Which GPU for €500: second-hand or new, how to choose

€500 is probably the most contested budget on the graphics card market. It is the sweet spot for high-refresh 1440p gaming — and an ideal basis for a sim racing rig. Above all, it is the budget where the second-hand against new dilemma is at its tightest: enough for something decent new, enough for something far more muscular second-hand. We are not going to choose for you; we are going to give you what you need to decide.

What €500 gets you second-hand

This is the strong argument for second-hand: at the same budget, it generally gains you a performance tier — sometimes two — over new. Rather than settling on one model (prices move), look at the GPU valuation and its budget tool: it ranks the cards available around €500 by performance, based on real market prices. The valuation is the median asking price for a model, recorded from Leboncoin ads over 60 days, faulty cards excluded — a reliable indicator, not a guarantee. The reflex: compare every ad against the valuation, and be wary of an abnormally low price, which often hides a fault or a scam.

What €500 gets you new

New places you in the entry to mid-range segment of the current generation — the cards listed below. You give up a little raw performance against second-hand, but you gain elsewhere: manufacturer warranty, perfect condition that can be traced, current generation (so the most up-to-date upscaling and ray tracing features) and better energy efficiency. For today's price, rely on the cards below, updated regularly.

At equal performance

The trade-off fits into one sentence: second-hand buys performance, new buys peace of mind. Second-hand gains you roughly one performance tier at the same budget, but with no warranty and no known condition (wear, possible mining use), and not necessarily with the latest features. New costs a little raw performance, but gives you the calm of a new card, under warranty and up to date. Neither one is wrong — it all depends on you.

Which profile are you?

See whether you recognise yourself in one of these cases:

• Maximum performance per euro, and risk does not worry you → second-hand is made for that: compare every ad against the valuation.
• No hassle, a warranty, and you keep your card a long time → new is the calm choice.
• You resell and change cards often → second-hand holds its value well; consider the resale estimator to fund the new card by selling the old one.
• Heavy ray tracing or the very latest upscaling → check the generation: a current-generation new card can justify the extra cost.

Below, on the new side, are the cards to aim for around €500; just underneath, the current second-hand ads close to that budget.