5 Best Refurbished Desktop Computers on a Budget

Buying a new computer often comes with an expensive price tag. For those mindful of their budget, a carefully selected refurbished desktop computer can be a wallet-friendly alternative. This guide contains five of the best refurbished desktop computers, featuring the key specifications that make them superior choices for anyone in search of low-cost, quality desktops.

There are a lot of uncertainties surrounding anything refurbished, especially its history and quality. So we’ve included practical tips and relevant details that will help you navigate the world of shopping for refurbished computers and find the best refurbished computer deals.

Photo by Faizur Rehman on Pexels

What Is a Refurbished Desktop Computer?

A computer labeled as refurbished typically means that it has been tested, graded, repaired, restored to performance, or in some cases, customized per the buyer’s request. A refurbished computer has all its previous data wiped out and exterior cleaned before it’s put up for sale. Items that end up being refurbished include those that were used or returned to the manufacturer for reasons like defects or have been sold but weren’t used. Some computers were also disposed of by the original owner, as in the case of an IT asset disposition. Check with the manufacturer or reseller to know more about its refurbishment processes, including its grading system for refurbished units.

Advantages of Buying Refurbished Computers

It’s understandable to feel hesitant to buy something previously owned by others. So what makes refurbished computers a worthwhile choice?

It saves money

For the price of $400 or below, you can get a whole setup or a refurbished high-end PC for a bit more. High-performance refurbished computers like the Dell XPS line or gaming PCs become more accessible this way. Computers come and go so fast that keeping up with what’s new and latest can burn a hole in your pocket.

Its quality is assured

You can’t test a product’s quality unless you buy it first. The case with refurbished computers is that they have been used before, so they did work and then tested and restored prior to being sold again. While a manufacturer or third-party refurbisher may have different layers of refurbishment, a buyer of a refurbished PC can expect to get a computer that is reliable and performs like its brand-new counterpart.

It helps the environment

The growth of the electronics industry has resulted in the mounting e-waste problem, such as discarded computers and cables. Refurbishing saves usable computers from being thrown out and extends their life as a result. PCs that have undergone testing and are found to be non-functional are usually sent for recycling.

It ensures quick and smooth purchase

With readily available stock, you can swiftly choose and customize the system to your needs, including choice of operating system and essential peripherals like monitor, mouse, keyboard, and adapter. This smooth process eliminates the need for pre-ordering and waiting, even for upgraded components.

The abovementioned points build a strong case for buying a refurbished desktop computer versus getting a new one, which expectedly remains a default route for most consumers. To demonstrate that refurbished PCs can be a good buy, let’s go over the top contenders for the best refurbished desktop computers on a budget.

Top 5 Picks for Refurbished Desktop Computers

In creating this list, we’ve considered the refurbished computer pricing and the following:

• Certification: All of the computers here are certified refurbished.
• Price: The price is based on the computer’s base configuration.
• Customization: From OS to anything that a buyer can add to enhance the computer’s functionality.
• Features and specs: Computer speed, storage, memory, Wi-Fi capability, and more are considered.

Check out our top picks for the best refurbished computers.

1. Dell OptiPlex 9020 Small Form Factor (SFF)

The Dell OptiPlex 9020 belongs to Dell’s line of business computers and workstations. OptiPlex has since become one of Dell’s strongest computer product lines and its most secure and manageable commercial desktop.

The OptiPlex 9020 was introduced in 2013, featuring processors like Intel Core i7 and i5 Quad Core, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600, up to 4 DIMM slots, hard disk drives of up to 2TB, security options like Dell Secure Works, and Intel vPro systems management.

What makes the 9020 a standout is that it can fit into any business environment with its mini tower (MT), small form factor, ultra-small form factor (USFF), and microcomputers. For this review, we’ll specifically look into one of the bestselling OptiPlex 9020 desktop computers in online stores to date.

Key Specifications

This refurbished, Grade A Optiplex 9020 SFF has Intel Core i5 (4590), a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor with a processor base frequency of 3.30 GHz. The processor base frequency is a performance metric referring to the processor’s regular operating point.

It has Intel HD Graphics 4600 for its graphics, but you can opt to have AMD HD 7470 1GB, Nvidia GT 710 2GB, etc., instead.  

The Optiplex 9020 SFF features 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. This Dell PC also has 4 DIMM slots, so you can add RAM as supported by your Windows. The desktop ships with a Windows OS or without one.

Winning Features

You’ll have ports for your USB devices, as the OptiPlex 9020 has USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports on its front and back panels. Looking to use DVDs or want to connect the computer to a projector? You’re in luck with its DVD drive and VGA port.

