Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Anti-scalper purchase gates can reserve scarce hardware for people rather than bots, but some also make customers prove prior platform activity before they can even enter a draw or queue. Sony’s current Japan-only PS5 Pro offer, for example, requires 60 hours of recent PlayStation playtime. That is a concrete eligibility rule—not evidence that the rule prevents scalping.

What the loyalty test looks like in Sony’s PS5 Pro offer

Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Japan offer is an application followed by a lottery if eligible applications exceed the planned number of units. It is not a general PS5 Pro purchase rule: eligibility is limited to Japan residents, and Sony ships domestically. The listed console is model CFI-7100B01 at ¥137,980, tax included. Sony’s official offer page sets out these terms.

To apply, a customer must use a Sony account registered in Japan, have used PlayStation online services, and have at least 60 hours of PS4 and/or PS5 playtime recorded on that account from September 27, 2024, through September 27, 2026. The account’s sign-in ID must also be linked to a My Sony ID, and applicants must accept the other terms in the notice. Sony limits applications to one unit per Sony account.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The application deadline is October 7, 2026. Sony expects to start notifying selected applicants around October 26, and selected customers must complete their purchase by November 2. Those dates are tied to this offer and can change; check Sony’s page before applying.

#1 Best Overall
Kernmax 507Pcs Professional Computer Screws Assortment Kit, Includes Motherboard Screws, Standoffs, PC Case, SSD, Hard Drive, Fan, CD-ROM Screws, Long-Lasting for DIY PC Build and Repair
  • 【507-Piece PC Screw Kit】This Kernmax all-inclusive computer screws kit contains essential hardware like motherboard screws, standoffs screws, SSD mounting screws, Hard Drive Screws, PC case screws, PC fan screws, and CD-ROM Screws – the ideal solution for all PC building and repair tasks.
  • 【Premium Quality】Crafted from durable, high-strength carbon steel with black oxide plating, every screw and standoff offers exceptional corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. Featuring a deep-cut design with smooth edges for easy twisting, they provide high hardness and strength, resisting slipping, breaking, and wear to ensure long-lasting durability and reliable performance in demanding PC building and repair scenarios.
  • 【Universal Component Fit】Enjoy broad compatibility with standard PC parts.This computer screws assortment kit fits most motherboards, SSDs, HDDs (hdd mounting screws), PC cases, fans (pc case fan screws). Ideal for assembling pc parts to build a gaming pc or repairs major brands, providing versatile pc case screws and motherboard screws.
  • 【Professional-Grade Reliability】Trusted by enthusiasts and pros. The comprehensive selection of pc screws, motherboard mounting screws, and ssd mounting screws made from premium materials to ensure secure installations for motherboards, SSDs, hard drives, and case fans. It's an essential computer building kit that eliminates hardware hassles, ensuring stable, long-term performance for any build or fix.
  • 【Organized Efficiency】Maximize your workflow with Kernmax meticulously organized pc building kit. All 500+ pieces PC screws are neatly sorted into clearly labeled compartments within a durable, transparent storage box. This design allows instant identification of the right pc case screw or motherboard standoff, helping to save saving time and frustration during pc repair or computer building.

The burden is more specific than a vague appeal to loyalty: Sony states a measurable gameplay threshold and a defined period. But the draw still means eligibility is only permission to apply, not a guarantee of a console. Sony says in its notice, “ご応募数が販売予定台数を超えた場合は抽選とさせていただきますので、あらかじめご了承ください。” In translation: if applications exceed the planned number for sale, Sony will hold a lottery.

Not every anti-scalper gate works the same way

Calling every restricted sale a “loyalty test” obscures important differences. A lottery, reservation queue, priority draw, and sales channel put different demands on buyers. The examples below were described in PC Gamer’s October 2, 2026 opinion article; apart from Sony’s offer, they should be read as reported or historical examples, not as currently available offers. PC Gamer’s article discusses the distinctions.

