11 Best Refurbished Computers: Compare & Save

1. 1. HP ProDesk 600

   Price: $299.99

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   Pros:

   • Two killer monitors
   • Decent amount of power
   • Great for work
   • Good SSD size

   Cons:

   • Not a super-powered machine
   • Not eveyone needs to monitors?
   • Keyboard is fine, but isn't going to be top of the line (obviously)

   Processor i5-4570 | RAM 8GB DDR4 | Graphics Card Integrated AMD Radeon HD 7650A | Hard Drive 256GB SSD| 

   The HP ProDesk is one of the best refurbished computers out there. This is a STEAL. 

   You are getting a lot here for one low price. The full breakdown is the HP ProDesk 600 G1 SFF desktop with dual HP 24uh FHD monitors, a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, as well as gel mouse pad. WHAT?! Again, I can’t get over how much is in this deal. 

   In terms of power, we’ve got a mid-range processor and a decent amount of DDR3 RAM. This thing won’t fly, but factoring in the SSD and you’ve got a very competent machine here. 

   If you’re after something for work, having two monitors really does make a huge difference. It’s all about saving those precious seconds that add up throughout the day. Being able to have one window open on one monitor while having, say, MS Word open on the other really does speed things up. 

   For browsing the Internet, working, and some lower-level gaming this pack is well worth considering. 

   Find more HP ProDesk information and reviews here

2. 2. Dell Optiplex

   Price: $122.33

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   Pros:

   • Windows 10 Pro for max configuration and control when using Windows
   • Great dual hard drive set up for fast OS and plenty of data storage
   • DVD-RW drive
   • Includes Wi-Fi USB dongle

   Cons:

   • Only has USB 2.0 ports
   • No graphics card for gaming
   • Kind of ugly

   Processor i5-2400 | Passmark 5911 | RAM 16GB DDR3 | Graphics Card / Passmark Integrated | Hard Drive 120GB SSD + 2TB SSD | Weight 19lbs |

   While this Optiplex model isn’t quite as great of a deal as the first model, it really is beyond ready to go. Boasting an SSD that’s big enough for the OS, and a two terabyte drive for data, it’s got plenty of room.

   Unfortunately, due to the size of the SSD, the data concerns addressed above are still relevant. Beyond this, however, this PC’s inclusion of 16GB of RAM means it’s great for many tasks, including 1080P video editing. The processor is slightly weaker than the first model on our list, but it’s plenty powerful for most use cases.

   This PC also will allow one to throw in a graphics card, meaning one could throw in a GTX 1050 and have yourself a very solid video editing and video gaming machine.

   Find more Dell Optiplex information and reviews here.

3. 3. Dell XPS 8920 (Gamer’s choice)

   Price: $1,499.77

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   Pros:

   • Powerful processor
   • DVD burner
   • Solid graphics card for playing modern games at high to ultra settings
   • Huge amount of RAM for multitasking
   • Capable of editing 4K video

   Cons:

   • Overkill for some users
   • Fans can get loud
   • May be too large for some

   Processor i7-7700 | Passmark 10810 | RAM 24GB DDR4 | Graphics Card / Passmark AMD Radeon RX 480 – 8GB / 8115 | Hard Drive 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Weight 28.2lbs |

   This is a really great, well-rounded computer. It has a whip-fast i7-7700, TONS of RAM (24GB!!!), and a great graphics card that will let one play modern games at medium to high settings. As someone who checked tons of websites and did lots of research to get a very similar gaming PC for $1300, this PC inspires jealousy on my behalf. It’s a hot little deal. The RX 480 is an AMD card, but it’s just as good as what Nvidia’s cooking. Plus, the 256GB SDD and 1TB HDD are really great for having a fast system, and plenty of data. Of course, the normal disclaimer applies: that second hard disk drive isn’t as reliable as a new one, so be careful.

