When buying a computer, you also need to consider its value retention. Customers, your budget is definitely not that generous, so the components you choose may inherently retain value better.
The actual performance iteration speed of computer components is getting faster, and the value retention capability of the main components is correspondingly worse. The main components involved are nothing more than three: CPU, motherboard, and graphics card. It can be understood that the CPU and graphics card are updated quickly, while the motherboard must follow the CPU. Therefore, once the CPU is phased out, the motherboard’s fate is also sealed.
The principle of value retention is simple: components that can last for five or ten generations are definitely more valuable than those that can only last for two or three generations; among the same series of products, the cheaper and lower-spec models retain value better; components with lower reliability in the second-hand market do not retain value as well as those with higher reliability.
[Second-hand Reliability] ★★★★☆
There is no strong statement about the value retention of CPUs; it needs to be viewed in stages. As long as it enters a stable period after price adjustments, the value retention is generally acceptable, at least it will not plummet in the short term, especially when the new products do not have much performance advantage. In the initial listing period or when AMD platforms rush for the first release, it is likely to incur significant losses; AMD processors have slightly worse value retention compared to Intel; the higher-end the CPU, the worse the value retention principle. Intel’s KS family, X family, and Xeon family have generally concerning value retention, but most users who choose them do not care about “value retention”.
Popular models generally have strong value retention. Models with ultra-high cost performance even appreciate, such as:
Intel’s i3-12100F, i5-12400F/13400F/13600KF;
AMD’s entire 4000 series and 5000 series processors like 5500/5600/5600G.
However, if you have reached the point of buying boxed CPUs at the highest price across all platforms on JD, then the concept of value retention has nothing to do with you. From the moment you place the order, you have already lost several hundred.
Since CPUs are generally not easily damaged, the reliability of purchasing second-hand CPUs is very high. Therefore, the second-hand resale price difference between CPUs and brand new ones generally does not exceed 10%.
The motherboard has the worst value retention. Apart from the Hx10 family and some low-end models in the B series that have certain value retention, other B series, H series, and Z series drop significantly once they are outdated. AMD’s A320/A520 family and low-end models in the B550 series are relatively valuable, while others, especially the X570, do not retain value. This is related to the longer product life cycle of low-end chipsets; chipsets like H61 have lasted more than ten years and are still being sold.
The higher-end the motherboard, the worse the price drop. A low-end motherboard costing 400 yuan may still sell for 350 yuan five years later, while a 5000 yuan motherboard may only be worth less than 1000 yuan three years later. Currently, new Z490/Z590 motherboards priced at 400-500 yuan are very common in the market. Even the still-mainstream Z690 may look stable in JD’s pricing, but in reality, Tmall and Taobao have already seen significant price drops.
If you want to choose a relatively valuable motherboard without going too low-end, you can opt for low-tier products in slightly higher chipsets. Nowadays, even entry-level Z790 motherboards provide very rich interfaces, and the power supply design is already quite luxurious. Some interfaces that may be needed later can be implemented later through PCI-E expansion cards.
Purchasing second-hand motherboards can save a lot of money compared to new ones, but motherboards have many components, and their lifespan is uncertain. Moreover, whether they have been repaired or have hidden issues is difficult for ordinary consumers to identify, so their second-hand takeover value is not high. The higher-end the motherboard, the fewer the potential buyers; as the CPU development speed increases, older high-end motherboards have even less market. Bargain hunters prefer cheap entry-level motherboards.
The lower-spec models in the same series retain value better, while the more luxurious and flashy high-priced cards have worse value retention (but their residual value will still be slightly higher than that of lower-spec models). For example, a low-spec RTX4080 bought for 7500 yuan versus a luxury version bought for 12000 yuan.
Most consumers define product value based on the price of lower-spec products (and often deduct a bunch of taxes and coupons from that). Just like in real life, one should not discuss the price of their car with others. People who have never bought a car may have their perception of car prices influenced by exaggerated reviews from car reviewers on short videos.
However, friends who are willing to spend money on luxury versions care more about appearance and do not mind performance or “value retention”; what matters is their comfort and satisfaction.
Buying second-hand graphics cards can save a lot compared to new ones, but graphics cards have many components (especially mid-to-high-end graphics cards), and their lifespan is uncertain. Whether they have been repaired or have hidden issues is difficult for ordinary consumers to identify, so their second-hand takeover value is not high. In contrast, low-end graphics cards are very durable, especially those used in branded machines, which tend to have a long lifespan.
As long as you do not buy at a high price, the value retention of memory is quite good. Each generation of interfaces can last at least 8 years, and there are several price increases during the mid-term of each generation of memory. This means you can earn money through appropriate purchasing and selling timing. For example, DDR3 was first compatible with Intel’s 4 series chipsets (like G41, P43) and paired with the LGA775 platform. In fact, it has been supported all the way to the 9th generation Intel Core (and theoretically to the 10th generation as well). DDR4 has been compatible since the 6th generation Skylake and continues to be supported up to the 14th generation.
