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{"meta":{"keywords":"gpu, graphics card, used graphics card, used gpu, buy gpu, buying used gpu, save money,","description":"Buying a used ,GPU"},"active":true,"show_in_home":true,"show_as_recent":false,"show_as_popular":false,"_id":"633c9bf92ff05e6cedfd6560","aid":"buying-used-gpu","big_image_path":"buying-used-gpu-big.jpg","date":"10/03/2022","elements":[{"content":"<p><br data-mce-bogus='1'></p><p>It’s a great time to upgrade a GPU with retail prices coming down, an upcoming new generation of Nvidia graphics cards, Intel’s ARC GPUs coming to the market soon, and more. But those looking to save even further are likely to turn their gaze to the used graphics card market, a place now thriving as crypto mining dies down, and others make a GPU upgrade of their own. With even current-gen Nvidia RTX and AMD Radeon cards hitting the used market for affordable prices, it must be an incredible deal to scoop one up if you’re using an outdated GTX or Radeon cards currently, right?<br><br><strong></strong></p><p><strong><br data-mce-bogus='1'></strong></p><p><strong>Used Graphics Cards have a history of their own good, or bad.<br><br></strong></p><p>Whether a GPU was used for gaming, mining, or otherwise it’s going to have gone through some stress, and while this doesn’t mean it’s immediately useless, we have a lot to consider. Let’s first take a look at gaming, after all it’s widely considered the intended purpose of a GPU. Gaming is generally speaking pretty light on a GPU, until we consider the (highly likely) chance that a used GPU has been overclocked. Overclocking a GPU comes with risks, exacerbated by potentially being overclocked by someone inexperienced. No matter what overclocking a GPU is going to make it run hotter, and in the used market heat is the enemy. A hot GPU running in a small or low airflow case will damage itself over time, deteriorating the performance.<br><br><br></p><p><strong><br data-mce-bogus='1'></strong></p><p><strong><br data-mce-bogus='1'></strong></p><p><strong>This GPU was used for Crypto Mining, Is it Useless Now?<br><br></strong></p><p>Consumer grade GPUs used for mining are not inherently DoA after being used for mining, but there are a ton of risks associated with mining. Similar to overclocking, using a card for mining is going to put a lot of stress on the VRAM/Processor and generate excessive heat. Chances are you’ve seen an image or two online of stacks of GPUs with industrial fans aimed at them, maybe even a stack burnt down. While someone trying to sell a burnt GPU would be pretty easily noticeable, the damage caused by overheating can be much harder to see. Proper maintenance of a mining GPU goes beyond standard household usage, including upgrading thermal pads and/or adding copper shims for additional cooling measures. Additionally, the immense amount of airflow from industrial fans will rapidly dry out the outer edges of manually applied thermal paste.<br></p><p><br data-mce-bogus='1'></p><p><br><strong>How can I tell if a used GPU was used for Crypto Mining?<br><br></strong></p><p>Unfortunately, there isn’t one simple singular way to check for this. There are a few things we can look at to tip us off however:</p><ul style='font-family: klavikal; padding-left:40px;'><li>The card was swapped to a mining BIOS and not swapped back before being sold.</li><li>The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is discolored or contains residue.</li><li>The Thermal Paste is not stock, there is too much, or too little.</li><li>Benchmarks return lower than expected performance.</li><li>The card is overclocked</li></ul><p>These aren’t all 100% tell-tale signs that a card was used for mining, but regardless they outline concerns of the GPU’s remaining longevity. If the GPU is running a BIOS designed for mining, then you can be pretty sure it was used for mining. Of course, the BIOS will need to be swapped back for standard gaming performance. If the PCB or Heatsinks shows any discoloration or residue, this is an immediate concern for the quality and life of the card. Discoloration is caused by excessive heat damaging or even warping the silicon that makes up the card. In a similar vein, residue on the card such as oils can be a result of thermal compounds breaking down due to wear.</p><p><br></p><p>Our other options are a bit less obvious, but still highlight potential issues with a used GPU. Stock coolers come with thermal paste applied, and eventually even under normal used will need to be replaced. However, a card that is overclocked and running hot will see this replacement happen much more frequently. Benchmarks slightly under a stock card’s metrics are standard, everything wears down with usage and what we’re looking for is noticeable drops. Large reductions are going to heavily affect your performance. Finally, an overclocked GPU isn’t inherently an issue, but something to plan for especially if the seller doesn’t communicate the overclocking. An overclocked GPU suddenly set to a different voltage can destroy its processor if the swap is too large of a value.</p><p><br></p><p><br data-mce-bogus='1'></p><p><strong>Are all Used GPUs this risky?<br><br></strong></p><p>No, not at all actually. While it’s super important to be aware and concerned about potential issues, communication with a seller goes a long way. If you’re buying a used GPU, ask the seller questions about it and request things such as benchmarks, or even photos/videos of the card in use. Are they getting 120fps on high settings in recent titles at 1080p or 1440p? Then that cards likely perfectly fine and they’re just looking to upgrade themselves. Even if they tell you the card was used for mining, if they maintained it properly and prevented overheating, it won’t necessarily have degraded performance for gaming.</p><p><br></p><p><br data-mce-bogus='1'></p><p><strong>Which GPUs should I look out for?<br><br></strong></p><p>While there isn’t going to be a ton of variation between modern GPUs, there are some things that can make searching the used market a bit smoother. Cards such as the 3070 TI (and higher) run on graphic’s memory known as GDDR6X, and while it’s incredibly powerful it’s known for running hot in comparison to GDDR5. If a card is older such as an RX570, it won’t possess the same high temperature pushing VRAM and GDDR of a newer card, but instead has many more years of potential wear. Nothing major to think on here, but definitely some stuff you want to keep in mind when shopping.</p><p><br></p><p>With all that said, the safest route is of course to get a PC that comes with a new GPU, protected by a warranty. If you’d like more information on GPUs and the differences between discrete and integrated, check out <a href='https://www.clxgaming.com/blog/pc-parts-benchmark/integrated-vs-discrete-graphics' data-mce-href='https://www.clxgaming.com/blog/pc-parts-benchmark/integrated-vs-discrete-graphics'>lasts weeks blog</a> to learn more! As always don’t forget to check out our selection of <a href='https://www.clxgaming.com/gaming-desktops' data-mce-href='https://www.clxgaming.com/gaming-desktops'>custom gaming desktops</a>, get that new GPU you dream of and more backed by our lifetime technical and labor warranties, plus minimum of 1 year on parts!<br><br><br></p><p><br data-mce-bogus='1'></p><p><br data-mce-bogus='1'></p>","id":"p0","sort_index":0,"type":"paragraph"}],"mid_image_path":"buying-used-gpu-mid.jpg","sid":"pc-parts-benchmark","small_image_path":"buying-used-gpu-small.jpg","sub_title":"Buying a used GPU can save you money - but comes with risks.","title":"Is Buying a Used GPU Dangerous?"}
