Wanted to get some opinions on the best value for money refurbished laptop in somewhat good condition for under $300? Preferably with decent specs like an I5 processor and ports (USB 3 and Ethernet a must) . Preferably from a reputable brand and that is somewhat durable (like the Lenovo Thinkpad)?
I know there's a ton of listings on eBay so if anybody has any experience with any particular sellers, please let me know.
It will be mainly be used around the home so I'm not particularly fussy with size/weight providing I could update the HDD to a standard 2.5" SSD. Adequate enough performance for multi-tasking/multiple tabs.
Would be prepared to stretch the budget a for a 2 in 1 but I have no idea if that's even possible (even if I stretched the budget a little) or where to even begin.
Your requirements are in contradiction with the price you are willing to pay.
Username definitely checks out though.
What price range would you recommend for the specs required?
At least $800 if you want 8th gen i5. For 1k you can go Lenovo Thinkpad E580 (15") or E480 (14").
For absolute durability and portability, you need at least 1.5k for T-series Thinkpads.
See comments below for options with older gen Intels which may be aligned with your budget.
I should clarify that I certainly wasn't expecting a current generation I5 for that budget. Also don't need anything too durable/portable as it will be mainly used around the house.
Mrmark1970 suggestion below is more inline to what I'm after. Thanks.
you might get a first gen i5 for that much
Reasonable amount of Ivy Bridge gen i5 laptops listed as refurb on eBay under $300
The thing to do is avoid cheap plasticky consumer models. I've been very happy with Dell Latitude refurbs. These laptops are built like tanks, and are easy to upgrade with more RAM and an SSD.
Here are some examples:
https://www.reboot-it.com.au/refurbished-laptops-c-14/refurb…
The 6230s are amazing value for $200, leaving you $100 to upgrade either the RAM or the SSD. If you can stretch to $350, the 5240 would give you near-current performance for non-game applications.
Thanks, great suggestion with the 6230. Is your other one for the Dell latitude 5240 with the i5-4310U?
I'm in the same boat as you. The frustrating thing with laptops is diagnosing a fault so you can buy a replacement part online. My Lenovo screen doesn't work and even though I know how to replace it I don't want to throw money away in case it's a board or cable issue…(I use it as a desktop).
You're probably already going to do this anyway, but don't forget the SSD. If only you could upgrade graphics cards to support modern drivers and graphics software, these older i5s and i7s would be so much more sustainable.
The frustrating thing with laptops is diagnosing a fault so you can buy a replacement part online.
Sure is and one of the main reasons why I am looking at a refurb. My current laptop is a few years old and needs some minor repairs to get it back to 100%. Still deciding if it's worth the time and costs in parts. It was adequate for everyday tasks thanks to the SSD and some extra RAM.
You're probably already going to do this anyway, but don't forget the SSD.
Spot on. I have a spare SSD not in use and was going to use that if I don't use the SSD from my existing laptop.
I remember the Lenovo T420 or T430 is pretty highly recommended. A bit outdated specs (2nd/3rd gen core i5) but some come with 8gb ram or even an ssd. Have a look around on ebay and right now you can even use then penny5 code for 5% off and another 1% from cash rewards. Some sellers you can even make an offer instead. Last year I got a 1st gen Lenovo Carbon X1 for $350 + I think there was a 10% off site wide as well so around ~$315.
What form factor/s and what level of performance do you require?
The group could make recommendations based on your needs.
Gigabit ethernet to USB adaptors can be had pretty cheaply if you find a unit that is suitable bar a physical ETH port.