# How to buy second-hand PC hardware without getting scammed — essential rules of engagement for finding used parts and machines in an inflated market

> In one year, the entire market for owning or building a PC has changed considerably. The AI boom has caused prices for brand new GPUs, SSDs, and RAM to skyrocket.

- **Source:** [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/how-to-buy-second-hand-pc-hardware-without-getting-scammed-essential-rules-of-engagement-for-finding-used-parts-and-machines-in-an-inflated-market?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=6a69ef5fac0af9a636c192c3)
- **Published:** 2026-07-29
- **Category:** Computers & IT
- **Tags:** #ai
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/6a69ef5fac0af9a636c192c3

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_GearOpen's distilled summary. The full original article is published at Tom's Hardware (source link above); GearOpen does not republish the source's full text._