Gear we recommend

Every part and tool that appears in a guide on this site, in one place, with the one-sentence reason it's there. Nothing on this page is a replacement computer.

How this page works. These are paid links: if you buy through one, we earn a commission at no cost to you, and that's how the site is funded. We don't print prices, because Amazon's rules don't allow it without their live data and because prices during the memory-chip shortage change monthly; the listing shows today's price. Each item links to the guide that explains when you'd want it.

Storage

Our pick

SanDisk SSD Plus 1TB 2.5" SATA SSD

A drop-in replacement for the hard drive in almost any 2012–2018 laptop or desktop. SanDisk and WD drives come with a free copy of Acronis cloning software, which makes the swap far easier.

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SATA SSD

WD Blue SA510 500GB 2.5" SATA SSD

Same idea in a smaller size, for machines whose used space fits comfortably in 500GB. Same free WD cloning tool.

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NVMe SSD

WD Blue SN5000 1TB NVMe SSD

For 2017-and-newer laptops with an M.2 slot rather than a 2.5-inch bay. Check which type your machine takes before ordering.

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USB adapter

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA adapter

Connects the new SSD to a USB port so you can clone the old drive onto it before the swap. The part people forget to order.

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Drive enclosure

UGREEN 2.5" USB 3.0 drive enclosure

Turns the hard drive you just removed into a portable backup drive. Nothing gets thrown away.

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NVMe SSD

Kingston NV3 1TB NVMe SSD

A solid budget NVMe drive from a brand that isn't leaving the market. No bundled cloning tool, so pair it with a backup-and-restore.

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SATA SSD

Kingston A400 960GB 2.5" SATA SSD

The budget SATA option. Slower on paper than the WD and SanDisk drives, and you won't feel it on a machine coming from a hard drive. No bundled cloning tool.

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Mounting bracket

Sabrent 2.5" to 3.5" drive bracket

Lets a laptop-sized SSD sit properly in a desktop's 3.5-inch drive bay. Desktops only.

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SATA cable

SATA III data cables, 2-pack

For a desktop where you're adding an SSD alongside the old drive rather than replacing it. Most cases have a spare power plug but not a spare data cable.

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Backup

Our pick

WD Elements 2TB portable hard drive

Plug-in backup storage with plenty of room for a whole household's documents and photos. Slow-and-cheap is the right trade-off for backups.

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External hard drive

Seagate Portable 2TB external hard drive

The other reliable name in portable drives. Buy whichever is cheaper on the day.

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Portable SSD

Samsung T7 1TB portable SSD

Much faster and pocket-sized. Worth it if you move big files around; overkill for a backup that runs overnight.

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Install media & tools

USB flash drive

SanDisk Ultra 32GB USB 3.0 flash drive

Big enough for any Linux or Windows installer, fast enough that writing it doesn't take all evening. Buy two; one becomes your permanent rescue stick.

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Our pick

iFixit Mako 64-bit precision driver kit

Laptop screws are small and easy to strip with the wrong bit. A proper precision set pays for itself the first time you open a case.

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Precision screwdrivers

STREBITO 142-piece precision screwdriver set

A cheaper set that covers the same laptop screws, including Torx and Phillips #0 and #00. Fine for one or two repairs.

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Air duster

XPOWER A-2S electric air duster

Clears fans and heatsinks without buying cans forever. A dusty laptop runs hot, slow, and loud; this is the fix.

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Compressed air

Falcon Dust-Off compressed gas duster, 3-pack

The cheap way to blow dust out of fans and vents if you're only doing it once.

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Thermal paste

Arctic MX-6 thermal paste (4g)

For laptops that run hot even after cleaning: dried-out paste between the processor and its heatsink is common after five or more years.

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Isopropyl alcohol

99% isopropyl alcohol

Cleans old thermal paste and grime off electronics safely. Evaporates without residue.

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Anti-static strap

iFixit anti-static wrist strap

Cheap insurance against zapping memory or a motherboard while you work inside a case.

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USB flash drive

Samsung FIT Plus 64GB USB drive

A tiny drive that can live permanently in a USB port as a rescue stick or extra storage on a media PC.

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Memory

Laptop memory

Kingston 8GB DDR3L-1600 laptop memory (1.35V)

For 2012–2016 laptops. Explicitly the low-voltage DDR3L type, which is the safe choice for laptops of that era. Check yours with CPU-Z before buying.

