Buying a pre-build from craigslist

[Recin]

Hi all!

I am looking at upgrading my computer so it can better tackle newer games coming out. My old intel dual core e4400 cant cut it anymore.

I noticed a rig on craigslist that seems to have the hardware I want for the price I can afford. My concern is that buying off craigslist leaves me with little options if the seller tries to conceal a operating error.

My question - is it worth it to trust a seller on Craigslist with a new computer and if I do move forward with it what are the things I should do to make sure I am getting a working system (not it wont come with an OS, but I can see it working ahead of time).

Here are the specs - he is looking for $600 but its negotiable.

I built this computer about 4 months ago and I no longer have a use for a gaming computer because I don't play anymore.

Case: Azza Solano 1000 - Blue
Processor: AMD Phenom II x4 Black Edition 3.4 GHz
Motherboard: Asus motherboard - up to am3 socket
Video card: Raedon 4870 ATI card 1gb ddr5 video memory
Hard Drive: 500gb 7200 RPM HDD
Optical Drive: DVD burner
PSU: 700W Power Supply
CPU Fan: SpinQ heat sink fan
RAM: gSkill 2x2gb 1300hz memory

Computer will be wiped with no OS.
Windows Experience Index: 7.5

 

[mdd1963]

I'd personally be VERY leery of purchasing anything from CraigsList; trust no one. If i purchased it, it would have a dead cpu, MB, and gpu, and PSU...

Unless you can verify it works prior to him wiping the drive.....

 

[bs6749]

Considering that you can build nearly the same exact system for $597 in my quick calculations (with everything shipped to you), I would stay away from this deal. His case takes up a large portion of this cost at around $95 and you can have just as good of a case (Antec 300) with great cooling for $55. You would save even more. If it were me I wouldn't get this.

 

[Recin]

Considering that you can build nearly the same exact system for $597 in my quick calculations (with everything shipped to you), I would stay away from this deal. His case takes up a large portion of this cost at around $95 and you can have just as good of a case (Antec 300) with great cooling for $55. You would save even more. If it were me I wouldn't get this.

Very helpful! Thank you.

If I haggled down the price to lower than what a new computer would cost component wise, would it be a better deal? Its just been a few years since I build a PC and I am hesitant to do it myself now. Paying someone for labor might be the option that adds to my computer.

 

[bs6749]

It is very simple to put together. $400 would be my upper limit on what I'd spend for that computer if I knew that everything worked fine. Even then I'd have a hard time doing that as I can build something more to my liking for $400-500 NEW.

 

[Recin]

It is very simple to put together. $400 would be my upper limit on what I'd spend for that computer if I knew that everything worked fine. Even then I'd have a hard time doing that as I can build something more to my liking for $400-500 NEW.

How simple though, haha. I am just worried I am going to break something and ruin quite a bit of money. If I do opt in to getting a new machine.

The other option is to just upgrade my current computer, but Im not sure the current components will all work together.

-AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
-ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
-G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
-Video card either Nvidia GTX 460/Radeon HD 6850

My monitor is a SyncMaster 930B which is at 1280x1024 resolution and my power supply is 430w Antec Earthwatts.

Would just a simple upgrade work too?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

that is a solid system, the main upgrade I would suggest is a higher resolution monitor (1920x1080) to take advantage of it