What is your best secondhand PC part bargain?

[Ryan98]

With new hardware prices climbing, the secondhand market has become a goldmine for PC builders. Graphics cards from crypto mining farms, ex office PCs, used monitors and old server parts can all be picked up for a fraction of their original price. Some bargains are incredible, while others turn out to be disappointments. Knowing what to look for makes all the difference

Popular secondhand finds include ex business desktops, which make great budget PCs or home servers. Graphics cards from a generation or two ago often offer excellent value, especially for 1080p gaming. Monitors, keyboards and power supplies from reputable brands can last for many years. Some people even pick up workstation parts from data centre clear outs

My best bargain was a high end mechanical keyboard bought for twenty pounds at a car boot sale. It was filthy, but after an evening of cleaning, it worked perfectly. The same model costs well over a hundred pounds new

There are risks, of course. Used parts may come without warranty, and some have been worked hard. It is worth testing items before buying where possible, and being cautious with anything that sounds too good to be true

What is your best secondhand PC part bargain? And have you had any secondhand disasters?

[Nebula Diane]

Used CPU purchase went wrong for me. It turned out to have a bent pin

Lesson learned about checking photos carefully. Sellers sometimes hide damage in photos

[Niamh]

Ex office Dell for forty pounds. Added a cheap graphics card and it became my son's first gaming PC. He loves it. Business machines are built to last