I, like many others, have fallen victim to the "New year, New build" excitement. I had the part list ready, the case picked out, and way too many tabs open with all the components I was hoping to purchase. But the reality is that a RAM crisis has sent me back, with pretty much all kits facing a price hike.

I realized if I wanted a new rig, it was going to cost me a heck of a lot more than I had originally planned. With some DDR5 kits tripling their original price point, I decided that building new just wasn't financially responsible for me. So, I decided to pivot and have a look at the used workstation market. Just because I can't build a brand-new PC doesn't mean I have to go without it.

There are perks galore

Not only are you saving money, but you can also pick up something with a robust build quality

The used workstation market is an absolute goldmine, particularly for those who are looking for a machine for work purposes rather than gaming specifically, though that definitely is an option. Thanks to big corporations cycling out their hardware every so often, regardless of how well it works, it means that you can likely get your hands on a good quality system for a much cheaper price point than buying brand new.

Whether you're looking for a laptop or a PC, it's likely that, thanks to the enterprise lifecycle, you can get your hands on something that's just a couple of years old and still functions perfectly for significantly less. There are a multitude of companies that refurbish these machines, too, so they're of pristine quality and even come with a warranty. Whether it's the Dell Precision, the HP Z series, or the Lenovo ThinkStation, the majority of these machines are built to run 24/7, day in and day out.

A lot of these rigs are built to withstand intense workloads, meaning you get a pretty solid CPU, tonnes of RAM, and a decent amount of storage. And while all of these specifications might not be exactly what you need, the money that you've saved by buying used can be spent upgrading the system so it suits your requirements exactly.

Another benefit of opting for a used workstation is that you're typically granted a massive power supply, tonnes of PCIe lanes, and just more I/O in general.

But there are downsides

This isn't the solution for everyone

It is worth noting that there can be some downsides to opting for a used enterprise workstation. A lot of the components might be custom shapes, including the motherboard and power supply, which could mean that swapping into a nicer case in the future might be difficult. You could be left with a giant, pretty ugly metal tower, which isn't the best if aesthetics are important to you.

These custom parts also mean that specific upgrades can be more difficult. Some of these custom motherboards can only be used with ECC RAM, rather than standard consumer RAM. While this is typically cheaper, it can be a tad more difficult to encounter. A lot of workstations are also made to be used with external storage, meaning they'll only come with a 512GB internal storage drive. Whilst this isn't the worst thing in the world, it means you might have to invest in more SSDs or HDDs sooner rather than later.

Another downside to a used workstation is the fact that these units aren't exactly very green. Thanks to the massive power supplies, they can potentially pull more power at idle than a modern Ryzen chip. This can make them more expensive to run when it comes to electricity, compared to the standard PC you've built yourself. Alongside this, to ensure they don't overheat, they are usually crammed full of fans that can get very loud — so you risk your PC sounding like a jet engine if you don't tune them.

Is a used workstation right for you?

Weigh up the pros and cons

It's worth noting that the benefits listed above aren't always guaranteed to be the case, with each workstation differing. So be sure to triple-check the exact model you're buying for specific specifications, information about the build quality, and for your I/O info. This is also the case with the negatives. Whilst a lot of options do have custom-shaped components, this isn't always the case, and if you're looking for something that's a little bit more user-friendly to upgrade, then this can definitely be found. There are refurbished units galore, with not only companies but also people getting rid of their workstations all the time.

If you're a developer, video editor, or lab enthusiast, and you want a powerful workstation without encountering the current RAM crisis, then opting for a used workstation can be an absolute cheat code. You don't need the latest and greatest model of prebuilt PC from retailers to have a powerhouse on your desk. By opting for a used computer, not only are you saving yourself some money, but you're also potentially saving a device from landfill.