Rank #2
M.2 Screws, Motherboard Screw for Asus Gigabyte Asrock MSI Motherboards, Computer Screws for HDD, SSD, Fan, Power Supply, PC Case - PC Screws, M.2 Standoff and Screw
  • Contains: 13 Types Computer Screws for M.2 SSD, Power Supply, PC Case, Fan, Hard Drive, Applicable to: MSI GIGABYTE ASUS Motherboard Lenovo
  • Wide Range of Applications: m2 screw Suitable for all Types of M.2 SSD, Chassis Power fixing, Motherboard Standoffs, HDD hard drives, PC Fan Screws, PC Cases, Laptop Installation and Repair Computer Parts
  • Easy to Assemble and Disassemble: To make it Easier for You to Install or Remove, We Have Equipped A Screwdriver for Hard Drive Screws SSD Screws M.2 and 20 PCS Ties to Quickly Tie Your Computer Cables and Keep Them Neat and Organized
  • Suitable for a wide range of M.2 SSD devices, ensuring a wide range of applicability and reliable performance, it is also ideal for DIY PC building enthusiasts or professional PC repair personnel
  • We offer computer screw sorting kit differentiation to ensure that you can easily find the best product for your computer model and components to meet your repair and upgrade needs
Example Mechanism and eligibility What is known—and what is not
Sony PS5 Pro, Japan Application and lottery if demand exceeds planned units. Requires a Japan-registered account and 60 hours of PS4/PS5 playtime in a specified two-year window, among other terms. Official price, eligibility, geography, and dates are stated by Sony. Selection odds are not stated.
Valve Steam Frame PC Gamer reports that reservations require an account “in good standing” and a Steam purchase before April 27, 2026. PC Gamer says the phrase “in good standing” was not precisely defined in the material it found. The available report does not establish selection odds or a full definition of the criterion.
Nvidia Verified Priority Access A draw for selected entrants to get the opportunity to buy RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 Founders Edition graphics cards at full price. PC Gamer presents this as a historical example. Current availability and selection odds are not established.
Newegg Shuffle A draw for an opportunity to buy hardware, discussed by PC Gamer as a similar example. The article does not provide current availability, detailed eligibility criteria, or selection odds.
Zotac RTX 50-series Discord sales PC Gamer describes sales through Zotac’s Discord channel, a sales route rather than the same kind of lottery. The cited discussion does not establish current availability or compare the channel’s outcomes with other sales methods.
QuakeCon or PAX West RTX 5090 opportunities PC Gamer mentions in-person purchase opportunities at events. These are historical examples; the cited article does not establish current inventory, terms, or selection odds.

These differences matter to a buyer. A lottery requires meeting criteria and then accepting uncertainty; a reservation queue can make account history a prerequisite; an in-person opportunity adds travel and timing costs; and a Discord sale depends on access to that channel and its rules. The cited examples do not provide enough comparable information to say which approach gives legitimate buyers the best chance.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Why the extra hurdle feels unfair

Buying at the listed price already depends on stock, timing, and the seller’s allocation method. Requiring proof of prior use adds another filter: a new customer, someone who played on another account, or a person returning to a platform may want the hardware just as much as a long-time user but fail the test. Even when the condition is clear, it can make access depend on past behavior rather than the buyer’s willingness to pay the advertised price.

Rank #3
400PCS Computer Screws Motherboard Standoffs Assortment Kit for Universal Motherboard, HDD, SSD, Hard Drive,Fan, Power Supply, Graphics, PC Case for DIY & Repair
  • Total 10 different computer screws with 400Pcs in high quality. Different screw can meet your different needs.
  • Perfect for motherboard, ssd, hard drive mounting, computer case, power supply, graphics, computer fan, CD-ROM drives, DIY PC fixed installation or repair.
  • Material: High quality brass, steel, fiber paper, black zinc plated and steel with nickel. Offer superior rust resistance and excellent oxidation resistance.
  • This computer screws standoffs kit are perfect fit for DIY PC building hobbyist or a professional PC repaire.
  • Excellent laptop computer repair screws kit is fit for many brand of computer, such as Lenovo, MSI, Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, etc.

Vague criteria make the problem sharper. PC Gamer reports that Valve’s “in good standing” requirement for Steam Frame reservations was not precisely defined in the material its author found. Without a clear definition, customers cannot confidently tell whether their accounts qualify or what conduct could disqualify them. That uncertainty is distinct from Sony’s quantified playtime rule.

