Is It Safe to Buy Refurb Gaming Laptops?

ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 10:35
Last edited 23/05/2023 - 10:40

Hey guys, is it generally safe to buy refurb gaming laptops, especially ones which are refurb by the manufacturer such as this:

https://www.jw.com.au/product/manufacturer-refurbished-acer-…

The warranty says “ DEAD PIXEL / BRIGHT PIXEL AREN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY” and this got me a little concerned, if it’s something to be concerned of?

What sort of things do we need to look at when buying refurb gaming laptops (like say trojan viruses, release date of laptop so tells you how long the laptop has been used for etc etc)?

Sorry in advance if some are dumb question.

Computing Computer Gaming Laptop Laptop

Comments

  • GettingThePlus190s on 23/05/2023 - 10:39
    +2

    Not sure how similar it is, but I bought an ex-demo model and it was good.

    If you're concerned about viruses, you could reinstall an OS.

    • CascadeHush on 23/05/2023 - 12:10

      Absolutely should re-install the OS but then that requires dealing with windows activation.

      • mskeggs on 23/05/2023 - 12:49

        Surely this would be in the bios of any machine recent enough to be useful for gaming?

        • CascadeHush on 23/05/2023 - 19:53

          What the windows key? This is news to me.

          • mskeggs on 23/05/2023 - 21:54
            +1

            @CascadeHush: I think all the big manufacturers (Dell, Lenovo, Acer type companies) are now embedding the windows key in the bios of their notebooks.
            Probably not if you are buying a hand built gaming PC from Techfast or similar other local shop.

      • Sinnerator on 24/05/2023 - 08:13

        and downloading all the drivers one by one, unless they have a tool for it, because win generic drivers are often crap

      • rogerm22 on 24/05/2023 - 13:24
        +1

        No it won't. Windows 10 and 11 use digital activation. Windows generate a unique hardware ID for your computer and your license gets tied to that. When you reinstall Windows, as long as you're installing the same edition of Windows that was already installed, when you connect to the internet, Windows will see that there is a license tied to your computer and automatically activate it.

        • CascadeHush on 24/05/2023 - 14:14

          That's about half true and doesn't add anything to the conversation that hasn't already been said.

          • rogerm22 on 25/05/2023 - 12:12

            @CascadeHush: It's not "half true," it's completely true. A quick Google search will show that what I posted is true

    • ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 13:13

      Ok thanks

  • CyberMurning on 23/05/2023 - 10:41
    +3

    hmmm you love full price so why buy refub ?

    joking aside, yes its okay

  • jikijiki on 23/05/2023 - 10:44
    +2

    I bought an ex-refurb gaming laptop from Dell's outlet centre and it was like brand new. Still using it since 2017.

  • freefall101 on 23/05/2023 - 10:48
    +1

    There are 4060 laptops popping up for around $1600 - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/773054 (needs another stick of ram, but that's not expensive)

    Refurb is fine but that's not a good price.

    • ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 10:57

      How much does it usually cost to upgrade ram from 8 to 16GB?

      • BLAIL on 23/05/2023 - 11:20
        +1

        It would only cost you about $30-$40 - but anyway go with the deal freefall has posted

        • ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 12:05

          Ok thanks. Sorry one more question. When upgrading or changing default specs like that on a laptop (which I assume the default specs were chosen to optimize the laptop), will it usually affect the overall performance of the laptop?

          • BLAIL on 23/05/2023 - 12:53
            +1

            @ilovefullprice: Dual channel RAM for gaming is better

          • rumblytangara on 23/05/2023 - 13:17
            +3

            @ilovefullprice:

            (which I assume the default specs were chosen to optimize the laptop)

            Default specs are rarely (if ever) to optimise laptop performance. They are chosen to meet an attractive price point for marketing purposes. e.g. in the example quoted above, a (single?) 8GB DIMM (whether soldered or loose) is not optimal for anything besides running some web browser sessions. Any 'gaming' machine should be at 16.

            How much would it usually cost at the shops to upgrade to 16GB ram?

            And I see you commented on that post too, and asked exactly the same question, a week ago. Seriously dude, learn to Google.

            • ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 13:27

              @rumblytangara: Many thanks.

              I was thinking to get a quick (and likely unbiased since it’s a community) response on the cost to upgrade the ram.

              • rumblytangara on 23/05/2023 - 14:01

                @ilovefullprice: I don't think that there's any significant 'bias' in RAM pricing when you do internet searches.

                This is how you do it:

                https://gprivate.com/653yp

                • ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 14:26

                  @rumblytangara: I guess my question was also more about how much usually do shops charged for manual labor to do this for me?

                  • rumblytangara on 23/05/2023 - 14:47
                    +1

                    @ilovefullprice: Nobody with even the vaguest concern about costs gets a shop to do this. RAM is considered a user-serviceable upgrade and typically needs a Philips head screwdriver and a guitar pick.

                    Youtube is your friend.

                    • ilovefullprice on 23/05/2023 - 20:24

                      @rumblytangara: Ok thanks. I am a software person but maybe now it’s the right time for me to expand my knowledge on getting my hands dirty on hardware.

                      • rumblytangara on 24/05/2023 - 08:51

                        @ilovefullprice: There is no getting hands dirty here. It is slightly more complex than opening a tube of toothpaste.

                        Every friend who is a dev ('software person') is totally happy doing something as simple as this.

                        • ilovefullprice on 24/05/2023 - 17:05

                          @rumblytangara: I don’t mind getting my hands dirty on hardware, it’s just I will get fewer hours of sleep! I am already focussed on several other fields. But you’re right, I will need to get into hardware sooner or later.

                          Another question if that’s cool. Is it also considered user-serviceable when upgrading CPU processors on laptops?

                          • rumblytangara on 24/05/2023 - 17:13

                            @ilovefullprice: It takes 5 minutes to add ram, not hours. Replacing RAM is not getting into hardware, anymore than opening toothpaste makes you a dentist.

                            Google will tell you instantly if you can replace laptop CPUs. You are clearly not getting the hint here- do at least the barest basic research.

                          • A-mak on 24/05/2023 - 18:13

                            @ilovefullprice: You generally can't replace CPU on laptops as they are mostly soldered to the board itself. some GPU's can be replaced but compatibility is horrible, ram compatibility is slightly better but I suggest making sure the ram is the same as the other stick brand+mhz wise.

  • mskeggs on 23/05/2023 - 12:51
    +2

    I wouldn't buy dead pixel displays. It would be very annoying to me, and that they have called it out suggests it is pretty likely.

  • jonkvh on 24/05/2023 - 12:49

    Wouldn't worry about Dead Pixels if you intend to connect the laptop up to a second display.

    • shutuptakemymoney101 on 24/05/2023 - 18:55

      If you're always going to be using a second display wouldn't a desktop likely be a better option?

      • Wonderfool on 26/05/2023 - 20:45
        -1

        A desktop isn't portable lol. A few dead pixels doesn't stop you from using it on the go.

        • shutuptakemymoney101 on 27/05/2023 - 10:00

          A second display isn't portable either so not really an option as suggested.

          • Wonderfool on 27/05/2023 - 11:35

            @shutuptakemymoney101: If it's just a few dead pixels, you don't need second screen lol. Dead pixel can be literally a few of them, or a line.

  • shutuptakemymoney101 on 24/05/2023 - 18:52

    Taking a chance with the 'Acer' brand anyway? Definitely worth having superior warranty on a product which isn't particularly known for quality - which unless it's a great bargain kind of rules this one out for me.

    Dead pixel / bright pixel is why you would want warranty to fall back on?

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