While it is very much Gigabit Ethernet capable, the OptiPlex 9020 SFF can be connected to Wi-Fi via an adapter, which can be purchased alongside the computer.

With physical dimensions (height, width, and depth) of 29.00 cm x 9.30 cm x 31.20 cm, you can work anywhere convenient at home or in a small office with the OptiPlex 9020 SFF.    

Pricing

• Grade A Refurbished OptiPlex 9020 SFF starts at $174.99
• Grade B Refurbished OptiPlex 9020 SFF starts at $154.99
• Grade C Refurbished OptiPlex 9020 SFF starts at $115.99

The starting price, as with any computer mentioned in this guide, does not include peripherals and accessories like video card, webcam, keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Photo from PCLiquidations

2. HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF

If you’re looking for an affordable business desktop, consider the HP EliteDesk 800 G1. HP has consistently held a big PC market share based on worldwide PC shipments and has since been considered a reliable computer brand.

Introduced around 2014, the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 is designed to meet diverse business demands. This business PC features an HP Wireless Hotspot for easy connection sharing and collaboration with colleagues. It’s equipped with fourth-generation core i5 and i7 Intel processors, Intel® Smart Response Technology (SRT) disk-cache solution, and DTS Studio Sound software for video conferencing.

The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 is built as a business desktop with ultra slim, small form factor and tower models. This review will focus on a refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF.

Key Specifications

This particular HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF (Grade C refurbished) features an Intel Core i7-4770 Quad Core processor with a base frequency of 3.40 GHz and up to 3.90 GHz maximum turbo frequency.

The HP business desktop offers 8GB DDR3 and 256GB SSD for memory and storage, respectively. This small form factor PC’s motherboard can accommodate up to four memory slots in case you need extra memory.

The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF connects to the internet through Ethernet and wirelessly via a Wi-Fi adapter.  

Winning Features

The refurb HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF looks compact and clean with its utilitarian design. Its physical dimensions of 46.03 x 16.43 x 2.44 cm are enough for it to fit into any desk.

If you work with a lot of peripheral devices, you’ll find the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF very USB-friendly—the front panel has four ports with two each for USB 3.0 and 2.0 and then six more at the rear panel for USB 3.0 (2) and USB 2.0 (4).

Your headphone and microphone also have their allotted jacks, and DisplayPort and VGA ports are built into the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF. Sound, video, and display features make this desktop computer a top choice for a home theater PC.

Pricing

• Grade A Refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF starts at $123.99
• Grade B Refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF starts at $131.99
• Grade C Refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF starts at $94.99

Photo from PCLiquidations

3. Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 series was introduced in 2015. Global PC market leader Lenovo acquired the ThinkCentre line as part of its acquisition of IBM’s personal computing division completed in 2005.

The ThinkCentre line encompasses a wide range of business-oriented desktops, including the M900 series computers available as a tower, small form factor, and tiny form factor. While launched around the same time as the M900, the M900x series was only available as a tiny form factor.

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop’s processors include 6th generation Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 with vPro technology. This ultra-small form factor computer has a range of security features, like a slot for a Kensington MicroSaver cable and a power-on password. For this review, let’s check out an actual refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop.

Key Specifications

This Grade A refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop has an Intel Core i5 (6500T) 4 Core with a base frequency of 2.50 GHz and a max turbo frequency of 3.10 GHz.

This Tiny Desktop configuration is 8GB RAM and a maximum memory of 32 GB, given it has two memory slots. Its storage is a 256GB SSD.

The ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop has Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) and, as an added option, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapter.  

Winning Features

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop packs power in its ultra-small form. It’s a computer you can bring anywhere as it weighs at least 0.6 kg or possibly mount if desired.

It is also replete with ports, such as USB 3.0, VGA, and DisplayPort, as well as a combo jack. If you want to keep an organized and clutter-free desk, a USB docking station is an option.

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop is a compact PC you can own. Lenovo said it’s been tested to military specifications for ruggedness, durability, etc.

Pricing

• Grade A Refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop starts at $219.99
• Grade B Refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop starts at $189.99
• Grade C Refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop starts at $177.99

Photo from PCLiquidations

4. Apple A1418 iMac (Late 2015)

The Apple A1418 iMac is an all-in-one desktop and one of those iMacs with Intel processors, which have been succeeded by Apple’s first-ever chip. Apple is admittedly known more for its Macbooks than iMacs, but it still is the 4th top PC vendor, along with Lenovo, HP, Dell, and Acer,  according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Launched in late 2015 (some A1418 were released as early as 2012), the Apple A1418 iMac features a 21.5-inch screen display with IPS technology. As an Intel-based Mac, its processor is Intel Core i5 (1.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 or 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i5). The specs of the A1418, including its graphics and storage, would depend on the processor.

