GPU's are getting back in stock!

Allan_Virtanen

But prices are still ridiculously high :/

FriendlyPerson

As with any hardware, really try to buy used. Just make sure to ask if they were mined and to buy with "insurance" of some sorts. Ebay and Amazon both requires descriptive conditions' labeling so they can't sell a "like new" product and yet it doesn't work. Unless they SAYS it's doesn't works of course.

For in person sales, ask if they will let you test the card you'll be buying and check for obvious signs of impending failures.

BitcoinExpert

Too risky to buy used, I've seen GPU's that where fully functional simply die after a power outage if they've been used for mining. Used hardware could die at any time. Perhaps if you know the seller and know they haven't been using the hardware for mining it could work. Wouldn't trust amazon or eBay tho.

FriendlyPerson

BitcoinExpert Actually technically new hardware is more likely to fails within it's first year than older "proven to work" hardware.

Take spinning disks, during it's first 3 months of operations it's the most vulnerable during this "early life" of the disk.

Granted after a period of time as with anything it will sun come to natural wear and tear. But even then I HELLA wanna get a 500GB disk that isn't 45 bucks for like not even 20 if I can help getting one used. Larger capacities units are even better apparently so once I swap them out for 1TB disks it should be fairly easily for me to firance to the upgrade to these used disks too.

Knut_Engstrom

FriendlyPerson Good point, I've got a bunch of old computers too, like 20 years or so. Still fully working, alright to be fair a laptop battery only lasts 5-10 minutes after all this time so I have to disconnect it and run it on the grid at all time. And the old P-ATA drive is dead since long. Still, it has USB 2.0 so if I only find a 32 bit version of Linux it'll boot and run without issues.

I haven't bought used tho, those have been in my possession at all time. Any advice regarding buying used on amazon or eBay? It seems like a good idea if you can save money.

FriendlyPerson

Knut_Engstrom Coupled with their ratings you can check the description and the condition it's marked for. Both platforms requires sellers to comply to such standards.

So as long as you ends up with a good seller you should have little if any issues with the purchase. If SMART for example reports a "bad" disk or a HEAVILY used SSD that you didn't agreed to, you should be able to get another used device in it's place or in some cases they will just give you new one anyways.