PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games ForumsArts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and Garden Relationship QuizzesCars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and Style Sports and FitnessComputers and ElectronicsHealthPets and Animals TravelEducation & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and Religion Work WorldFamily LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationships Youth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Computers and Electronics
Buying Consumer Electronics
Selecting and Buying a Computer
How to Find the Resale Value of a Computer Download Article A comprehensive guide on getting the top dollar for your PC Co-authored by Eric McClure
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article
Pricing a Custom PC
|
Pricing a Prebuilt Computer
|
Q&A
|
Tips
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 158,034 times. Learn more...
Wondering how much your desktop or laptop computer is worth? We'll show you how to determine your computer's resale value so you know how to price it when it's time to sell!
How Do I Find the Value of My Computer?
For a custom PC, use your system information and about tabs to find the specific components in your build. Use eBay and PC Part Picker to find the average cost for those used components and combine them to get a price. For prebuilt PCs, use eBay to find what identical models are being sold for.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Pricing a Custom PC
Download Article
1 Compile a list of the individual components. If you don’t remember what’s in your PC, don’t sweat it. Click on the Start button, click Settings, then select System. Scroll down and select “About” to get all of the system information you need.[1]XResearch source The core components you need to price out (in order of general importance/price) are:
Graphics processing unit (GPC)
Computer processing unit (CPU)
Random access memory (RAM)
Motherboard
Storage (solid-state drive (SSD) or hard disk drive (HDD))
Case
Won’t be listed in the “About” menu.
Power supply (PSU)
Fans
Won’t be listed in the “About” menu.
2 Look up the average used price for each component. Visit PC Part Picker’s website and select “products.” Then, look up each individual component in your computer. Take the lowest retail price listed and jot that down.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Discount each component by 50-75% depending on its quality. Used PC components do not fetch the same price tags as new components. Take the prices for each of your components and discount them based on how well they’ve held up.[3]XResearch source Here are the variables to take into account:
Age of each specific component: The older a part is, the deeper your discount should be. New computer components are coming out all the time, so your components are losing a lot of value over time.
Rarity and demand of your component: Basically every PC enthusiast today would love to have a 4090 Founder’s Edition GPU, so if you’re selling one, congrats! Boost that estimate. Moving a 1080 card? Drop that price a bit.
Condition of each component: Got a GPU with a busted fan from the time you hit it with too it with too much canned air? Your PSU have a bad SATA cable? Discount the item even further.
4 Deeply discount the fans, PSU, and any HDDs. Your computer’s fans aren’t worth much to begin with most of the time and they experience a lot of wear and tear. As a result, they aren’t normally worth much used. The same goes for PSUs, which often need to be replaced in used computers if the new owner wants to make any upgrades (which is likely).[4]XResearch source
Hard disk drives are basically worthless when it comes to resale unless you’re selling an HDD with a lot of storage (at least 1 terabyte), and even then, they just don’t fetch a premium used. PC users vastly prefer SSDs for their speed, and HDDs fail with consistent regularity over time.
5 Combine the prices to get a general sense for the overall value. Once you have a realistic understanding of what all of your components are worth, combine them to get a feel for how much your PC is worth as a whole. You still may not want to sell the PC as a single piece, but you’ll have a better sense of the overall value you want to shoot for by knowing your bottom line.[5]XResearch source
6 Piece the components out if your build is outdated or deficient somehow. If you’ve got a higher-end graphics card in a PC with an outdated CPU, only 8 GB of RAM, and an odd fan setup, you’re probably better off just listing your PC components separately to move them in a reasonable time frame. You may also want to piece your PC out if your build is especially outdated (i.e. you’re running an old version of Windows, or you can’t run modern games or programs).
This is also the way to go if you plan on potentially reusing some of your components in a future build. Nobody will want to buy a full PC that’s missing 1-2 key pieces.
7 Sell your PC as a single unit if your build is solid and high quality. If your PC build makes sense and everything is in working order, sell it as a single PC. There is a lot of demand out there for solid used PCs, so if your computer is well-constructed and working right, don’t take it apart.
You should still clean your PC before posting any ads!
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Pricing a Prebuilt Computer
Download Article
1 Determine the make, model, and specifications of your computer. To determine the resale value, you must know the exact details of your computer. If you’re selling a computer with a Windows operating system, right-click on the “My Computer” icon from the desktop, then select “System Properties.”
If you’re selling a Mac, click the Apple menu and select “About This Mac” to get all of the info you need.
Alternatively, consult with the manual for your computer to determine features like the manufacturer name, model, processing speed, hard drive size, memory, the size of the screen, the type of disk drive it has, and more.
2 Access the eBay website. eBay will allow you to search for the prices of computers of your same make and model that are currently being sold, as well as previous listings for computers that have already been sold.[6]XResearch source
Visit the "PC World" website provided to you in the Sources section of this article, then scroll down to the "Common Questions" section of the web page.
Click on the embedded link within the "Common Questions" section that reads "eBay's home page" to access eBay's website.