To know more about the A1418, let’s have a look at an actual Apple A1418 iMac as refurbished.  

Key Specifications

This refurbished Apple A1418 iMac Grade A operates with Intel Core i5 (5250U) with 1.60GHz as the processor’s base frequency and 2.70 GHz as its maximum turbo frequency.

This particular iMac has 8GB and 1TB HDD as memory and storage. It features HD Graphics 6000 in light of its processor.

You can use wired and wireless connections to connect the Apple A1418 iMac to the internet.

Winning Features

The Apple A1418 iMac being an all-in-one computer is one win—it’s less space and clutter. It also helps that this desktop has a 21.5-inch screen with a full HD resolution of 1920x1080.

Unlike other desktops, the iMac can connect to Wi-Fi without an adapter. It also has ports and slots for USB devices, headphones, and SDXC cards.  

If you’re looking to own your first-ever Apple desktop on a budget, consider the Apple A1418 iMac.

Pricing

• Grade A Refurbished Apple A1418 iMac starts at $288.95
• Grade B Refurbished Apple A1418 iMac starts at $289.99
• Grade C Refurbished Apple A1418 iMac starts at $269.99

Photo from PCLiquidations

5. B85M-E SFF

The B85M-E is a motherboard. It is developed and manufactured by Asus, a global PC vendor based in Taiwan. Numerous users rely on the B85M-E in their PC construction for diverse purposes, making it a highly coveted choice in the market.

The B85M-E motherboard has an LGA1150 socket for Intel 4th generation Core i3, i5, or i7, as well as Pentium and Celeron processors. For graphics, the B85M-E has integrated graphics built into the processor and multi-VGA output support.  

Here we have a small form factor computer built on the B85M-E architecture. The motherboard itself is designed for business desktops, and this SFF desktop, with its specs, can work in a home office or business setup.

Key Specifications

This B85M-E SFF Grade C refurbished has an Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Processor with 6MB cache and up to 3.40 GHz.

For its memory and storage, the SFF PC contains 8GB DDR3 SDRAM and 256GB 2.5" SATA. It also has four DIMM slots should you want to install extra RAM.

The B85M-E SFF has 1G Realtek 8111F Gigabit LAN Controller. For a wireless connection, you can add a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapter.

Winning Features

It’s a PC below $100! If you are looking for a very affordable desktop computer, B85M-E SFF is the answer.

The computer has plenty of ports for productivity and entertainment, including USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA.

In fact, the B85M-E SFF unit is exclusive here. But, ASUS too made the B85M-E itself unique and exclusive with features like ASUS GPU Boost, ASUS Fan Xpert 2 quiet thermal solution, and Intel SBA (Small Business Advantage) support.

Pricing

• Grade A Refurbished B85M-E SFF starts at $191.99
• Grade B Refurbished B85M-E SFF starts at $113.99
• Grade C Refurbished B85M-E SFF starts at $99.99

Photo from PCLiquidations

Shopping Guide: Finding the Best Deal on Refurbished Computers

Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels

Tip No. 1: Shop Your Ideal Computer

Efficiency is a given for any decision to buy a computer, new or refurbished. But what you’ll do with the computer, for the most part, will largely determine your final decision. If you need the computer for any, some, or all of the following:

• Light browsing and surfing the internet
• Gaming
• Photo and video editing
• Video conferencing
• Other tasks

Then you can check your prospective computer’s processor, storage, memory, graphics card, and other features that would match your needs and specifications. Factor in the portability of the unit and your budget.

Tip No. 2: Manage Your Expectations

There are advantages and disadvantages to buying a refurb computer. Consider the following:

• You are likely not the first user. This “unknown” history may bother you a bit, although a refurbished computer should be wiped clean, especially any previous data, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other relevant data destruction standards.
• Expect potential cosmetic discrepancies. There can be cosmetic imperfections to the unit or signs of wear, and these should be declared.
• The computer may run into issues. Check the product warranty and the seller’s return policy.

Getting the latest technology is not always the primary focus when you buy refurbished, although models that came out two or three years ago may have relatively new technology. Notably, this “age”  coincides with a desktop’s average lifespan of three to eight years or five years for a laptop. Per estimates on Statista, desktop computers will be replaced approximately 5.49 years in 2023 and 4.95 years in 2027.

