet level, the mannequin of latest RX 550 4GB linked to on Logical Increments’ official chart was out-of-stock on the time I researched costs for this piece, so I listed the RX 570 8GB as a brand new various. It’s out there at time of writing at an analogous value as proven for the RX 550 on the official chart, however performs higher. There’s, at time of writing, just one vendor for this card promoting it new at this value (on Newegg), nevertheless.** The RTX 4060 is talked about as an extra new value possibility at Very Good tier, because it has practically an identical efficiency to the RX 7600 and Arc A770, and an identical value to the Arc A770 already included in that tier of the official chart.Caveat (necessary!): Used GPU costs change typically. This “chart” will in all probability not be exactly correct to what you see in case you go searching for used GPUs subsequent week, and even right this moment. If making an attempt to make use of this as a direct shopping for information, your mileage might differ rather a lot.That is supposed extra as a “for science” common have a look at the relative costs of used vs new GPUs. We’re making an attempt to reply the query: “how a lot worth is there in shopping for a used GPU in late 2023?”There are two fundamental methods to have a look at the chart above, evaluating used vs. new costs: Two Prompt Makes use of For This Chart Similar value, higher efficiency:Begin by figuring out a value tier (or a selected GPU) from the official chart (the column on the left), and examine the GPUs within the “Used Various” column on the appropriate, from that very same tier. This could offer you a tough thought of what GPUs one can purchase used for a similar cash because the official (new costs) Logical Increments chart.Similar efficiency, higher value:Begin by figuring out a tier or GPU from the official (new costs) chart, and look one tier above (one tier cheaper) within the “Used Various” column. This could offer you an thought of what pricing I noticed for GPUs with comparable efficiency (in some instances the exact same GPU mannequin) however cheaper given the used low cost.Remember the fact that some tiers on this chart are fairly giant, and span a variety of efficiency and value. So, to be secure, examine the most affordable “new” possibility in opposition to the costliest “Used Various” within the cheaper tier above it.Key Takeaways: “Is Shopping for a Used Graphics Card Value It?” So, did we handle to beat the brand new playing cards for worth? I’d say “principally sure.” The distinction is most pronounced on the lowest-performance finish of the chart, however there’s a bit of additional worth available at most value factors when shopping for used.To reply that query for your self, although, it is best to contemplate the next key takeaways and extra items of data:Not All Used GPUs Are Good DealsGPUs from inside the identical technology, particularly with comparable names, are inclined to clump along with a really comparable used value, regardless of giant efficiency variations in some instances. GPUs with higher identify recognition are inclined to maintain greater costs within the used market in comparison with extra obscure ones. And the most-recent technology of GPUs are hardly ever very discounted on used purchasing websites, to the purpose the place you’d in all probability simply purchase these fashions new if contemplating them. I tried to incorporate solely the GPUs with good used worth within the “Used GPU Various” column of my chart. benchmarks that instantly examine two or extra GPUs you’re contemplating, throughout a number of video games, stays one of the simplest ways to verify which ones carry out properly and which of them aren’t price the price.Low-Finish GPU Tiers See Extra Profit From Shopping for UsedLet’s check out the Modest tier. In splendid circumstances with a powerful system (utilizing a superb CPU and quick RAM, and so forth), an Nvidia RTX 2060 ought to be roughly twice as quick as an RX 6400. (And the pricing: an RTX 2060 might be purchased used for about the identical (or barely much less) cash as a brand new RX 6400). That’s double the efficiency for a similar cash.What about Entry tier? Effectively, in case you look one tier up (that’s one tier cheaper) within the “Used Alternate options” column, that’s the identical RX 570, however for half the worth, albeit with half the VRAM (4 GB). (The 8 GB VRAM model of the RX 570 principally permits elevated texture high quality, or dialing up different VRAM-heavy settings like lighting/shadows barely at some value to framerate, however with out the unhealthy stutters from completely operating out of VRAM. The RX 570 isn’t the speediest, so rising these settings too excessive gained’t be well worth the hit to framerate to many avid gamers. Given the costs, each variations are a superb worth for my part.)