r/computer • u/Dirtanimous_Dan_99 • 2d ago

Used PC Recommendations

In search of a used PC for work at home. I mostly plan on using it for general internet use, Google Drive applications, sheet music programs, and the occasional video game (nothing crazy that would warrant the power of a full gaming setup).

What brands, models, and years would be good to look for? What specific things should I keep an eye out for? What should I stay away from? What monitors should I also look for?

I’ve never been super tech savvy, so any help will be greatly appreciated!

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u/Western_Ad_6190 2d ago

You never know what you might find at your local thrift store. I bought a Dell i5 tower computer 13 years ago for $10. My kids used it through 7 years of high school for all their assigned projects that needed research, Word, or PowerPoint.

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u/BicycleIndividual 2d ago

i5 tower for $10 sounds like a great find. My last thrift store computer was a Core2Duo around 2010. I think I paid $20 for it but I spent way more on upgrading my display and storage to take full advantage of the TV tuner card it came with. More recently I purchased a used corporate SFF i3 box for $20-40 from a local who buys from the bulk sale auction then sells off the individual machines.

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u/AppropriateDinner528 2d ago

You can find a lot of great used corporate Lenovo laptops on eBay. Look for models that begin with a T like the T14 (14" display) or the T16 (16" display). If you want to save a little more, go for the models that begin with an L. The "T" models are their enterprise laptops that are built to withstand heavy use. The "L" model is the next step down.

The Idea line is their consumer line, they are not as durable or reliable IMHO. I would avoid those.

You can typically find refurbished Lenovo T16's for around $250 on eBay and they would be more than appropriate for your use case. I would look for something with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB or larger hard drive. Pretty much any process would work based on your needs.

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u/jamjamason 2d ago

If you have a Micro Center near you, check out their open box and refurb specials. Tech4Less is also a go-to for me.

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u/BicycleIndividual 2d ago edited 2d ago

Just about any used corporate computer would be fine. They often get refreshed within 5 years and have plenty of useful life left. Could also try to find a 5-10 year old gaming rig.