Gaming computers have become increasingly popular over the last decade. While PC gaming has existed despite the Console Wars for decades, more people than ever are switching to PC as console gamers move to PC.
But what if you have a gaming PC that you’re ready to sell? There’s no sense in letting your gaming PC sit in your closet and collect dust. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to sell a gaming PC, we’re here to help. Read on for a brief guide on how and where you should sell your PC.
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Top Places To Sell Your Gaming PC
There are many fantastic places to sell your gaming PC. Here are some of the most popular options to consider.
1. Swappa
Swappa is a user-to-user vendor selling service that focuses on legitimacy. There are fewer listings than many other vendors offer, but you can trust each one as opposed to the scam-ridden sites that are often used. This site also focuses entirely on tech rather than a hodge-podge of anything people want to resell.
Phones are the most frequently sold item on Swappa, though laptops and computers are also common. With Swappa, you may have a better chance at a sale if you’re selling your gaming PC in one piece. However, if you’re selling your GPU, they have a dedicated section for video cards.
Overall, Swappa is a reliable site that’s continuing to grow and focuses on legitimate sales. Selling your computer for parts isn’t the best choice, but if you’re selling your entire PC, Swappa is a great option.
2. Ebay
Ebay is arguably the most popular platform for reselling items. You likely already know about this site from its massive popularity. The platform is among the best places to sell, but it also presents some challenges. For one, eBay’s popularity means it often encounters scammers. It’s not uncommon for people to try to buy or sell phony or broken items.
This can also make sales more difficult, as people are more cautious. Selling an entire computer at a good price shouldn’t take long, but you may have to work with several buyers. Buyers will also often try to negotiate. If you’re looking for a specific price, this can become obnoxious quickly. For higher-priced items like a gaming PC, this problem is significantly more common.
However, you can also easily sell the components of your PC if you’ve decided not to sell the entire PC as a whole. GPUs and CPUs are highly sought after on eBay, and you shouldn’t have difficulty selling them. Less expensive or more common components, such as case fans, often don’t fetch much. If you’re trying to sell your PC quickly, eBay is a great option. Just be careful of scammers and make sure you’re paid before you ship your gaming PC.
3. BuyBackBoss
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of communicating with buyers, then BuyBackBoss is a wonderful option. BuyBackBoss primarily buys smartphones of all makes and models. They also work with other used devices.
Best of all, BuyBackBoss will buy your device directly from you. This means you won’t have to juggle multiple offers or check your listings every day. Instead, visit their website and follow the steps to sell a device. Once you’ve communicated what you’re selling, they’ll send back a quote of how much they’re willing to buy it from you for.
After you receive the quote, you can accept or decline it. If you accept, please box up your PC and send it. BuyBackBoss will pay you the quoted amount within a reasonable timeframe. If you believe your PC is worth more than they’re offering, you’re always free to decline the offer and sell it elsewhere. It’s never a bad idea to see how much different outlets are willing to pay.
4. PC Swaps
Of the sites listed so far, PC Swaps is the most focused on PC parts. While you can sell your PC as a pre-built machine, the site focuses more heavily on buying and selling parts. On the website, you’ll find sections for every category of PC parts, including GPUs, CPUs, RAM, storage, peripherals, cases, and more. Everything is under its own section. Thanks to this feature, shoppers can browse specific parts more easily. This makes it easier to sell as well.
Individual parts sell for tens to thousands of dollars. You can find many pre-built PCs for sale. If you’ve chosen to sell your PC as a full machine, don’t let PC Swaps’ focus on parts throw you off. Best of all, the only reason to use this site is to buy or sell tech. That means you won’t have as many uninformed or casual buyers as you will on sites that deal with multiple categories.
Scammers are also less frequent because the site isn’t as large as sites like eBay. PC Swaps makes selling your PC for parts easy, and you can customize the price to your liking. It’ll require listing and selling, but you’ll get what you deserve for your PC. Overall, if you’re familiar with your parts and know how to sell them, this is likely your best option.
5. Facebook Marketplace
Another option to sell your gaming PC is Facebook Marketplace. Similar to an online garage sale, Facebook Marketplace is Facebook’s platform for reselling goods. Anything can be sold here, and the purchasers are often local. It’s a bit of a mixed bag with no focus on electronics, but you can often sell your PC relatively easily.
If you live in a larger neighborhood, check whether your community has its own marketplace. This makes selling quick for porch pick-ups (ppu).
Selling as a pre-built machine is usually preferable on the Facebook Marketplace. Still, you should be able to sell for parts without much hassle. It’s a great way to use social media to get your unneeded devices out of your hands.
How To Prepare Your Gaming PC To Sell
One of the first things you should decide is how you want to sell your gaming PC. You have two options.
Selling Your Whole Gaming PC
The first option is to sell your computer as a single unit. This is the condition that your gaming PC is likely already in. Selling your PC pre-assembled offers several benefits but also has a few drawbacks.
One of the main benefits is that the entire transaction will be completed in a single step. Once the fully assembled PC is purchased, you have your cash and don’t need to worry about any further steps.
You’ll also receive a larger lump sum because you’ll sell your entire machine at once.
There’s a strong chance you’ll have an easier time making a sale, especially if your PC is in great condition or priced well. Many people are in the market for a complete computer rather than building one from parts.
Some are often willing to pay more than the parts are worth to save the hassle of building the PC.
Selling Your Gaming PC for Parts
On the other hand, selling your PC part by part can net you more money in the end. Some parts are worth much more than others (the GPU and CPU are likely the most expensive components).
This helps you customize the price to maximize value. The main drawback is that selling part by part will require many more transactions to manage. Additionally, some pieces may sell at a low price, and you may not want to try selling them. For example, low-quality RAM and stock fans might never be purchased.
Other Considerations When Selling Your Gaming PC
Once you’ve decided how you’ll sell your computer, make sure you save any data you want to a separate hard drive, then reformat and wipe the drive. Otherwise, you’ll be giving all of your saved files over to whoever possesses your hard drive.
Additionally, clean the parts, dust the computer, and ensure everything works properly.
If you’re selling peripherals with the PC, such as a keyboard, mouse, or headset, ensure they are cleaned and sanitized as well. Doing so will help them sell for the most and make them more valuable to whoever ultimately acquires your PC.
FAQs
If you still have questions, here are answers to help you through the process of selling your gaming PC.
Summary
Selling your gaming PC in today’s market is easier than ever due to shortages and rising demand. Knowing where to sell your electronics is important.
If you’ve decided to sell your PC, check out one of the sites we’ve listed to get started. Whether you’re selling your PC as a pre-built system or as components, you’ll be able to get the cash you need.