“Okay, positive, the low finish has good worth used,” I hear you say, “however what in regards to the greater finish?”Financial savings within the Mid-Tier, however Few True Improve Choices on the Similar PriceLooking on the Truthful / Good / Very Good (Half I) mixed tier, it can save you about $60-$70 shopping for an RX 6600 or RX 6600 XT used as an alternative of latest, a roughly 30% financial savings.A used RTX 2070 gives comparable efficiency to an RX 6600 or Arc A580 at a slight low cost. A used RTX 2080 can be considerably sooner than an RX 6600 or RX 6600 XT at a really comparable value.Greater-Finish Used GPUs Additionally Supply Financial savings however Few Improve OptionsLooking at Very good tier, it can save you about $80 on both a 3060 Ti or a 6700 XT by shopping for used as an alternative of latest, a 25% low cost. Not too unhealthy. Or one can improve to a used RTX 2080 Ti or RTX 3070 for a modest ~10% to ~14% enhance in efficiency respectively, over the 3060 Ti, whereas nonetheless saving a bit of cash. (The RTX 2080 Ti has 11 GB of VRAM in comparison with the RTX 3070’s 8GB VRAM, for customers involved about that.)In my “Very good Tier (Half II)”, the brand new RX 7700 XT isn’t an particularly robust worth — taking a look at used alternate options, as soon as can improve to a used RX 6800 XT for at the very least a ten% enchancment in efficiency whereas saving $20-30. Or to a used RTX 3080 at comparable efficiency and barely extra financial savings ($40-$50), albeit with much less VRAM. Or a “sidegrade” from a brand new RX 7700XT to a used RX 6800 with comparable efficiency (and extra VRAM), at a roughly 17% value financial savings.The Used GPU Market Will get Bizarre Previous $500I wasn’t positive if half the listings I noticed on this value vary have been actual, as there have been some suspiciously low costs from new eBay customers with no suggestions/scores.Additionally price noting: used costs for a lot of current-generation playing cards at this value level are the identical or greater than new! You might have higher luck than I did, however I wouldn’t personally spend a lot over $500 on a used GPU, given what I noticed. Some Sketchy Issues About Shopping for Used I’ve seen some sketchy issues on eBay whereas researching this text. Listings for simply the field the GPU got here in, for a whole bunch of {dollars}. Listings for simply the heatsink or simply the cooler shroud, not the precise GPU itself. Listings for simply substitute followers for a given GPU. Listings with damaged followers or burn marks. Offers that look too good to be true (and a few are – I personally tried to purchase a GPU for a value so nice it appeared prefer it may need been a typo, however the vendor canceled the sale. I used to be capable of get a unique GPU for a extra sensible value a couple of days later.)Suggestions for Shopping for on eBayBuying Format: If you happen to’re not comfy with auctions, and like to pay a pre-set value, filter “Shopping for Format” to point out solely “Purchase it Now” listings. There are additionally “Accepts Provides” listings, for many who wish to haggle. (Bear in mind to be good!)Situation: There are a lot of damaged or “for components solely” listings. Filter the “Situation” to exclude “For components or not working” listings.Worth: There are a shocking variety of listings for “GPU equipment”, corresponding to heatsinks, followers, and water blocks. Filter most of those out by setting a minimal value of $100, if the GPU you’re trying to find prices over $100. You possibly can skim the primary a number of listings you see for a low value that appears interesting, and set the utmost value filter for about $20 or $30 greater than that to see what choices there are.Learn The Itemizing Totally Earlier than You Purchase: Usually the title and picture of the itemizing will appear completely regular, however the description mentions that one of many followers is useless, there’s important beauty injury, or the itemizing is definitely for a damaged GPU “for components solely” (regardless of any makes an attempt you might make at filtering these out). And once more, some listings are simply the field, or simply the heatsink, or a GPU that can ship within the field of a unique mannequin solely, or an inventory that mentions one other mannequin in passing (which coincidentally makes it present up in searches for that different GPU). Make doubly positive you’re paying for what you propose to, earlier than making the acquisition.You must typically be protected if the merchandise you obtain doesn’t match the outline. Test eBay’s insurance policies about this for the complete particulars. However, as you seemingly count on, I can’t personally supply any ensures to you about how the method will go.Lastly, there are in fact another elements round shopping for used PC components. You get a guaranty when shopping for new, which you normally don’t when shopping for used (although some refurbished models do include restricted guarantee intervals). It’s a must to do a bit extra analysis to know what you’re in search of and what’s an honest value. It’s a must to filter out damaged GPUs and irrelevant listings, and it’s important to learn the itemizing completely to be clear what you’re getting. It’s a must to be comfy with not really figuring out the historical past of the part, and due to this fact not having the ability to confidently assess the longevity or inner situation of the half. And it’s important to belief the vendor considerably.However in case you’re not deterred by any of that, then for sheer price-to-performance alone, used GPUs can assist stretch your greenback a bit, for positive.
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