Towers look like they should last forever, and mechanically many do. The price does not. A new GPU generation or a jump in default RAM makes last year’s “good” build look average. Prebuilts with proprietary power supplies or tiny cases depreciate faster than standard ATX systems you can still upgrade.
Live catalog: 3,394 desktop PCs · offers $10–$1,045 · average $238 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working desktop pc: about 45%. Year two lands near 63%; year three near 75%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −14% | $860 | $205 |
| 6 months | −27% | $730 | $174 |
| 9 months | −37% | $630 | $150 |
| 1 year | −45% | $550 | $131 |
| 1.5 years | −54% | $460 | $109 |
| 2 years | −63% | $370 | $88 |
| 2.5 years | −69% | $310 | $74 |
| 3 years | −75% | $250 | $59 |
| 5 years | −88% | $120 | $29 |
“Est. on average offer” applies the curve to today’s average catalog offer — a sketch of age, not a quote for your serial number.
Why desktop PCs lose value
- Graphics cards set the ceiling. When NVIDIA or AMD launch a new family (often around CES), last-gen gaming desktops reprice first.
- OEM compact desktops (tiny form factor) are hard to service. Buyers discount them versus a plain tower with a standard PSU.
- Accounting still uses a 5-year life for computers. The street price is usually gone much earlier than the spreadsheet says.
What still holds a price
- Current or last-gen discrete GPU, 16 GB+ RAM, SSD boot drive.
- Standard case and power supply — parts you can still buy.
- Working Windows install with the password removed, or a clean drive.
When to sell
Sell before a known GPU launch or before you strip the good parts out. A complete working system is worth more than a gutted shell plus a GPU sold separately — unless the GPU is the only current part.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed desktop PCs. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- AssetPanda IT asset depreciation guide
- IRS Publication 946 (MACRS 5-year property)
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
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FAQ
Are used desktops worth selling after 4–5 years?
Often yes if they still run and have an SSD. The offer will be a fraction of original retail, but it is still better than e-waste. Missing drives, passwords, or a dead PSU are what push a tower into recycle-only.
Does cosmetic wear change the depreciation table?
The percentages describe typical working devices in good shape. Heavy wear, missing parts, account locks, or dead boards are extra deductions on top of age. A clean, unlocked unit tracks the curve much more closely.
Is it better to sell now or wait for a new model?
Waiting usually costs more than it saves. New launches reset demand for last year’s hardware. If you already plan to replace the device, selling before the announcement typically beats selling after it.