   For workstation applications, this PC is a dream. 24GB of RAM is tons and will let you do whatever you need to, and all at once. This PC is the gamer’s choice because for most games, besides the tip of the top, this PC will easily play them, and it’s almost half as expensive as item number 10 on our list. This is just a plain great deal.

   Find more Dell XPS 8920 information and reviews here.

4. 4. HP 8300 Elite

   Price: $91.99

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   Pros:

   • Decent workstation for normal use
   • Hard drive has solid capacity
   • Great value for the price
   • Good starting point to build a PC

   Cons:

   • Some units are nicked and bruised
   • Hard drives may fail; best to replace them if you will have sensitive data on yours
   • No graphics card for gaming
   • No built-in WiFi

   Processor i5-3470 | Passmark 6636 | RAM 8GB DDR3 | Graphics Card / Passmark Integrated | Hard Drive 500GB HDD | Weight 17.1lbs |

   Now, this is a hard-driving bargain! This HP 8300 elite may be on the barebones side, but it’s hard to argue with its great performance at such a low price. Boasting a spacious hard drive, decently fast processor, and enough RAM for most multitasking, there’s really nothing this PC can’t do in terms of student or office use. Another great benefit of this PC is that it’s a great starting point to build yourself a really nice machine on the cheap. One could pick this thing up, switch out the HDD for a nice SSD and have a great, powerful PC for less than $300 that runs as fast as much pricier PCs.

   This is a great deal for those who want a simple machine that can do all of the basics at a snappy pace. As mentioned in the intro, it is key, however, to be careful and respectful of the fact that it has an old hard drive. Beyond this, however, this is a great deal.

5. 5. HP Elite Mini 8300 (Editor’s Choice)

   Price: $448.88

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   Pros:

   • Solid specs for the price
   • Great workstation PC
   • Fast SSD and large data drive
   • Amazing for student or office use
   • Snappy editing of photos

   Cons:

   • Graphics card is useless for gaming
   • Smaller, but also kind of retro-style
   • Keyboard will be rubbish

   Processor i7-3770 | Passmark 9308 | RAM 16GB DDR3 | Graphics Card / Passmark Radeon 6350 / 208 | Hard Drive 240GB SSD + 2TB | Weight 16.7lbs |

   This mini PC is truly the most well-rounded pick for non-gamers on our list. Boasting a whip-fast i7 processor, tons of RAM, an SSD that’s big enough for some data and the OS, and a dedicated 2TB data drive, there’s literally nothing one will be missing here. It’s solid for editing 1080P or 4K (though for serious editor’s, a graphics card would be nice).

   The one negative here is that this PC just won’t do for gaming. It can’t be upgraded either because it’s a mini. Still, for many, this is one of the best picks on the list. Unless you need to game, this PC is powerful for pretty much every application and will run smooth as butter. It’s the editor’s choice because it’s snappy, cheap, and for student or office use, this is just an extremely solid value with zero compromises. One could easily spend twice as much on a new computer and not get quite these specs. It’s a real knock out.

   Find more HP Elite Mini 8300 information and reviews here.

6. 6. Dell OptiPlex 9020-SFF

   Price: $135.00

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   Pros:

   • Very affordable
   • Perfect for homework or working from home
   • Spacious solid-state drive to speed up tasks

   Cons:

   • Processor is old
   • RAM isn't the latest type
   • Won't run video games

   Processor i5-4570 | RAM 16GB DDR3 | Graphics Card Integrated Intel HD | Hard Drive 512GB SSD| 

   The Dell OptiPlex 9020-SFF is a solid choice if you’re after something very basic for searching the web or general work. 

   In terms of power, this is PC you can think of as enough. The i5 processor isn’t super fast and won’t make full use of the 16GB of RAM. That said, cost is the deciding factor here. And the 512GB solid-state drive is sure to speed things up somewhat. 

   For gaming, this PC isn’t going to be able to do much, so it’s hard to recommend it for anyone thinking remotely about gaming. This is purely a work PC – perfect for homework or if you’re working from home, but limited when it comes to more demanding tasks. 

