CeX – The joys of the second hand CPU market

When it comes to buying PC components the best can often be found on the second-hand market, provided that the user is willing to buy older components with little to no warranties.

In the UK there is a second-hand entertainment retailer that is often overlooked by PC builders, the Complete entertainment Exchange, better known as CeX. This retailer buys second-hand CDs, DVDs, Consoles, Tablets and PC components and resells them for profit, sometimes resulting in pricing that is well below the average that can be found elsewhere. 

Today as the year draws to an end, we have some great CPU deals for those on wanting CPU upgrade, though bear in mind that there are upcoming releases from both AMD and Intel to look forward to in early 2017. 

Right now in Intel’s LGA 1151 socket Intel’s unlocked i7 6700K can be purchased for £205 and Intel’s i5 6600K can be purchased for £150. These are prices that are well below the average on the market. 

Below are a list of great CPU deals that are available at CEX, including some deals for users of older AMD and Intel sockets that are looking for an upgrade. If you are using an older motherboard, please check your manufacturer’s website to see what CPUs are supported.  If you are using a low-end i3 or an older FX 4-core or Phenom series CPUs these may be a great deal for you. 

 

– Intel i7 6700K LGA 1151 £205

– Intel i5 6600K LGA 1151 £150

– Intel i5 2500K LGA 1155 £62

– Intel i7 2600K LGA 1155 £120

– AMD FX 8370E AM3+ £85

– AMD 1090T AM3 £58

– AMD FX 9370 AM3+ £95

 

  

One other thing to note is that the Skylake series LGA 1151 CPUs listed above will work on Intel’s upcoming Z270 series motherboards, as well as existing Z170 motherboards. 

 

Risks and rewards

When buying a second-hand product you will be faced with the fact that you have a reduced warranty when compared to their new counterparts. CeX offers a 14-day return policy and a 30-day guaranteed warranty for a full refund or replacement, which will allow users to return the product if it develops a fault. Returns can either be directly to your local store or through their online returns program.

 Below is CeX’s full refund policy, which can extend up to 24 months. 

 

My order has developed a fault or has broken.

Should your order develop a fault within 30 days of receiving it, contact us as soon as possible for a full refund to the original payment method or a replacement.

We also offer a 24 month warranty* (on all items purchased on or after the 14th Nov 2015) on all items, except consumables (e.g. batteries, projector bulbs etc.) so if your item develops a fault after 30 days through normal use, contact us as soon as possible. In the first instance we will either repair or replace your item, failing that you will be refunded to the original price within the first 6 months of purchase. After 6 months any refund will be to the current sales price or the original price (whichever is the lower).

 

When it comes to second-hand components always comes the risk of components being dead on arrival, though with the companies return policy anyone who received a dead CPU should easily be able to return it or a full refund within 30 days. 

 

Overclocking

One thing to note with second-hand overclockable CPUs is that they are usually average or below-average overclockers, as owners of “golden samples” or above average overclockers typically keep their CPUs for longer or sell them to pro-overclockers for higher than average prices. 

 

In summary, the second-hand market is a great place for those who are in search for the best value for money, though this comes with additional risk to buyers. This will be worth it for a lot of PC builders, though some others will prefer to have extended warranties and the “new product” experience. 

CeX is certainly a better place to buy from than places like Ebay or Gumtree, providing a great middle-ground between a retailer and a typical second-hand seller with shops in most UK cities and cheap delivery services from as little as £2.50. 

Sadly second-hand CPU prices at CeX are not always this low, with prices being very similar to retail in some cases. That being said they are certainly worth a look if you are looking for an upgrade and can provide some great value in many cases. 

 

You can join the discussion on the second-hand CPUs on the OC3D Forums.