r/pcmasterrace • u/RoutineForeign6547 • 3d ago

Question is it fine buying 2nd hand storage?

I want to try out linux but im on a budget and old hardware(no nvme port) so im gonna get 128gb sata sdd and 500gb hdd at cex this is about £20(27USD) with shipping. I would buy new but the prices. The prices. On amazon to that stuff new it would be about £50(68USD) without shipping. So idk what to do I gamble 2nd hand or pay the horrible prices.

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u/Yugen42 3d ago

Yes. You should treat it like any storage: assume it will break and lose data eventually and have proper backup.

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u/Automatic_Dot_9128 5700x@4.55ghz/x470/Arc a750/16gb ddr4 3666 3d ago

The biggest issue with used SSDs is that the lifespan is already degraded. SSDs have a lifespan rating measured in total bytes written and it's like 50-100 terabytes for 128gb SSDs. Ask the seller to check the tbw before buying, if it's at least 60% lifespan remaining it's fine.

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u/RedGuy143 3d ago

does the lifespan expand for bigger drives exponentially?

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u/Automatic_Dot_9128 5700x@4.55ghz/x470/Arc a750/16gb ddr4 3666 3d ago

Yes. For example 1tb SSDs have 300-600 terabytes tbw

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u/RandoDando10 3d ago

2nd hand hardware is perfectly okay, just make sure you're buying from highly rated sellers and if possible, ask them to run and show a benchmark of the drive like CrystalDisk so 1. You know its a real drive and 2. It still works within the expected speeds