   Find more information and reviews here

7. 7. Periphio Sub-Terra Gaming PC

   Price: $589.99

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   Pros:

   • Great entry level gaming PC
   • Great all-round specs for a low price
   • 16GB of DDR4 RAM is great, as is the solid-state drive

   Cons:

   • Isn't high-end, but should run a wide selection of games
   • i5 isn't super fast
   • SSD will be filled fast (though it does come with a 1TB HDD as well)

   Processor i5 6500 | RAM 16GB DDR4 | Graphics Card GeForce GT 730 | Hard Drive 240GB SSD | 

   The Periphio Sub-Terra Gaming PC is an affordable option for those looking to play PC games without the stupidly high entry cost. 

   Now, it’s important to manage expectations here. This isn’t a top-of-the-line gaming PC that can do everything at the highest settings. And that’s completely fine! For the price, what you’re getting is a steal that should be able to play a wide selection of games at low to mid settings. High settings may be a push, but could be possible for the likes of Minecraft or Roblox. 

   The i5 isn’t the fastest processor in the world, but it’s enough. What really kicks here is the 16GB of DDR4 RAM and the super-fast 240GB solid-state drive. Those two factors will make the PC run a lot faster than you’d expect. And while we have noted this isn’t a high-end gaming PC, the GeForce GT 730 is a fine graphics card to be working with at this price point. Plus you’ve got RGB lighting which really impresses younger gamers. 

   Find more information and reviews here

8. 8. HP Z420

   Price: $150.00

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   Pros:

   • Excellent workstation PC
   • SSD for OS and plenty of data
   • Windows 10 Pro for best Windows experience
   • 90 day warranty
   • USB 3.0 ports
   • Graphics card is fine for 1080P editing

   Cons:

   • Can’t be used for gaming
   • Huge
   • Ugly

   Processor Intel Xeon E5-1650 | Passmark 11779 | RAM 16GB DDR3 | Graphics Card / Passmark Quadro 2000 1GB / 1312 | Hard Drive 240GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Weight 22lbs |

   For a little more, you can pick up this really interesting used PC.

   It boasts equal RAM, a weak but present graphics card, and changes the hard drive structure to a 240GB SSD with a 1TB HDD. This change is great because it adds a lot more data, but it’s not so great because having that many fewer gigabytes on the SSD mean things will be slower once you fill it up (and 240GB goes super fast, considering the OS alone is 100GB or so). One perk of this PC, however, is its Xeon processor.

   Boasting massive performance, it’s one of the fastest consumer-level processors out there. This is a great PC for student or office use. For video editing, the SSD computer above is preferable. For more general use, however, this PC fits the bill a bit better.

   Find more HP Z420 information and reviews here.

9. 9. ASUS ROG Strix

   Price: $999.00

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   Pros:

   • Solid specs, great for gaming
   • RTX 2070 is a solid card to start with
   • 16GB of DDR RAM and 512GB SSD are plenty

   Cons:

   • Pricey
   • Graphics card could be a little stronger
   • Tower design isn't for everyone

   Processor AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | RAM 16GB DDR4 | Graphics Card GeForce RTX 2070 | Hard Drive 512GB SSD | 

   The ASUS ROG Strix is all about power. Whether you’re looking to work on video editing, photo manipulation, or just settle down for a night of gaming, the ASUS ROG Strix is where it’s at. 

   While there are better graphics cards out there than the RTX 2070, this is a fine choice to get you started. You’ve also got solid choices in the Ryzen 7 and a spacious 512GB SSD, and an excellent amount of DDR4 RAM. I even go as far as saying there’s no need to go higher than 16GB due to diminishing returns. 