Regular desktop DDRx memory and DDRx ECC (commonly known as pure ECC memory/usable for home platforms) retain value relatively well, but server-specific DDRx REG ECC memory (like DDR3 REG ECC that perfectly matches the Xeon E5) does not retain value! When the corresponding server platform is still popular, their prices are high; once the platform is phased out, they immediately lose value due to the lack of potential buyers (the audience is left with only bargain hunters).
Memory is a static running component, and the chance of damage is low. The reliability and circulation of second-hand memory can be said to be second only to CPUs. Users who frequently buy second-hand parts are likely to come across second-hand memory, which is both cheap and good to use, and very few people worry about the lifespan of memory.
[Takeover Value] ★★☆ (Consumer Grade)
[Takeover Value] ★★★☆ (Enterprise Grade)
The value retention principle of SSDs is similar to that of memory, but SSDs, regardless of chip technology or single-chip storage capacity improvement speed, are developing quickly, often leading to price increases due to upstream chip manufacturers’ “production cuts.” Although the advancement of technology will inevitably affect product pricing, the key factor in determining value is still the size of capacity. Therefore, small-capacity SSDs are generally not worth much, as their initial prices are very low, and there is no concept of poor value retention; large-capacity SSDs are priced high but are at risk of significant price drops due to technological updates; the large-capacity SSD market is also easily flooded with various used and low-quality products, which invisibly diminishes product value.
Currently, the SSDs with strong value retention mainly include the following categories:
(1) Mainstream Capacity: 256GB to 1TB; when selecting products with a capacity of 2TB or more, on one hand, look at the relative price multiplier compared to half the capacity (preferably less than x1.8); on the other hand, compare with the prices of reliable used products of the same capacity. If the price difference is significant, it is better to “pick up trash”; for stability, you can pick up “enterprise-grade trash”.
(2) Traditional Categories: SATA, PCIe 3.0/4.0. Products that claim high pricing due to the use of the latest technology or those adopting PCIe 5.0 protocol generally have poor value retention, with greater potential for price drops.
SSDs have a corresponding lifespan, so the price difference between used and new products can be significant. The reliability of used SSDs is debatable and depends on luck and the seller’s integrity. Enterprise-grade products generally have stronger reliability and larger base capacities (corresponding to a higher number of erase/write cycles), so as long as they are not severely damaged, their remaining lifespan will not be short. In fact, most users who buy used enterprise-grade large-capacity SSDs tend to use them for storing media and games, rather than for storing valuable data.
If you need to store valuable data, a single new hard drive or SSD cannot guarantee that; multiple backups such as RAID or cloud storage are necessary.
One significant advantage of SSDs is their strong interface compatibility, which generally has no platform restrictions, allowing them to continue being used even after configuration updates.
Mechanical hard drives generally have no value retention; once opened and used, they lose value. Because HDDs are prone to damage, second-hand mechanical hard drives are usually very cheap, with those under or equal to 1TB costing even just a few dozen or ten yuan. The primary motivation for purchasing mechanical hard drives is personal storage needs, so do not expect to sell them for much later.
Coolers have little value retention, and second-hand items generally do not hold much value (especially water coolers), but air coolers can be quite appealing when buying second-hand, especially mid-to-high-end air coolers, as they can save a lot of money. As for water coolers, it’s best to avoid them; there is no second-hand value, as who knows if it will leak tomorrow?
Obsolete air coolers can not only cool CPUs but can also be used to cool other devices that may get hot and have flat surfaces.
Cases have little value retention, and second-hand value is low; they can be used as long as they are not broken. Only classic design products may have some second-hand or collectible value; otherwise, they are basically close to being sold as scrap, and it is better to keep them for personal use. As long as they do not break, they can be used indefinitely, with higher metal content being more durable, while those with glass and lights are at risk of damage or breaking.
Power supplies have little value retention, and second-hand value is also low. Although a power supply can last a long time, and the advanced ATX standard has been around for many years, even though some interfaces have been gradually phased out, new interfaces continue to emerge, this does not change the fact that second-hand power supplies are not worth much. This is also why the internal circuit boards of power supplies age (similar to circuit boards).
The magical thing about power supplies is that even if you lack some interfaces, as long as the rated power is sufficient, you can adapt other interfaces (because there are only a few voltage types). For example, the 20-pin main power supply used for old motherboards is now 24-pin, so you can buy a 20-pin to 24-pin adapter cable; if there are missing SATA power connectors, you can adapt using D-type connectors; if there are missing 6-pin auxiliary power connectors for graphics cards, you can adapt using D-type connectors as an emergency; if there are missing 16-pin auxiliary power connectors for new graphics cards, you can adapt using existing 6-pin or 8-pin auxiliary power connectors; brand machine motherboards may use 8-pin, 10-pin, or 12-pin proprietary main power supply connectors, but cases can install retail power supplies, so you can buy a corresponding brand motherboard-specific power supply adapter cable (24-pin to 8, 10, or 12 can work).
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