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Laptop memory

Kingston FURY Impact 8GB DDR4-3200 laptop memory

For 2016-and-newer laptops with DDR4 slots. Pair it with an existing 8GB stick for 16GB.

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Laptop memory

Kingston FURY Impact 16GB DDR4-3200 laptop memory

The single-stick answer for a laptop with one slot, or a comfortable upgrade for anyone who lives in browser tabs.

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Networking

Our pick for Linux

Alfa AWUS036ACM dual-band USB Wi-Fi adapter

Built on the MediaTek MT7612U, which the Linux kernel supports natively, so it works the moment you plug it in. Fixes the most common Linux install-day problem, and the external antenna gives real range.

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Ethernet cable

Amazon Basics Cat-6 ethernet cable, 25 ft

A wired connection sidesteps every Wi-Fi driver problem during an install and is the right way to connect a home server.

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USB Wi-Fi adapter

Panda Wireless PAU09 N600 dual-band USB adapter

A Ralink RT5572 dual-band N adapter with two antennas from a company that has sold Linux-first adapters for a decade. Not the fastest, but it has never needed a driver.

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USB Wi-Fi adapter

Panda Wireless PAU0A AC600 nano USB adapter

The small, cheap option. Panda names Linux Mint and Zorin support directly on the listing.

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Windows 11 upgrade

TPM 2.0 module

TPM 2.0 add-in module (match your motherboard brand)

For desktops whose motherboard has a TPM header but no firmware TPM option. The pin layout is specific to your motherboard maker, so check the manual first.

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Media PC

Our pick

Yatao W1 air-mouse remote with keyboard

A TV remote can't control a laptop, so you need one of these: point-to-move, play/pause buttons, and a small keyboard on the back. Plugs in and works with no setup.

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Streaming stick

Fire TV Stick 4K Plus

Streaming apps run better on a dedicated stick than in a browser on an old laptop. Run both: the stick for Netflix and friends, the laptop for your own library.

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Streaming stick

Fire TV Stick HD

The cheaper stick for a 1080p television. Same idea, less money.

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HDMI cable

Amazon Basics HDMI 2.0 cable, 6 ft

Laptop to TV, or laptop to monitor. Any certified cable is fine; this one is cheap and reliable.

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Vertical laptop stand

OMOTON vertical laptop stand

Stands a closed laptop on its edge so the vents stay clear and it disappears beside the TV or monitor.

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Broken screen fixes

Our pick

ARZOPA A1 15.6" 1080p portable monitor

Powered over USB and thin enough to travel, this keeps a broken-screen laptop portable. Often cheaper than a screen repair.

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Desktop monitor

Acer 23.8" 1080p IPS monitor

Turns a broken-screen laptop into a perfectly good desktop. Bigger and nicer than the panel it replaces.

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Keyboard and mouse

Logitech MK270 wireless keyboard and mouse

So the laptop can sit closed on a stand. One tiny USB receiver runs both.

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Replacement screen

Replacement laptop screen (search by your panel's part number)

Panels are sold by part number, not laptop model. Find the number on the sticker on the back of your old panel and search for exactly that.

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Spare-room desktop

Webcam

Logitech C920s 1080p webcam

Old laptop webcams are dreadful. This one makes a repurposed machine a good video-call PC.

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USB headset

Logitech H390 USB headset

Clear calls without echo, and it bypasses any flaky built-in sound hardware.

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Used laptops

Refurbished laptop

Lenovo ThinkPad T480, i5-8350U, 16GB, 512GB (renewed)

The used-market favorite: 8th-generation Intel so it runs Windows 11, two memory slots, a swappable external battery, and a chassis built to be opened. This listing is the sensible 16GB, 1080p configuration. Avoid the T480s if you plan to upgrade; its memory is partly soldered.

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Refurbished laptop

Dell Latitude 7490, i5-8350U, 16GB, 512GB (renewed)

Dell's equivalent of the T480: light, well made, easy to open, 8th-generation Intel. Same advice: 16GB and 1080p.

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Refurbished laptop

HP EliteBook 840 G5, 16GB, 256GB (renewed)

HP's business-class equivalent, with one of the best keyboards in the category. Make sure the listing says G5 or later; the G4 has a 7th-generation chip and can't run Windows 11.

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