   Find more information and reviews here

10. 10. iMac All-in-One 4K

    Price: $310.00

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    Pros:

    • Includes one year warranty from Apple
    • Amazing display
    • Solid multitasking performance
    • Easy to set up Windows on
    • Can get Apple Care for additional warranty protection

    Cons:

    • 5400RPM is a slow hard drive
    • No graphics card for gaming
    • Is Apple

    Processor Quad Core i5 | RAM 8GB DDR3 | Graphics Card / Passmark Intel Iris Pro (Integrated) | Hard Drive 1TB (5400 RPM) | Weight 24lbs | Display 21.5″, 4096 x 2304 IPS |

    Many people like to make Mac or PC a divisive issue. The truth is that unlike world affairs, Macs are simple. You pay a premium price for a really nice, stable operating system and a great user experience.

    That said, this Mac is more looks than anything else. While it has an acceptably fast i5 and OK RAM, the display is really the star here. 4K is simply stunning to look at. Unfortunately, this PC really is only suited for student or office applications, web browsing, and document creation because its hard drive is 5400 RPM. If you’re willing to tolerate some clunkiness, this Mac has a stunning display, plenty of space, and is otherwise solid. Unfortunately, this is a fairly extreme case of looks over substance for Macs, but having 4K to work with is really nice for certain office work. This is a great machine for some people, just not anyone who needs a fast hard drive.

    Fortunately, backing up Macs is easy with their built-in app Time Machine. One only needs an external hard drive.

    Find more iMac All-in-One 4K information and reviews here.

11. 11. HP Elite 8300 (i7 version)

    Price: $202.49

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    Pros:

    • Includes two year warranty
    • Decent processor
    • Solid RAM
    • Great price for the performance
    • SSD is lush

    Cons:

    • No graphics card
    • Form factor is great but uninspired
    • Isn't powerful enough for gaming

    Processor i5 | RAM 16GB | Graphics Card / Passmark Integrated | Hard Drive 256GB SSD | 

    This version of the HP Elite 8300 is considerably cheap. If you’re after a basic, baby’s first PC type of deal, you won’t go wrong with this one. 

    This PC boasts the very okay i5 processor. This isn’t a huge advantage, but it’s as sweet as the addition of a 512GB SSD, which gives one great peace of mind and means replacing the hard drive isn’t a must.

    The RAM is also boosted up to 16GB and this really changes things in terms of a multitasking, having many applications open at once, and basic editing videos or photos.

    Overall, this is an awesome PC with plenty of fast storage and a decent processor. It’s a solid option for a workstation. That said, without a graphics card, it’s no good for gaming.

    Find more HP Elite 8300 information and reviews here.

Getting a used PC is a great way to save money and get a great deal. Another benefit to buying a used PC is they can make great starting points for a machine one plans to upgrade. Now, the machines on this list aren't merely "used," They're "certified refurbished." This means that several standards must be adhered to including that the products lack any visible defects from a distance of 12", have been thoroughly cleaned, and they've undergone a full diagnostic test to ensure all of their components work. If you'd like to learn more about the precise standards used, you can read more on this page.

Another great benefit of certified refurbished products is their 90-day warranty. While the vast swath of purchasers gets high-quality products at a far reduced price, a small percentage of users may find that their machine is not up to snuff. Of course, having 90 days to test a product is more than enough (especially with PCs) to suss out any major issues, with one exception.

The one exception and necessity to impart upon all who purchase a used PC is that the hard disk drive could fail. To be crystal clear, this only refers to actual hard disks with moving parts, not SSDs. While for most people, their HDD won't fail, the chances are higher with a used machine. Since the risk is higher, there are two ways to mitigate this: 1. Rigorous backing up. 2. Replacing the drive. The first option will likely require purchasing an external drive, though there is a service called BackBlaze which backs up your entire PC for only a few dollars a month. Another option may be to do much of your work in the cloud (Google Docs, for instance). Option 2, replacing the drive, may require a pricey installation process, but if you want to try it yourself, it can usually be done with only a Phillips screwdriver and a YouTube tutorial.