New vs. Craigslist prices

Hello,

I am looking to acquire a more modern computer, as my current machine dates all the way back to 2006.
I find myself torn between purchasing a brand-new system or searching through Craigslist.

If I were more tech-savvy, I would be able to perform my own risk versus savings comparisons when considering a used purchase from Craigslist. However, I lack that expertise; all those technical specifications and component names feel like complete gibberish to me.

I already know what I don't need: a monitor, speakers, a mouse, or a keyboard...
I do know what I will require:
Having 8GB of RAM wouldn't hurt.
An SSD of 120/160 GB is an absolute necessity.
An HDD of at least 500GB, though I notice that 1TB isn't significantly more expensive...

But once we reach the topics of the power supply, cooling, graphics cards, and processors... those are just empty numbers to me that I simply cannot decipher.
Processor generations and graphics card tiers?? I have zero experience and no intuition regarding whether a newer generation actually offers good value for the money. I would simply like to stay within the "best-buy" category.

I won't be taxing the computer daily with heavy software, but if I occasionally venture into 3D modeling or video editing, I simply want the experience to be as smooth as possible. I don't wish to spend a fortune for that purpose, but as long as the performance gains justify the rising costs... I am certainly interested! Finding that optimized sweet spot where price meets performance... only someone knowledgeable can tell me where that lies.

It would also be wonderful if someone who keeps an eye on prices on Craigslist could suggest how much one might save by opting for these best-buy configurations via classified ads. If I go the used route, I would prefer a machine that is roughly a year old so that the warranty might still be valid...

Thank you for any suggestions you might have!

To get things moving, what kind of budget are we looking at—do you have a specific number in mind? It’s honestly a bit silly to start throwing suggestions your way if they end up being way over your limit, or if you actually have more room to play with.

I am considering a budget in the $3,000 to $5,000 range... though I would ideally prefer to land somewhere near $4,000.

While I am willing to let the price climb from $4,000 toward $5,000, I simply want to understand exactly what extra value those additional $333 dollars provide. It feels unwise to inflate the budget if I cannot clearly articulate how those specific components will actually improve my daily workflow 🙂

For context, my work involves heavy computer use, specifically keeping numerous browser windows open with a high volume of tabs... alongside using a text editor that frequently performs deep searches through massive directory structures.
On top of that, I run Photoshop with quite a few layers...
...and I really need that part of the experience to be seamless. However, seeing as my current machine from 2006, running on an $1000, manages to handle these tasks reasonably well, I don't imagine a truly high-end build needs to be astronomical in price just to stay stable. Therefore, increasing the cost beyond my core requirements feels like a luxury, and I would only want to indulge in that luxury if I can justify it with a clear understanding of the benefits...

I should also mention that when I bought my last computer, the advice I received was never to skimp on the motherboard. The idea was to invest upfront so that once certain parts become outdated, I could simply swap them out for upgrades...

Now, looking back after nearly ten years, I’m starting to realize that logic doesn't quite apply to my situation. I am likely looking at keeping this next build for the next decade, and I am certainly not the type of enthusiast who spends all night fine-tuning hardware settings. While I definitely don't want the motherboard to be a bottleneck, I also have no intention of overspending on high-end features just to prepare for future tuning sessions that I probably won't even bother with...

David Gomez6 said:I'm looking at a $300-$500 range... ideally I want to land around $400.

I can handle the price climbing from $400 up to $500, but I need to know exactly what extra value I'm getting for that $333 extra cash. It feels pointless to inflate the budget if I can't explain how those components actually improve my daily workflow. 🙂

My work involves heavy multitasking—dozens of browser tabs open constantly, plus a text editor running deep searches through massive folder structures.
Throw in some Photoshop with heavy layering...
...I just need that part of the experience to be seamless. Honestly, considering my rig from 2006 has been pulling its weight since $1000, I don't think a decent machine needs to cost a fortune to handle this load. Pushing the price beyond my core requirements feels like buying luxury, and if I'm going to splurge, I want to justify it with actual performance gains.

Since this is your livelihood, stay away from used parts.
1 x ASUS A88XM-A, FM2+, Intel Core i7 (Bolton D4), DDR3, 4 slots
1 x Processor AMD Kaveri A8-Series X4 7600 (3.8GHz,4MB,65W,FM2+) box
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1866MHz, CL10, Kingston Fury, HX318C10F
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB Kingston Fury, 2.5", SATA 3 6G
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x DVD burner LG GH24NS, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R ,8x DL , 40x CD-R
1 x Zalman T5 mini tower case. 170(W) x 427(H) x 348(D)mm.
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 ,heatsink, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x Power supply FORTRON 400W, HEXA Plus 400, 12cm fan

$1219

The motherboard has 4 RAM slots (you're using 2) with 1866 MHz memory. Since you're on an APU platform—where the CPU and graphics are on one chip—your graphics performance depends entirely on your system RAM speed because there's no dedicated VRAM.
The rest is basically a decent value play.

