Should I buy this Used Gaming Pc From Craiglist?

[polorsport]

Hello everyone,



Well I have been looking for a custom pc for sometime. And still don't feel comfortable enough building one, and was going to buy one from avadirect. Then I came across a craigslist post of someone selling a very similar configuration to what I was looking for. There asking $1575. Which is what the system I think would have came out to if it where new. The seller claims it is 3 weeks old and that he is selling it because he doesn't have the time for a gaming pc. Well I'm going to try and get him to sell it for $1000 cash. Based on there not being a warranty and it being used. I asked whether or not it had been overclocked and the respose I got was. "I tried jackin up the FSB once, and had the CPU running at 2.8ghz and played S.T.A.L.K.E.R for 2 hours at that frequency, and this is with the stock intel cooler. since then, I've not messed with it because I've simply been satisfies with its stock performance."



My question is. Is there anything I should be careful of when buying a used pc? Do you guys think its a good deal? Would you go for it?



Raidmax Smilodon case & 500watt PS http://buyraidmax.com/product.php?pid=123&xcSID=5c91233596eef9a4cd2207953d6637cc
EVGA 680i SLI motherboard - TOP OF THE LINE - the best out there for SLI & overclocing
intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHZ processor
2 GB Crucial Balistix Tracer RAM PC-8000 (1000MHz) - with heatspreader and LED lighting
EVGA Geforce 8800GTS Graphics card - TOP OF THE LINE
Creative Audigy X-Fi Platinum sound Card with break out box and remote
abit wifi card
Lite-On 20x DVD burner
320GB Hard Drive

I think thats about it for the components. This rig can run evry modern game (STALKER, Oblivion, Sims 2, etc) all settings maxed out at 1280x1024 resolution. I play at 1680x1000 and i max out almost every setting and get over 50fps. Currently, the motherboard has 1 PCI slot open and 2 PCI Express slots open (1 for a second graphics card and 1 for a physics card).Surprise



Any advice opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[4Ryan6]

Well obviously its a descent system but its used!!! Get it down as low as you can!!!

 

[Fulmar]

I'd price out similar or exact parts on newegg and see what it costs to build the same thing. And then subract a reasonable percentage because its used. You may find out that you could order the same stuff for less and he's trying to make a quick buck.

 

[enforcerfx]

I'd price out similar or exact parts on newegg and see what it costs to build the same thing. And then subract a reasonable percentage because its used. You may find out that you could order the same stuff for less and he's trying to make a quick buck.

Its priced a little too high, like Fulmar said. Try to work it down to at least 1200. Then you may have something to work with.

 

[apt403]

Use the fact that is has a piss poor excuse for a psu to your advantage. If you want to prove to him it's a low quality unit, bring up the UL number for the psu, E239028. That's an Andyson built psu. Andyson also makes psu's for Sunbeam, Aerocool, and Sansun. All are bad names in the psu world.

You could have a dead, used computer on your hands if the psu decides to fail on you. So you should really replace it if you do buy this pc. You can get a pretty good replacment for $75-$80.

 

[shooter124]

why don't u jsut buy new parts and bulid a better system for 1000$

 

[prof_chaos]

why don't u jsut buy new parts and bulid a better system for 1000$

Agreed

 

[tarkenstar]

buying things w/o warranty or guarantee from people you dont know for that kind of money seems like a bad idea, that and it seems a steep price for what you get for sure, and ya.. the PSU like mentioned a few times already.

 

[Bobsama]

I say don't buy it. Building your own is rather easy. Ask around and you'll get a tonne of tips. You'll be happy you did.

 

[polorsport]

Thanks alot for all your tips and comments. I feel alot better about not buying that pc today. While I'm sure it would be cheaper and a good learning experience to build a pc on my own. Right now I just don't have the time and patience. As it is I won't have that much time on my pc. But I have had this old dell for 4 plus years. Is avadirect.com the best site to have a pc built?

 

[tnt123]

Polarsport,

Once you have received all your components, the PC should only take you a day to build your PC. Unless you do something complicated like water cooling. However, if building your own rig is not for you then, you may want to look at this site:

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=formindex&gclid=CNKOnJbJzYwCFRCNgQodLBM_rQ

I am looking at building my own rig in the next couple of months (after the alleged price drops on the 22nd of July), but I was very tempted by the PC Specialists, they seemed reasonably priced, and they test your system before sending it out. They also allow a reasonable degree of you choosing your own parts.

 

[apt403]

It literally takes less then 30 minutes to build a computer. Take the components out of their boxes, throw 'em in the case, tighen some screws, plug a couple cables in, and your done. The only thing left to do it turn it on and install windows.

If you REALLY don't want to build it, atleast buy all the parts off Newegg. They're the cheapest e-tailer around, and while they won't build the box for you, most brick and motar computer shops will do it for a fee. It'll be cheaper then buying off a different site, and the risk of the computer being damaged in transit to your house is completly eliminated, since a shop that's (hopefully) near your house is building it, so you can just go and pick it up.

 

[Bobsama]

I won't say that NewEgg is the cheapest e-tailer around, but their prices are very competitive. Most people sing nothing but praises for the Egg--it is a great place as nearly everything is priced about the same or lower as everyone else.

 

[polorsport]

I have looked at ordering from newegg. I know there service is great. I just am still a little sore about the 32 in hdtv. I ordered from them that is being repaired by hyundai. But it does say clearly on there site that they don't do returns. But all my other transactions have been very smooth with them. Now just to figure out the perfect configuration from Newegg.com

 

[SpeedyVV]

polorsport,
By all means build the thing. It really is easy, I never done it before, but with the help from the folks here, you literally can do it in 1/2 day.

I actually let my 9 ad 11 year old, build my system. Went without a hitch, and it was really fun. While they only have about 1/2hr to and hour at a time, the whole thing took less than a day to finish (well almost finished).

Oh yeah, I know TigerDirect Canada will build a system from the parts you choose. Probably the same in the US.

Good luck