Hello!
I am building out a home server for NAS and a Plex server and I have settled on using a coffee lake Xeon paired with a supermicro motherboard (PCPartPicker). There is a > $100 difference between buying the CPU used on eBay and new on Amazon. Are there anythings I should be aware of before buying a used CPU?
Best,
Lily
Make sure it’s a reputable seller. Read reviews, especially the bad ones (one+two stars) How long does the shop exist? If it’s less then 1 year, walk away. Or at least be very cautious!
I’ve seen people do well from eBay / Craigslist purchases, but there have been many horror stories as well. Check the history of the seller for red flags and make sure they are reputable. Read the ad thoroughly and understand what you are buying.
It comes down to what can you do if the CPU does not work, or fails after the eBay return window closes. You can save money, but if it does die, or not perform as advertised, then you are out that cash, have no recourse and have an inoperable PC.
I buy new CPU on principle. If I have issues (and I’ve never had to return a CPU, thankfully), I have a warranty and can return it. YMMV, but whatever you choose to do, make sure you go into it with open eyes.
PS. I do know someone who picked up a used Dell PowerEdge server on eBay for less than what they would pay for the CPU alone. He pulled the CPU and parted out the rest of the chassis components to end up making a small profit.
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