When you're hunting through the used market, you have to be lightning-fast. If you spot a genuine steal, you need to grab it immediately because those deals vanish in a heartbeat. Most of the stuff just sitting there gathering dust on Craigslist is frankly laughable—in 90% of cases, the prices are ridiculous, sometimes even higher than what you'd pay at a retail store. 🤣Watch out for scams—you know the ones, when an offer looks way too good to be true. If you stay sharp, you can pull together a complete build whenever you're ready. Honestly, I think checking out the marketplaces on various forums is actually a better move than using Craigslist.

Regarding Craigslist, I’ve been scouring the listings for graphics cards lately. There is really only one standout deal worth mentioning—a GTX 560Ti for... $150 It’s probably a scam—if it were legit, it would have been snapped up ages ago—or maybe the guy just forgot to take the listing down. You might stumble upon a couple of decent deals here and there, but that's about it. Nothing special.

If you're planning on tackling any major AAA titles, I’d suggest setting aside at least $400. $167Even up to 5. $0.00 You can find a decent Best Buy deal featuring an Intel Core i7 paired with an R9 270 or 280.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Since you rely on this computer for your livelihood, I wouldn't recommend opting for used components...
1 x ASUS A88XM-A, FM2+, Intel Core i7 (Bolton D4), DDR3, 4 DIMM slots
1 x Intel Core i7 Kaveri A8-Series X4 7600 (3.8GHz, 4MB, 65W, FM2+) box
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1866MHz, CL10, Kingston Fury, HX318C10F
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB Kingston Fury, 2.5", SATA 3 6G
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x LG GH24NS DVD burner, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R, 8x DL, 40x CD-R
1 x Zalman T5 mini tower case. 170(W) x 427(H) x 348(D)mm.
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2, cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm, 92mm
1 x Tron 400W Power Supply, HEXA Plus 400, 12cm fan

$1219

The motherboard features 4 RAM slots (of which I am using 2) paired with 1866 MHz memory. Since this is an APU-based platform—meaning the processor and graphics are integrated into the same chip—the graphics performance is directly tied to the system RAM speed, as there is no dedicated video memory...
As for the rest, it’s essentially a decent value pick...

Thanks for the suggestion! However, I was wondering if having the processor and graphics integrated into a single chip is considered somewhat unreliable?
If I were willing to budget a little extra, would it be worth investing in a dedicated graphics card?

I suppose that means for roughly $267 I'm getting both the CPU and GPU? Buying those components separately is quite a bit more expensive... so I'm starting to worry that this might be the main bottleneck of the build... or am I mistaken??

If I wanted to increase my budget to about $1500 to upgrade the CPU and GPU, along with the necessary power supply and cooling... what would a balanced configuration look like then?...

Messy 🤣 Of course not; that’s APU technology. It's a great value for casual users since both the processor and the integrated graphics are decent. If you want, you can play some light games on it, and if you ever feel like upgrading, you can just plug in a dedicated graphics card later. It's practical.
Regarding a build around OKO $4,500, it would look something like this:

1 x Intel Core i7 3.5GHz,14MB,95W,AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingmax, 1600MHz, non-ECC, CL9.0, FLGG
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB Kingston Fury, 2.5", SATA 3 6G
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 ,hladnjak, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x Napajanje FORTRON 400W, HEXA Plus 400, 12cm ventilator
1 x XFX NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260X 1075M Boost 1GB DDR5 Displ
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard

$1571 adm.hr

If you were willing to spend more money, you should definitely put it toward a stronger processor—in this case, the Intel Core i7. It's generally the best buy in this price range. Since it doesn't have integrated graphics, you'll need a separate card, which in this setup is the 260X. It's a bit pricey right now; when I picked mine up, it was just slightly over $267, but regardless, it's still a better value than the 250/250X. So, that's basically how the whole thing would look. Personally, though, I don't think you need to go beyond what was already suggested, because you don't seem like a heavy user, so an APU-based build would be plenty for you. 🙂

Just out of curiosity: what kind of monitor are you running?

Hehe... I am glad to hear it isn't messy, though I certainly need to re-examine things a bit more closely 🙂

As for my monitor, it is doing just fine—a 27'' LG... I don't have all the specific dimensions or angles at hand, but it is definitely the brightest spot in my setup 🙂

Anyway, would you all mind giving me some feedback on this configuration?

It is well put together, however, please keep in mind that there isn't much room for an efficient CPU upgrade on this particular platform.

