Every summer vacation is a hot period for PC assembly.

However, based on this, it is estimated that a batch of novice users may fall into the trap of "i9-level high-end processors". We have also received relevant inquiries in the background. Here is a special reminder: if you pay more attention to the stability of use, you cannot afford to be greedy for these small benefits. Most products with modifiers such as "high-end", "luxury", and "high-speed" are not reliable.

The profit of this kind of second-hand "foreign garbage" whole machine is very high. If you really intend to choose and buy, I suggest you choose and assemble it by yourself.

[1] The old Xeon has fallen again and again.

The introduction of Intel's "hybrid architecture" has led to a surge in the number of cores in the latest generation of processors. Taking the popular i5-12600KF processor as an example, as a mid-range i5, its core thread count has reached 10 cores and 16 threads (6P+4E). In the past, the hard parameters on the surface have reached the level of i9 (or HEDT platform). In addition, the performance of the large core (P core) has been significantly improved compared to the Skylake architecture (and its variants) or older architectures since the 11th generation. The small core (E core) has reached the level of Skylake+.

Various factors have led to the continuous decline in the price of old Xeon E5, which is still using the old architecture of 2-5 generations, with backward technology and low operating frequency. Even if the number of cores looks quite a lot, the actual application experience is very average. If you cannot call all cores to work, its value is not high. However, on the other hand, the entry-level model with 14 cores and 28 threads is only 70 yuan, and even if the frequency is very low, it is still very attractive.

It is precisely because of this that the cheap e-commerce whole machine has also kept pace with the times and replaced more core models, with 12 cores, 14 cores, and 16 cores, but the actual cost is very low. The essence of these so-called "i9-level processors" is the old Xeon server processor, which is the object we usually recommend for everyone to pick up and play with. In the picture above, this "i9-level 12-core 24-thread high-end processor" seller also marked E5-2673 V3, which is a product designed based on the fourth-generation Haswell architecture, with a base frequency of 2.40GHz, a single-core frequency of 3.20GHz, and a full-core frequency of 2.70GHz. After inquiry, its price is only 35 yuan. The special feature of this processor is that it must be used with DDR3 memory. For ordinary consumers, the cost of matching it with DDR3 REG memory will be lower than DDR4 REG.【2】Inconsistent Characteristics of Counterfeit Motherboards

The motherboards paired with these configurations are inevitably "counterfeit boards," with specific models and manufacturers being unknown. Currently, there are numerous manufacturers producing these X79 and X99 counterfeit boards, with countless corresponding models, and the product prices, functions, and stability are all uncertain. Normally, one could choose more appropriately when building their own system, but when it comes to such listings, it's like being in the dark, making blind choices.

The prices of these counterfeit boards are continuously dropping, with cheaper boards available for as low as around 140 yuan. For the average consumer, it's not bad to buy one for personal use, but it's a bit of a rip-off to spend a lot of money on a whole system that uses such motherboards.

【3】Cost-Effective but Limited Universality of REG Memory

The price of this type of server-specific REG memory is very low. The price of a regular home-use fully compatible 8GB-DDR3 memory module is around 40 yuan, but the quote for such a 16GB REG memory is only a little over 30 yuan. Even when forming a 32GB capacity, it's just over 60 yuan, which is definitely a "great benefit" for these Xeon platforms! The downside is that it cannot be used on home PC platforms, so there is almost no secondary value for reuse after being phased out. DDR4 REG is slightly more expensive, with the price of a 16GB stick being around a hundred yuan, so the situation where overseas junk whole machine merchants choose DDR4 REG (and corresponding CPUs, motherboards) will be less common.【4】Hard Drives: A Mix of Off-Brand and Generic Options

An increasing number of merchants are engaging in the practice of "hybrid hard drives" or "combined solid-state" drives, leading to peculiar capacities such as 628GB and 756GB. The so-called 628GB combined solid-state drive actually refers to a 128GB solid-state drive paired with a 500GB mechanical hard drive; the 756GB combined solid-state drive is essentially a 256GB solid-state drive combined with a 500GB mechanical hard drive; and the 1TB combined solid-state drive is a 512GB solid-state drive paired with a 500GB mechanical hard drive. It's important to note that the 500GB mechanical hard drive has been discontinued for many years, and the current price for used drives typically ranges from $2.50 to $3.00, making them as affordable as cabbage.

Moreover, the solid-state drives these merchants use are often off-brand or low-cost models from lesser-known brands, which are generally inexpensive and offer mediocre performance. Therefore, when you see the "large capacity" hard drives advertised, be cautious and do not judge their quality solely based on their capacity.

【5】Graphics Cards: Second-Hand, and It's a Matter of Luck

Imported used computers often come with second-hand gaming graphics cards. For instance, the GTX1070, which was released eight years ago, is considered an old antique. It's impossible to purchase a genuine new product, and even second-hand ones have likely been through several mining cycles, with prices varying from $100 to $120. Sellers enhance the appearance of these cards by washing them, making you believe you're getting a brand-new product (these products often come with an unpleasant odor); some are so-called new cards manufactured by fourth or fifth-tier off-brand manufacturers after obtaining display chips, which may be slightly better than second-hand cards, but ultimately, it still comes down to luck.Other models like the RTX 20/30 series (for example, RTX 3070) are most likely mining cards; AMD's RX 580 and the RX 5000 series are essentially old relics left over from mining, and they are not worth much on the secondary market, so it's uncertain how long they will be usable in the future.

【6】Cooling: Be cautious with liquid cooling

There are still people who believe that liquid cooling is inherently better than air cooling and that it has a higher aesthetic value, which is really quite amusing!

The cooling performance of low-end liquid cooling systems is not much different from mid-range air cooling, and the price difference is minimal. The appearance is also "hard to describe," especially with plastic tubes and a very plastic-looking liquid cooling head, coupled with unattractive lighting, which can make you question life itself. You also have to worry about the potential leakage issues with these low-end liquid cooling systems.

【7】Power Supply: Highlighting the "3C" certification as a selling point

The "3C" certification is a mandatory certification, and products without certification are not allowed to be sold on the market!

It's uncertain which brand of power supply these imported junk systems would choose, and it's really laughable that they even promote the "3C" certification as a selling point.【Self-Assembly】

So, how much would it cost to assemble a similar type of host by yourself?

CPU: E5-2673 V3 ($5)

Motherboard: Miscellaneous brand X99 DDR3 (approximately $27)

Cooler: Various off-brand cooling solutions (a higher-end one is about $12)

Graphics Card: GTX1070 ($112)

Memory: 32GB DDR3 REG ($9)

SSD: Off-brand 256GB SATA (approximately $15)

HDD: 500GB mechanical hard drive ($3)

Case: Various miscellaneous cases with 5 fans ($18)Power supply: 500W (calculated at 150 yuan for reputable brands such as Golden Field)

Total: Approximately 1500 yuan

They sell it to you for 2199 yuan (including a 2599 yuan monitor), making a clear profit of 700 yuan, which is indeed a highly profitable industry.