Choosing a Second Hand or Used Computer

Know what sort of computer you want or need? Or are you not sure what specification you should look for in a computer?

Choosing the right computer for your needs can appear daunting at first, but if you know what you want the computer for, ie you know how you are going to use the computer, then selection of the right one becomes a lot easier.

Let's dispense with the myths first. You DON'T need a latest model high-specification computer UNLESS you want for instance, to play the latest computer games at the highest screen resolution or you want to run a number of sophisticated art, drawing or paint packages with complex images.

So if you just want a computer to run day-to-day stuff like:

• emailing
• surfing the Internet
• word processing
• playing older or shareware games
• running Microsoft Office or Works
• running Lotus Suite or similar

then you CAN use any of the computers we recommend on this site! As often happens, hype that appears in most marketing media leaves you believing that you need the latest spec computer to run anything these days. That's simply not true. You can easily run all of the listed above on any of the second-hand or surplus computers on this website.

Yes, But Which Computer?

So how do you know which computer to choose then? Well it all boils down to what you are going to be using the computer for. Let's make this simple:

Use	Computer to Buy
email, Internet, word-processing, shareware games, MS Word, MS Works	ANY of the computers recommended on this site, even the cheapest. If you have a choice, choose one with more memory (RAM) as this will make all software run faster.
Music	A computer with a separate sound card quoted (as opposed to one built-in on the motherboard) eg choose a SoundBlaster card. This will ensure better sound quality.
DTP, CAD	Look for a good quality monitor. Must be at least 17", preferably digital flat panel for best quality. More RAM is helpful.
Recent or latest games	You'll need a top spec PC for this. Look for one with quoted separate 3D graphic card (as opposed to one built-in on the motherboard). Minimum 256Mb memory, pref more. Minimum 2.4Ghz speed processor, pref higher.
Other uses	You can here.

For more information on used computers, or to choose from a variety of related products and services, choose from the following:

Cheap Used Computers (home) | Refurbished Mac Computer | Used Cheap Laptop Computers | Refurbished Notebooks Computers | Refurbished Desktop Computers