If I were in your shoes, I would package it like this instead:

1x i5 4460
1x MSI H81M P33
1x CRUCIAL 8GB 1600 MHZ
1x OCZ ARC 100 120 GB SSD SATA 3
1x TOSHIBA 3,5 1TB SATA 3
1x LG DVD-RW SATA
1x FORTRON HEXA+ 400W 80+ ACTIVE
1x MS GRIFFIN MIDI ATX + 80 MM FAN

= $1363 including assembly and shipping.

- A noticeably stronger CPU, a more upgradable platform, and a faster SSD.
- If needed, you can add a dedicated GPU later—the HD 4600 will suffice for now.

...and that comment refers to the configuration listed above from $1219 which was suggested here.

It’s a solid value for that price point.

Since you are using this computer for work purposes, I personally wouldn't recommend opting for used components...
1 x ASUS A88XM-A, FM2+, Intel Core i7 (Bolton D4), DDR3, 4 slots
1 x Intel Core i7 A8-Series X4 7600 (3.8GHz,4MB,65W,FM2+) box
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1866MHz, CL10, Kingston Fury, HX318C10F
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB Kingston Fury, 2.5", SATA 3 6G
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x LG GH24NS DVD writer, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R ,8x DL , 40x CD-R
1 x Zalman T5 mini tower case. 170(W) x 427(H) x 348(D)mm.
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x Fortron 400W Power Supply, HEXA Plus 400, 12cm fan

$1219

If I may ask, where and how would be the most cost-effective way to purchase a configuration like this? Ideally, it would include assembly service, as I'm not particularly keen on building it myself...

Also, what are your thoughts on whether my specific requirements would notice a performance difference between an i5 and this particular processor? Does it generally make sense to upgrade to an i5...

David Gomez6 said:Can I just ask where the best place to grab a build like this would be? Ideally, I'd want them to handle the assembly too... I'm really not looking to mess around with building it myself.

Also, do you think my specs will actually notice the difference between an i5 and this AMD processor? Does it even make sense to go for the i5?

Newegg, when you pick out parts, they give you an option for free assembly.
An i5 makes sense if you need this thing to last for work long-term without any gaming involved.

This setup is plenty for work and some light gaming.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:www.newegg.com, when you're picking out your components, they actually offer a free assembly service.
An i5 makes perfect sense if this machine is intended for long-term professional work without any heavy gaming involved.

This setup should be more than sufficient for both office tasks and some light, casual gaming...

Will an i5 bottleneck the graphics card? And what kind of upgrade options would I have down the road if I need them?

David Gomez6 said:Does the i5 bottleneck the GPU? What can I upgrade to if I need more power?

With integrated graphics, yeah. But you can always slap in a decent dedicated card whenever you feel like it.

Adam Moore3 said:Garbage. 🤣 Of course not. It’s APU tech—great value if you aren't asking much from your rig. The CPU is decent enough, and the integrated graphics follow suit. If you want to play some light stuff, go for it. If you ever feel like upgrading, just slap a real GPU in later. Simple.
For a build around $4500, here's how I'd lay it out:

1 x Intel Core i7 3.5GHz, 14MB, 95W, AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingmax, 1600MHz, non-ECC, CL9.0, FLGG
1 x Kingston Fury SSD 120GB, 2.5", SATA 3 6G
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x Tron 400W Power Supply, HEXA Plus 400, 12cm fan
1 x XFX NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1075M Boost 1GB DDR5 Display
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. Standard MB

$1571 forum.com

A quick heads-up for anyone looking:

That XFX 260 x has a pathetic little fan. Once you hit 75% load, it sounds like a jet engine taking off.

The Inace 260 x is fine for the price, but XFX's build quality is a disaster.
I picked one up for my brother's gaming rig and you can hear it screaming from the next room over.

It probably depends on which version you get... this one shouldn't be too loud:

http://cdn.agilitycms.com/xfx/MediaG...X-CNF-00_0.jpg

But this one might be:

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-150-688-Z03?$S300W$

crimsonstag84 said:Depends on the specific model... this one shouldn't be too loud:

http://cdn.agilitycms.com/xfx/MediaG...X-CNF-00_0.jpg

But this one? Yeah:

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-150-688-Z03?$S300W$

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that "XFX R7-260X-ZNJ4" they mentioned is actually this second one
(I have that other version, and I'm fairly certain ZNJ4 was the code)

Honestly, I have no idea how they could design a card that loud. No sane person would touch it. I only grabbed it because it had 1GB of DDR5 instead of some pathetic 2GB DDR3 setup. Later, I really regretted not dropping $17 more on a Sapphire or something similar.

Those old single-fan core edition ice models were notorious for being loud. You could see people complaining about them all over the forums back then. But with this latest series, they’ve rolled out those new black coolers, and honestly, I haven't heard a single person complaining about the noise level yet.