Computer Buying Guide New vs Refurbished
Posted Nov 27, 2015 by Nick Vogt
I have a good amount of experience purchasing both new and refurbished Dell and HP computers and laptops. Here is some information in case you are in the market for a computer, and are not sure if you should buy new or refurbished.
What is a Refurbished Computer?
A refurbished computer is generally a used, open box, or returned computer (or one that is otherwise not fit for sale as new) that has been thoroughly inspected by a manufacturer-authorized outfit or the manufacturer itself, and then sold again as a refurbished computer at a lower price.
The operating system on a refurbished computer will always be reset or replaced, so there is no trace of any previous usage. Any components that are not good, damaged, or broken will be replaced. The housing may show some signs of usage, or it may look completely new (usage varies greatly between refurbished computers).
Age of a Refurbished Computer
A refurbished computer can be as new as a few months or as old as a decade. You'll have to research the computer model to find out when it was originally released. Another trick is to find the processor model and search for it on Intel's ARK for Intel processors or Google for AMD processors.
Newer refurbished computers are usually ones that customers did not want and were returned. They will go back to the manufacturer, get inspected and reset, and be recertified for sale as refurbished.
Older refurbished computers are often ones that a refurbisher buys in bulk from an office that is getting rid of old computers. They will go through them and make sure any damaged components are replaced, reset or replace the operating systems, and sell them at a very low price through marketplaces like Newegg, Amazon, or eBay.
https://www.h3xed.com/computer-hardware/computer-buying-guide-new-or-refurbished |