3 Search for listings of computers that match your make and model. Enter the model and manufacturer's name of your computer into the eBay search field, then press the “Search” button. For example, if you are selling a Dell Inspiron Mini laptop, enter this exact criteria into the search field.[7]XResearch source
4 Refine the search criteria based on your computer's condition. Specifying whether you have a used or new computer will provide you with more accurate resale values. Place a checkmark within the box next to "New" or "Used" below the "Condition" section in the sidebar located on the left side of the web page. The website will automatically update and reload new results based on the criteria you indicated.[8]XResearch source
5 Browse the search results to determine your computer's resale value. Although the prices of computers displayed will vary from seller to seller, you can determine an accurate price range for the value of your computer.[9]XResearch source
6 Review eBay's completed auctions for more accurate estimates. This procedure will display the prices that buyers have paid for the same make and model of computer. This step can only be done if you have an eBay account.[10]XResearch source Here’s how you do it:
Scroll to the top of eBay's website, then click on the "Sign in" link to sign in to your eBay account. If you do not have an eBay account, click on the "Register" link to sign up for eBay.
Click on the "Advanced" link to the right of the "Search" button to access the advanced search tool.
Enter your computer's manufacturer name and model into the search field, then place a check mark next to "Completed listings."
Click on the "Search" button to review listings or auctions that have been completed, which will list the final prices for computers of your make and model that have already been sold.
7 Use an online appraisal tool if there are no eBay results. A variety of websites exist that allow you to enter your computer's features and specifications to calculate the resale value. The two most popular PC price calculators are:
PC Pricer
How Much PC Price Calculator
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question What is the approximate resale value of a two-year-old Dell Latitude 5400 computer equipped with a 512 GB SSD, an i5 processor, and 16GB of memory? suwaidi online Community Answer A two-year-old Dell Latitude 5400, equipped with a 512 GB SSD, an Intel i5 processor, and 16GB of RAM, typically retains good resale value due to its robust build and solid performance. On the used market, you can generally expect this model to sell for $350 to $450, depending on its overall condition and any remaining warranty. Its specifications make it well-suited for multitasking, office productivity, and moderate professional tasks, offering reliable mid-range performance for students and professionals alike. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
If you’re not sure how to actually sell your computer, either sell it locally on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Alternatively, if you want to sell your computer online, list it on eBay. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
You Might Also Like
How to Build a ComputerHow toSell a LaptopHow toBuy a New ComputerHow toPrice Used FurnitureHow toSell Your LEGOsHow to See Your PC's Full Specs on Windows 10A Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Your Old TV SafelyHow to Check Your PC's Hardware Specs on Windows 11How to Check PC Specs on a Computer, Phone, or TabletHow to Find out How Much Something Is WorthHow toCreate a Gaming ComputerHow toSell High End Used FurnitureHow toSell a WatchHow toDetermine What to Price Your eBay Items Advertisement
Co-authored by: Eric McClure wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University. This article has been viewed 158,034 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 10Updated: August 13, 2025 Views: 158,034 Categories: Selecting and Buying a Computer In other languages Spanish Russian Portuguese
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 158,034 times.
Is this article up to date?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Eric McClure wikiHow Staff Writer Click a star to vote Co-authors: 10Updated: August 13, 2025 Views: 158,034
Quizzes & Games
Adopt Me Values CalculatorAnalyzeFind Out How Much Your Dime is WorthAnalyzeCalculate Your Blox Fruits TradeAnalyzeCan You Guess the Price QuizTake QuizWhat Wholesale Items Should I Sell QuizTake QuizAm I Ready for College QuizTake Quiz
You Might Also Like
How to Build a ComputerHow toSell a LaptopHow toBuy a New ComputerHow toPrice Used Furniture
Featured Articles
What Would My Life At Camp Half-Blood Be Like QuizThe Best Hairstyles for Guys with Big Foreheads22 Best Ideas for Scary (and Funny) PranksHow to Text Yourself: Fake Text Messages, Reminders, and MoreAccurate Omegaverse Quiz: 100% GuaranteeThe Hardest & Most Difficult Riddles for Adults
Trending Articles
How Much Do I Mog QuizHow Sexual Am I QuizWho Is Secretly Crushing On Me Right Now QuizAccurate IQ Checker Quiz: How Smart Am I?How Weird Am I QuizMental Illness Test
Featured Articles
How to Be More Spontaneous and Enjoy Life to the FullestHow toImprove Your PersonalitySigns You Were Meant For Greatness (Quiz)210+ Shower Thoughts: Funny, Deep, Weird & Mind-BlowingHow to Meet Gay People Without a Dating AppCute, Thoughtful & Romantic Messages to Wish Her a Good Day at Work
Featured Articles
What Movie Should I Stream QuizWhat Does the Term "Femboy" Mean?40+ Fun & Exciting Group Game Ideas to Play with 20+ People11 Things to Do If You’re Connected to Wi-Fi But Have No InternetThe Ultimate List of Funny Nicknames for Your CoworkersWhich Five Nights at Freddy's Character Am I Quiz
Watch Articles
How to Marinate Chicken: 4 Recipes and a Step-By-Step GuideHow toClean Shower TileHow toDo Oblique CrunchesSimple Ways to Riffle Shuffle and Bridge Playing CardsHow toMake Black CoffeeHow toPlant a Seed in a Pot
Trending Articles
Can We Guess How Tall You Are QuizWhat Type of Person Do I Attract QuizWill I Ever Find Love QuizDo I Attract the Male Gaze or the Female Gaze QuizThe World's Hardest Riddles (for Kids & Adults)Signs Your Ex Will Eventually Come Back
