5 server pulls I'd put in my desktop before buying a single new part in 2026
Decommissioned server components can make for a better upgrade than buying brand-new parts
By 2026, buying new computer parts could become more expensive due to increasing prices of memory and flash manufacturers focusing on data centers. To save money, consider purchasing pre-owned server parts. These server pulls were designed for tough duty and have reliable endurance ratings. Samsung’s PM983 and PM9A3, Micron’s 7450, Intel’s S4510 and S4610, and Micron’s 5300 are among the best options.
Be cautious of listings mentioning SAS drives, as they may not work with consumer systems without an HBA card. Intel’s discontinued Optane drives can still be purchased used and offer lower latency for OS reads. Instead of upgrading to high-end gaming cards, consider pulling a Tesla P40 or NVIDIA’s T4 or A2000 cards for AI inference.
Mellanox and Intel network cards are also affordable options for improving network connectivity. While memory shortages will ease eventually, some of these options may lose their edge, but others won't.
Written by urgent.news from XDA Developers's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
