Due to massive technological advancements, demand for personal computers has skyrocketed in recent years. Everybody wants the latest computer features, so they must frequently upgrade to keep up with the trends. If you’re also looking to buy a new computer and want to sell the old one, how would you determine the value of your PC?
There are two basic ways to calculate the worth of your PC. You can either look up the value of your whole computer or evaluate each component individually. For this purpose, you can use an online PC evaluation site or head to e-commerce platforms such as eBay. Usually, calculating the worth of each part separately can sum up to a better deal, but it takes more time and effort.
There are many benefits of knowing the worth of your PC. It will allow you to get a fair price for your machine and even help you understand whether it’s worth upgrading or not.
This article will cover all the best possible ways to determine your computer’s worth and why it is necessary. Let’s start the scroll.
Things To Consider Before Valuating
Before you list up your computer for sale, there are some things to consider.
Check Computer Specifications
Firstly, you must determine your PC’s full specifications. It includes all the hardware and software information. You must know what CPU, GPU, RAM, hard drive or SSD, motherboard, etc., is connected to your computer. Also, determine which operating system and version your PC is currently running.
Suppose you’re not sure about the internal specifications of your computer. In that case, you can head to the “System Information” tab on your PC, where all your PC specifications are listed. You can utilize an external application like CPU-Z that can instantly tell you all the internals of your personal Windows machine.
Examine the Health of Your Hardware
After successfully gathering all the internal information about your PC, you must examine its condition. Are any parts bent, scuffed, or broken? Are any small ports or screws not functional or missing?
If your setup is over three years old, your hardware might have undergone some degradation. The current condition of your physical components directly affects the selling price.
Method #1: Using Online Software
This is the quickest and easiest method to track your PC’s worth. Many online websites such as PCPartPicker are available online for this job. You can enter all your component details one-by-one in the provided space. In this way, you can get an estimate of what your PC is worth collectively.
Most of these online tools don’t even require you to sign up. You can open the website, enter specifications like you’re uploading your PC virtually, and get an estimate of the price.
One thing to note is that the website will quote the price of brand new parts. However, your hardware has been used, so you need to depreciate it accordingly. For an estimation, you can assume that the hardware depletes 10% of its original value each year.
So, if you’ve used the computer for five years, multiplying the website’s calculated value by 0.5 will give you the present value of your computer.
Method #2: Using Online Ads
Searching similar PCs listed in classified ads can also help determine your PC’s worth. You can look for online second-hand computers listen in eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook and compare the condition of your PC with them.
One thing to note here is that price may vary depending upon your region. It happens due to the availability of some parts in certain areas where some components are not easily available at some places.
You must find the ads in your locality or near your residency to get an accurate representation. Find some trusted ads and calculate the average of at least three ads to get the estimation for PC.
One problem with classified ads could be the shipping charges. You should not send away your computer to far-off places unless you’re getting a better deal. Start by asking your friends and family if they need your PC.
Method #3: Classified Ads for Components
If you’re a true enthusiast, you must know each computer component. Dig out the ads where these components are listed for sale separately. The essential parts, as mentioned above, will constitute the core value, while the little pieces don’t cost much.
So take up the average price of each component and add the prices to get the value of your whole PC. This way, you can get some extra worth out of your computer. You should also multiply the total value by 0.8 or 0.9, which should be the minimum sale price.
The Bottom Line
Knowing your computer’s worth is essential if you plan to upgrade your setup. You can get a fair price by selling your computer as a whole or the components. Determining the worth isn’t a complicated process. Many online websites will help you in this regard where you can virtually build your computer.
You can also look for classified ads where similar computers or components are listed. If you’re calculating the price for each part separately, you can sum it up to get the worth of your whole PC. We hope this article has helped you understand the best ways to determine the value of your PC so you can get a better deal for your computer and upgrade to a fresh one.
Frequently Asked Questions
From a technological point of view, it may be very outdated to use today. However, older generation computers are sold for their build materials. Most of these PCs contain precious metals such as trace amounts of gold that can be pretty valuable.
According to most experts, the average lifespan of a PC is about five years. But you can always upgrade most hardware components in a PC so it can last much longer. If you have a laptop you’re not using, you should sell it as soon as possible before it becomes very outdated.