There is a reasonable aim behind these restrictions: when demand exceeds stock, sellers may try to direct units away from automated purchasing and resale. But the available examples do not establish whether these particular gates reduce scalping, by how much, or how many legitimate customers they exclude. A reported GamesRadar+ example illustrates the concern without resolving it: scalpers listed Valve’s Steam Machine for more than $3,000 as its first wave began shipping. That is a reported listing, not an average market price or evidence of a completed sale. GamesRadar+ reported on the listings.

Rank #4
502PC Computer Motherboard Screws Kit, Motherboard Standoffs Screws for Universal HDD Hard Drive, SSD, PC Case, PC Fan, Power Supply, Graphics, CD-ROM, ATX Case, for DIY PC Installation & Repair
  • 502 PCS. Total 15 different computer screws with 502 pcs, offering a 99% fit in all types of computer motherboard screws for pc DIY installation & repair. You will get the whole necessary computer screws with this motherboard standoffs screw kit.
  • Meet your DIY computer mounting or repair. This computer motherboard standoff screws kit will works on: HDD hard drive, 2.5" SSD hard drive, gpu & cpu cooling pc fan, motherboard, chassis/ pc cases, atx cases, graphics cards, power supply, cd-rom or other parts! Will fit your pc mounting or repair with this pc screws kit!
  • High Quality Motherboard Screws & Standoffs. This computer screws was made by high quality steel, brass, fiber paper, steel with nickel and black zinc plated which have better rust resistance and oxidation resistance. You can install or remove them time and time again without any worry about stripping a head or snapping a screw.
  • Well Packaging. Each type of screws was placed inside a compartment and clearly labeled, making it easy for you to use and store at any time. The 4502pcs pc computer screws kit contains a variety & color of motherboard screws to help you find the right one for the pc mounting & repair needs. It's a good choice for the professional computer repairman or a first-time builder/fixer.
  • Excellent laptop computer repair screws kit is fit for many brand of computer laptop, such as Lenovo, MSI, Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba or desktop, etc.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What a fairer scarce-hardware sale should make clear

A restriction is easier to assess when the seller explains the rule, the scope, and the process in advance. Buyers should be able to distinguish “you may apply” from “you are likely to get one,” and a clear eligibility test should not be mistaken for proof that the system is effective.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  • State eligibility precisely. Give the account, purchase-history, region, and activity requirements in terms customers can verify.
  • Explain the allocation method. Say whether qualified buyers enter a lottery, receive a queue position, or gain access to a sales channel, and explain what happens when demand exceeds supply.
  • Set expectations about odds. If the seller cannot provide a probability, it should avoid implying that passing the gate makes a purchase likely.
  • Limit the burden to what is justified. Prior gameplay or account tenure may screen out some opportunistic buyers, but each extra condition also risks excluding genuine customers.
  • Provide a practical route to resolve eligibility problems. Clear support and appeal information can help customers who meet the intent of a policy but encounter an account-linking or records issue.

For context, Baymard Institute’s 2026 survey of 3,023 U.S. shoppers asked about their most recent online home-and-hardware purchase: 53% named price and 42% named brand as important factors. This was not a gaming-hardware survey and says nothing about anti-scalper rules, but it underscores why a listed price and a brand relationship matter to ordinary shoppers. Baymard Institute describes the survey.

Best Value
Sale
mankk 400PCS PC Screws & Standoffs for Motherboard SSD Fan Case DIY Repair
  • Computer Standoffs Spacer Screws Assortment Kit,especially suitable for professional computer installation,fixing and maintenance, is an ideal product for computer assembly enthusiasts.
  • 【Product Features】It is made of high-quality carbon steel,steel with black zinc plated, which makes them have good corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance and can be used for a long time.The computer screw adopts deep-cut design, with smooth edge, easy to twist, high hardness and strength, and not easy to slip and break.
  • 【Wide Application】Suitable for PC Case,ATX Case,PC chassis fans, SSD,CD-ROM,hard disk, graphics card and motherboard.
  • 【Easy to Use 】A total of 400 PCS computer screws kits,10 different sizes,enough replacement to suit your needs.The are placed in a transparent plastic box, each size of computer screws are sorted separately which is easy to transport and distinguish.
  • 【Package Include 】:Thumb screws,standoffs screws,Chassis fans screws,Main board washers,main board fixed screws,CD-ROM set screws,Hard drive screws,Chassis screws,Standoffs screws,SSD screws.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.