OldPCGuy

Buying a used or refurbished PC

Cartoon of Brandon in headphones and a blazer, sitting cross-legged on a pile of old computer parts, with a magnifying glass over a processor chip

Off-lease business computers are some of the best deals around. They're built to last, easy to repair, and often cheaper than a new budget PC. These guides cover what to buy and what to check when it arrives.

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Buying a Refurbished PC

Which refurbished laptops and desktops are worth it in 2026, and the checks to do in the first 48 hours.

Guides for buying used

  • Buying a Refurbished PC

    The off-lease business models to shop for, the specs that matter, and the listings to walk away from.

    Updated
  • How Old Is My Computer?

    Find a PC's age from the processor, the BIOS date, or a Dell, HP, or Lenovo serial number lookup.

    Published
  • The Best Old ThinkPads

    Which used ThinkPads are worth buying in 2026, which run Windows 11, and the best picks for Linux.

    Published
  • ThinkPad T440 in 2026

    What a 2014 ThinkPad is still good for, the upgrades that matter, and T440 vs. T440p.

    Published

Four rules for buying used

  • 2018 or newer: Intel 8th-gen or AMD Ryzen 2000 and up, so it runs Windows 11 officially. Here's how to tell a PC's age.
  • SSD and 16 GB of memory, or a price low enough to add them.
  • A warranty or easy returns, even if it's only 30 days.
  • Check it right away: Windows activation, no "managed by your organization" message, and the battery report.

Looking for a small desktop? Used mini PCs like the Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny are some of the best buys around.