Refurbished computer market grows amid rising PC and RAM prices

The market for refurbished computers is experiencing significant growth as the prices of new PCs and computer components rise. Since the beginning of 2025, prices for laptops and desktops have increased by 20% to 30%, driven by rising raw material costs and geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Notably, the cost of RAM, memory, and storage has seen a dramatic surge, with some increases reaching up to 300% since summer 2025.

In response, consumers are increasingly turning to refurbished devices, which can be up to 60% cheaper than new models. These professionaly renewed machines often come with at least a one-year warranty. Sales of refurbished desktops have risen by 32%, while laptop sales have increased by 12.5%, contributing to a roughly 30% increase in revenue for specialized refurbishment companies.

In the realm of custom builds, optimization services are also helping users manage costs. For example, Puget Systems demonstrated how expert consultation can reduce the total price of a custom workstation by approximately $700 through strategic component selection, such as balancing CPU, RAM, and GPU requirements to meet specific performance and noise targets.