Where to buy older model PCs (that are brand new)?

Rony

Hi,

So I am soon to be in need of a new computer. However I do not need a super computer, latest range PC. What I am after is last generation (or even one before that) top of the range PCs.

For example, I usually go for Dell XPS. However, looking on Dells website, every XPS PC they are selling is Intel 11th generation of the latest model.

I wouldn't even mind having 10th Gen or 9th Gen, but these are not being sold? (I think there is one 10th Gen on Currys)

Is there a place on the market where I can buy these older computers? Whenever I search google it gives me second hand computers, which is not what I want,

Like with phones, it is still really easy to buy a phone that is two generations back, why is it so difficult with computers.

Thanks,

J_B

Rony said:

Hi,

So I am soon to be in need of a new computer......................

Think MSE     Why do you need one.

Is it possible to upgrade what you have?

What is it's exact make and model?

*Maybe* you could upgrade it for around £50 (?) rather than spend 3/400 on a new one.

Ibrahim5

You need to find a computer supplier that buys new PCs and then leaves them hanging around for 5-10 years in their original boxes while their value depreciates to nothing.

[Deleted User]

Rony said:

Hi,

So I am soon to be in need of a new computer. However I do not need a super computer, latest range PC. What I am after is last generation (or even one before that) top of the range PCs.

For example, I usually go for Dell XPS. However, looking on Dells website, every XPS PC they are selling is Intel 11th generation of the latest model.

I wouldn't even mind having 10th Gen or 9th Gen, but these are not being sold? (I think there is one 10th Gen on Currys)

Is there a place on the market where I can buy these older computers? Whenever I search google it gives me second hand computers, which is not what I want,

Like with phones, it is still really easy to buy a phone that is two generations back, why is it so difficult with computers.

Thanks,

I wouldn't worry about what generation the processor is, just start with a budget, set of requirements such screen size / resolution / weight / storage capacity / battery life etc and narrow down the list from there.

Comparing the computer just on the generation of the processor is futile, some 8th gen processors perform better than some 11th gen processors for example.

VWPolecat

Ibrahim5 said:

You need to find a computer supplier that buys new PCs and then leaves them hanging around for 5-10 years in their original boxes while their value depreciates to nothing.

The government local and national are good at that.

Neil_Jones

Rony said:

Hi,

So I am soon to be in need of a new computer. However I do not need a super computer, latest range PC. What I am after is last generation (or even one before that) top of the range PCs.

...

Like with phones, it is still really easy to buy a phone that is two generations back, why is it so difficult with computers.

Thanks,

Computer performance has plateaued to a large extent where the only differences between generations of processors are the model number and the processor socket types.  You're not going to notice a whole world of difference between 10th generation and 11th.  If the generation jump was higher, you probably would notice it. 

Anyway a lot depends on the supply and demand of the processor chips.  Silicon is in short supply at the moment, which is what the chips are made out of it.  When some of it is available its going to be used on (for computer processor purposes) for the latest generation chips and hardware, because that's how this market works.  If you want what is effectively last year's technology that's what eBay is for.

Comparing to mobile phones is like apples to pears - its not the same comparison.  One of the things that drives computers and computer hardware is the gaming sector.  They need more powerful graphics card, meatier power supplies, processors with a bit of oomph behind them and a decent size screen.  Likewise the dropping of Windows support for older hardware and that everything eventually gravitates towards newer hardware.  What drives mobile phone sales is their flexibility, their smaller size, the fact they can hold a shelf's worth books/music/video/whatever and the apps market, which will support older versions of Android sometimes going back many years.

getmore4less

The games machine builders put together new basic machines using older gen main components.
Very competitive market so close to DIY build prices.

Have a look at the cheaper deals by this guy on HUKD

https://www.hotukdeals.com/profile/sarden84/deals

Budget and requirements will drive the build.

Graphics cards supply has distributed the market but if you can live with on board there are some decent machine under £300

Ibrahim5

With PCs you should never need a 'new' one. You just replace the parts that need replacing. The biggest 'upgrade' is the motherboard, processor and RAM which need to be bought together because they normally aren't compatible across different eras. I have never had a failed processor or RAM but have had plenty of faulty motherboards. I have had bad experience buying used motherboards off ebay. So I will only use brand new boxed Asus or Gigabyte motherboards. I will then happily buy a used CPU and RAM from ebay. Need an SSD of course if you haven't got one. My last few builds have been done like that. The key is to find an older brand new motherboard which isn't always easy. Ebuyer have plenty of 9th generation motherboards although ebay don't seem to have many used 9th generation CPUs at the moment.

J_B

Ibrahim5 said:

With PCs you should never need a 'new' one. You just replace the parts that need replacing.

Indeed, but surely, the SSD replacement should be much higher up the list and usually a lot simpler to the average punter

Ibrahim5 said:

With PCs you should never need a 'new' one. You just replace the parts that need replacing. The biggest 'upgrade' is the motherboard, processor and RAM which need to be bought together because they normally aren't compatible across different eras. I have never had a failed processor or RAM but have had plenty of faulty motherboards. I have had bad experience buying used motherboards off ebay. So I will only use brand new boxed Asus or Gigabyte motherboards. I will then happily buy a used CPU and RAM from ebay. Need an SSD of course if you haven't got one. My last few builds have been done like that. The key is to find an older brand new motherboard which isn't always easy. Ebuyer have plenty of 9th generation motherboards although ebay don't seem to have many used 9th generation CPUs at the moment.

Jenni_D

getmore4less said:

Graphics cards supply has distributed the market but if you can live with on board there are some decent machine under £300

Did you mean disrupted? 🤷‍♀️

Neil_Jones

It could be argued Bitcoin mining (and other mining activities) have an impact too on GPU availability.

Ibrahim5 said:

With PCs you should never need a 'new' one. You just replace the parts that need replacing. The biggest 'upgrade' is the motherboard, processor and RAM which need to be bought together because they normally aren't compatible across different eras.

Well that depends.  If you get a standard size case in the first place with standard size components, yes it's true, just swap out the parts as and when.

If some for reason you ended up with a dinky little Acer with a non-standard size board/PSU and it goes bye bye, you can't reuse it (the storage/memory, almost yes.  CPU maybe, if it wasn't soldered in).  The trend used to be from white/cream to black and silver, it never went back to cream but it became significantly smaller in the OEM market.