The 3 Best Cheap Computer Parts Stores for Saving Money

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Looking for new computer parts is really good fun. Well, at least it used to be until computer hardware became more expensive and prices stopped dropping. Luckily, there are several decent options if you’re looking for cheaper hardware, both brand new and second-hand.

In no particular order, here are some of the best online stores for finding cheap (ish) computer parts when repairing your machine or looking to build a new one from scratch.

Caution When Buying Cheap Computer Parts
You can only expect so much regarding cheap computer components. If they’re too cheap, you have to ask yourself “Why?” Why can one store afford to sell it at a significantly cheaper price than their competitors?

The answer is usually “It’s a scam.”

There are other issues, too. The price of RAM has only increased in the past few years, making any “cheap” parts now look like the regular deals of yesteryear. Similarly, cheap CPUs don’t exist unless you buy second-hand, and even then, some CPUs are surprisingly expensive.

Case in point: I thought about making a minor CPU upgrade for my main system. It has a decent i5 3570K that has never let me down, but I wanted to bump to the i7 3770K for the extra capacity. Intel 3xxx CPUs hit the market in 2012. And the price of a new i7 3770K? Exactly the same as six years ago; I should have just splashed a little bit extra back then.

 

Adding to the problem is the cryptocurrency mining boom. The price of Ethereum and other GPU-mined cryptocurrencies might have dropped, but the demand for new GPUs for mining rigs remains steady. That said, GPU prices are at least lower than they were at the peak of the crypto-mining market.

Second-hand parts, refurbished parts, and cut-price deals are the way to go if you need cheap hardware — either that or an unbranded Chinese import.

1. For Wholesale Computer Parts: AliExpress

Best for: Cheap unbranded hardware, cheap wholesale components, computer part stores, RAM, HDDs, SSDs, PSUs.
Avoid: CPUs, GPUs.

Let’s start with the last thing mentioned above: Chinese imports. China is one of the largest global manufacturers of computer hardware. AliExpress is an enormous online marketplace where you can find all manner of hardware, branded or otherwise. Branded hardware still costs roughly the same as a U.S. or E.U.-based vendor, but hardware from manufacturers you’ve never heard of can cost significantly less.

 

RAM, HDDs, and SSDs are worth investigating, depending on your budget and desire for a deal. However, off-brand GPUs don’t exist, and the same goes for CPUs.

Now, does it cost less because the hardware isn’t as good? Or is it simply the weight of the brand that adds to the cost of other hardware? The answer is somewhere in the middle. AliExpress sellers are either companies or individuals, but it is different from Amazon in that it doesn’t directly sell any products itself.

 

2. For Refurbished Computer Parts: eBay
Best for: Brand new hardware, refurbished hardware, second-hand parts, computer part stores.
Avoid: Any deal that is too good to be true — because it probably is!

Next up, eBay, an excellent site for tracking down cheaper computer hardware. The trick to finding a great eBay deal is patience and persistence. Set yourself a realistic price point for the hardware you want, stick to it, and wait it out. At some point, your product will appear at the price you want, within reason. (You’re not picking up a GTX 1080 Ti for $ 100 unless there’s something wrong with it or it’s a scam.)

 

3. For End-of-Season Clearance Sales: Newegg
Best for: End-of-season clearance sales, big budget discount, wide-range of hardware, customer service.
Avoid: Spending all of your money on end-of-season clearance sales, making forum posts before searching for similar questions.

Newegg is a name synonymous with great computer hardware deals. You can find a range of new and refurbished computer parts, as well as the traditional Newegg deals. Deals vary day to day, so if you have some specific hardware in mind, it is worth checking back periodically. To help you out, you can add those components to your wish list, and Newegg will ping you an email if it goes on sale.

Newegg has a few other good points, too. For instance, their forums are very active. Other users will direct you toward the right hardware for your PC build or otherwise. Also, hardware manufacturers are known to browse and actively respond to users with issues to ensure everything is running smoothly, while their YouTube channels make decent videos comparing various bits of hardware you might want to pick up.