PC advice required. Guidance needed on steps after purchasing a used computer.
PC advice required. Guidance needed on steps after purchasing a used computer.
(Just skip if you want) Background story: Hello, I never used or build a gaming pc before. Most my pc experience is playing on a potato shipped straight from the amazon dell warehouse that has served me well for a good 5-6yrs so I have probably already got my moneys worth from it. Watching linus and other youtubers "build" their not so budget pcs saying "meh not yet". Until it started failing when it come to low setting gaming, now this didn't bother me before until recently I bought my first ever game (vintage story) which I really wanted to play and my LITERAL bulk loaned uni thinkpad laptop of everything was performing better than my daily use pc albeit still at low setting ⚰ but still. Thinkpads are decent but to literally "hold my beer" my pc, If you know that feeling you know. So I said F it and got on board to buy a "gaming pc" something that I have been holding on from out of many concerns. And kindly direct me to the right sub if this is the wrong place to post (Where the issue is) - So today I ended up buying a pc for $500+tax came to $564. Seller says he has used/gamed on it for about a 2yr or some months. Pictures the seller posted: https://imgur.com/a/RAyj8VN (I don't think Im allowed to link market posts here, so I won't take the risk) This is what I THINK the parts are to my best abilities mix and matching but there are still some holes in my full picture: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CH2x89 Also from my own intuitions, picture matching and digging around I figured out IT MIGHT be this prebuilt (and its a big might be perhaps im wrong, ignore the amazon link if im) https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Desktop-i7-1...B093CG8VHP with some parts that were swapped out by the seller over the time of 2 yr of use?? i assume but regardless now my concerns lay around: Was this a bad deal? ik the supposed brand new price for this was around 1k+ (that's if I matched the right pc) but was it worth it for $564 on it current parts? ik these "gamer companies" like the upsale on price specially Asus of all. How do I make sure I got what I was promised and not totally scammed once I receive it? How do I check for malware? keylogger or anything malicious. I heard of stress testing pc parts and such, any suggestions for some free stress testing softwares? Mobo Bios? the thing has https://imgur.com/a/deq8Q9C drivers? temps? bottlenecks? how often to replace AIO? How can or really should I transfer my old files, data etc from my old pc to the new one? How do I check if all the parts are mounted/connected correct? specially the fan orientations. Literally any advice that would help out a first time USED pc buying experience. And long time upkeeping of the thing. I would like to make a reliable Toyota out of the thing if possible. Throw me any vid you think is worth watching. Im trying to gain as much knowledge on this as possible in the few days I would most likely edit and post follow up pics of the pc too once it come in about a few days.
You'll likely need more time than a few days to grasp computer diagnostics. The price of around $500 for what appears functional with a 3070 chip probably indicates a scam or stolen device—stay alert for such signs.
You still require a case and a power supply unit. The rest is sufficiently compatible so it doesn't matter much right now. From the catalog, the RAM modules were the only parts changed from the original setup. CPU, GPU, HDD, and SSD remain unchanged. That's the main concern people have and the most challenging to resolve... This machine can handle modern games at full intensity on a standard monitor. You might want to upgrade storage or the graphics card if needed. I believe it offers good value if it meets your requirements and works without problems. On Newegg, an Asus Dual RX 3070 is listed for $499. If you're focusing on hardware, inspect the case for visible parts. Use tools like CPU-z for monitoring. For ensuring the system appears correctly after purchase, you can choose to have it installed in person. If paying by card, consider a chargeback option if needed. You can install any antivirus software you prefer and MalwareBytes is a solid choice. Is Rootkit Revealer still accessible? Alternatively, wipe the drives and reinstall Windows once you confirm all components are functioning properly. I use Prime95, Furmark, and CrystalDiskMark, though they're somewhat outdated. Still, they provide useful stress testing. Performance will be visible in those tests. Bottlenecks may emerge depending on the game or app—often it's a single component like CPU, GPU, RAM, or storage. The AIO is a convenient all-in-one option; replace it if it fails. It should last several years under normal use. The safest approach is to back up your files on external media (USB drives, portable hard drives, memory cards) and transfer them as needed. This ensures you have a backup in case of errors. Checking fans is straightforward—place your hand or a piece of paper near the fan to see the direction of airflow. For other components, if everything functions correctly, you shouldn't worry much. In summary: used computers are easier to buy than used cars because they're less likely to be damaged in the same way as newer models. Even a computer that hasn't been maintained for a few years can often be repaired. Most parts are built to last many years without active care.
700$ without storage or case, unless the design lacks storage features.