Quizzes & Games
Rare Dollar Bill Value CalculatorAnalyzeCollege Recommendation ToolWhat Kind of Business Should I Start QuizTake QuizWhat Kind of Video Game Should I Play QuizTake QuizHow Rich Will I Be QuizTake QuizMemory TestTake Quiz
Categories
Computers and Electronics
Buying Consumer Electronics
Selecting and Buying a Computer
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Home
About wikiHow
Experts
Jobs
Contact Us
Site Map
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info
Contribute
Follow Us
×
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve
Download Article A comprehensive guide on getting the top dollar for your PC Co-authored by Eric McClure 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Eric McClure wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University. This article has been viewed 158,034 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 10 Updated: August 13, 2025 Views: 158,034 Categories: Selecting and Buying a Computer In other languages Spanish Russian Portuguese 
Analyze
Analyze
Analyze
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
Analyze
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
703 
1 Compile a list of the individual components. If you don’t remember what’s in your PC, don’t sweat it. Click on the Start button, click Settings, then select System. Scroll down and select “About” to get all of the system information you need.[1] The core components you need to price out (in order of general importance/price) are: 
2 Look up the average used price for each component. Visit PC Part Picker’s website and select “products.” Then, look up each individual component in your computer. Take the lowest retail price listed and jot that down.[2] Advertisement 
3 Discount each component by 50-75% depending on its quality. Used PC components do not fetch the same price tags as new components. Take the prices for each of your components and discount them based on how well they’ve held up.[3] Here are the variables to take into account: 
4 Deeply discount the fans, PSU, and any HDDs. Your computer’s fans aren’t worth much to begin with most of the time and they experience a lot of wear and tear. As a result, they aren’t normally worth much used. The same goes for PSUs, which often need to be replaced in used computers if the new owner wants to make any upgrades (which is likely).[4] 
5 Combine the prices to get a general sense for the overall value. Once you have a realistic understanding of what all of your components are worth, combine them to get a feel for how much your PC is worth as a whole. You still may not want to sell the PC as a single piece, but you’ll have a better sense of the overall value you want to shoot for by knowing your bottom line.[5] 
6 Piece the components out if your build is outdated or deficient somehow. If you’ve got a higher-end graphics card in a PC with an outdated CPU, only 8 GB of RAM, and an odd fan setup, you’re probably better off just listing your PC components separately to move them in a reasonable time frame. You may also want to piece your PC out if your build is especially outdated (i.e. you’re running an old version of Windows, or you can’t run modern games or programs). 
7 Sell your PC as a single unit if your build is solid and high quality. If your PC build makes sense and everything is in working order, sell it as a single PC. There is a lot of demand out there for solid used PCs, so if your computer is well-constructed and working right, don’t take it apart. 
1 Determine the make, model, and specifications of your computer. To determine the resale value, you must know the exact details of your computer. If you’re selling a computer with a Windows operating system, right-click on the “My Computer” icon from the desktop, then select “System Properties.” 
2 Access the eBay website. eBay will allow you to search for the prices of computers of your same make and model that are currently being sold, as well as previous listings for computers that have already been sold.[6] 
3 Search for listings of computers that match your make and model. Enter the model and manufacturer's name of your computer into the eBay search field, then press the “Search” button. For example, if you are selling a Dell Inspiron Mini laptop, enter this exact criteria into the search field.[7] 
4 Refine the search criteria based on your computer's condition. Specifying whether you have a used or new computer will provide you with more accurate resale values. Place a checkmark within the box next to "New" or "Used" below the "Condition" section in the sidebar located on the left side of the web page. The website will automatically update and reload new results based on the criteria you indicated.[8] 
5 Browse the search results to determine your computer's resale value. Although the prices of computers displayed will vary from seller to seller, you can determine an accurate price range for the value of your computer.[9] 
6 Review eBay's completed auctions for more accurate estimates. This procedure will display the prices that buyers have paid for the same make and model of computer. This step can only be done if you have an eBay account.[10] Here’s how you do it: 
7 Use an online appraisal tool if there are no eBay results. A variety of websites exist that allow you to enter your computer's features and specifications to calculate the resale value. The two most popular PC price calculators are: 
suwaidi online Community Answer A two-year-old Dell Latitude 5400, equipped with a 512 GB SSD, an Intel i5 processor, and 16GB of RAM, typically retains good resale value due to its robust build and solid performance. On the used market, you can generally expect this model to sell for $350 to $450, depending on its overall condition and any remaining warranty. Its specifications make it well-suited for multitasking, office productivity, and moderate professional tasks, offering reliable mid-range performance for students and professionals alike. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.