Tip No. 3: Find the Refurbished Grade

It’s usually indicated in the product description. A refurbished PC’s grading system is typically based on the product’s condition. For example, this grading guide takes into account the cosmetic quality of a computer—all refurbished computers are fully functional.

A seller’s refurbished grading system can be relative, and sometimes, other than the grade, no further details are given. Be sure to ask about the specifics of the grade.

Tip No. 4: Research, Research, Research

When it comes to a purchase as important as a work or business computer, always do the following:

• Do your research. Browse online marketplaces and stores to find high-performance or affordable refurbished computers. Take the time to read customer reviews and research the online retailer’s reputation. Compare deals and be on the lookout for special sales, promotions, and discounts.
• Include the add-ons. Sometimes, you’ll need to add an adapter or a docking station for your desktop, so include that in your budget. Some sellers offer free delivery and financing options, so look into those as well.
• Consider the warranty. It’s a safety net in case you run into problems using the refurb computer. Confirm the terms and conditions of the warranty with the seller.  

Tip No. 5: Learn Where to Buy Refurbished Computers

Finding a place to buy a refurbished computer is as important as the product itself, as your intent is to shop for reliable refurbished desktop computers.

Look into these places online for your refurbished desktop:

• Dell and HP manufacturers. These manufacturers sell their own refurbished desktops and laptops. Each has its specific refurbishment process. If you are eyeing a specific computer brand and model, take this route.
• Third-party sellers. They sell a wide range of refurbished desktop computers and components under numerous brands, usually from the top PC vendors. The seller may not have refurbished the products, which come from the manufacturers or other sources. Explore this option when you want to shop and compare various refurbished desktop computer brands.
• Technology distributors and e-cycle companies. PCLiquidations, for instance, sell computers that they have refurbished themselves. They also offer a wide variety of branded refurbished computers, as well as exclusives. This option gives you access to countless computers and to the refurbisher, who can answer your questions directly.

FAQs on Refurbished Computers

1. Is it okay to buy a refurbished desktop computer?

Yes, a refurb desktop costs less without affecting its performance. You’ll have a slightly older, if not used, PC for the price you can afford at the moment. If you have a small business, buying refurbished computers in bulk tends to be more cost-effective.

From an environmental perspective, buying refurbished saves one functional computer away from the landfill. While the computer does undergo the necessary processes for reconditioning, the key takeaway is that it acquires a new lease of life with a different user.

2. What is the difference between refurbished and used?

A refurbished computer undergoes testing, grading, and repair and restoration to be sold in the market again. In light of those processes, you may be getting a desktop that is new but not brand-new.

On the other hand, a used computer is pre-owned and typically sold as is. The used computer will have been checked to ensure it functions and meets the standards of the seller for resale.

A refurbished computer can be a used computer, but a used computer is not necessarily a refurbished computer. More importantly, a refurbished computer has a warranty, but a used computer in this situation does not have one.

3. Is second-hand the same as refurbished?

A second-hand computer is a used computer and may not have undergone a rigorous refurbishment process. Unless specified as refurbished, assume that the second-hand computer is a used one and likely without warranty.

4. Is it better to repair or replace my computer?

Your computer may be slow to boot, lagging, and simply showing signs of age. Here’s a rule of thumb:

• Identify the issue first and consider if installing a component, like adding RAM, resolves the problem.
• If you are looking at replacing several parts, like the motherboard, to improve the PC’s performance, calculate the cost of the components plus the labor. Think about whether replacing those parts or buying a refurbished computer would make sense in your situation.

5. Does a refurbished computer have a warranty?

A refurbished computer usually comes with a warranty, such as a 90-day warranty or a one-year warranty. Ask the manufacturer or retailer about the warranty and its key terms to be sure.  

The warranty can minimize the risk of buying a refurbished computer as it might not work as expected.  

Have more questions? Connect with our tech experts for personalized advice about refurbished computers.

Choosing the Best Refurbished Computer to Suit Your Needs

Photo by Tranmautritam on Pexels

Refurbished computers make computers within your reach. This buying guide for refurbished computers shows you the following:

• You have a choice for a cost-effective desktop computer that you can rely on for work, school, or business. Our refurbished computer reviews have introduced you to some of the top-rated refurbished desktops on the market today.
• You’ll need to do your research and ask questions to get the best deal. Take time to look at the specs and features of refurbished computers on your list.
• Get to know refurbished computers, too. They are not created equal, are graded individually, and refurbished differently.

Whether you’re a seasoned tech expert or a novice buyer, understanding the refurbished computer market is key to finding a quality device that matches your needs and budget. Keep yourself informed, and you'll be well equipped to navigate this valuable segment of the technology market.