The answer to measuring the lifespan of a gaming computer isn’t a simple answer like one year or two or three. It actually depends on several factors: how often you use your pc, how often you do the maintenance and most important the quality of the products you use.
If your PC has undergone wear and tear, you definitely will need to upgrade it. But if you have been using your PC with regular maintenance, it can actually last 10 years before you see any drop in performance. Even if your PC doesn’t degrade over time, you’ll definitely need an upgrade to play the latest games and run the latest software. So, if you a gaming lover and loves to play the latest games, you might need to upgrade your gaming PC every 6 months to 1 year.
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Signs that your gaming PC needs an upgrade:
Your PC might degrade quickly if you do not maintain it regularly. Anyhow, sooner or later it will begin to show signs that you have used it to its capacity and it needs an upgrade now.
- The PC cannot play new games smoothly.
- Frame rates drop for even the older games that used to run smoothly.
- Loading times for games or heavy software increases.
- Cannot install the latest operating system or it keeps lagging even when installed.
- Video editing experience becomes really bad.
- The PC heats up quite quickly.
- Screen crashes or blue screen errors appear often.
How often you should upgrade:
The answer isn’t the same for everyone. It actually depends on a lot of factors like your budget and what you expect from your PC. See our detailed guide to help to decide better whether to upgrade your PC right now or wait some time more.
Which upgrades do I need?
There are various components you can upgrade depending on whether you need to play the latest games or the component has reached its capacity. The following parts of a gaming PC can be upgraded:
Graphics card
A graphics card (or GPU) is one of the most crucial components for gaming because it renders visuals, which leads to a seamless gaming experience. As the latest games are more and more high-end graphics, they need a better and better graphics card. The card you bought today might not run the games released in a year or so smoothly, So, the graphics card is the most often upgraded component in a gaming PC.
How long do graphics card last? Well, it depends on the level of use. High end games put a lot of work on GPU than does general use. It can last for 5-7 years if maintained properly and cooled with fans, but can become obsolete in 3-4 years with the release of newer and more graphically demanding games. So, if you bought a good GPU, it can go for a few years before it needs an upgrade. Upgrade when you feel the newer games aren’t running smoothly or become unplayable as told by John Goldsmith here.
CPU
A CPU is the second most key component in gaming after GPU. It controls your game’s framerates to various tasks running in the background of your PC. If you want to ensure playing the latest high-end games, you’ll need to upgrade your CPU along with your GPU. Otherwise, the PC becomes a huge bottleneck and can’t run the high-end games even after you have upgraded the other components. With proper maintenance, your CPU can last for at least 4-5 years before you’ll actually need an upgrade.
RAM
A good RAM is needed for optimal PC performance. If you can no longer run multiple apps at once or newer games keep lagging, your RAM might be the problem. Complex software and web browsers eat a lot of RAM. So, you need a higher memory for running multiple tabs or software at once. If you notice diminishing performance over time, you might need to replace RAM. This happens only after a span of 5-6 years after the newer games take more and more RAM and eventually an upgrade is required.
Storage
As the games are updated and become more graphically demanding, they also require more space to store the additional data. Many latest games require space of more than 80GB and more after updates are released. So, if you are an enthusiastic gamer and like to keep up with the latest updates, you’ll definitely run out of space soon and will need to buy more space on your PC.
Motherboard
A motherboard is one of the least upgraded components of the PC. It can last for more than 10 years without needing an upgrade. A motherboard should only be upgraded when the latest technology of USB, hard drive or any other part is released and cannot be used with the old one. You should never upgrade a motherboard just for the sake of it and only when it’s necessary.
How to increase the life span of a gaming PC?
Gaming PCs aren’t cheap. You would definitely want your PC to last a long time before you would spend some extra cash to upgrade it. There are many precautions that one could take to increase their PC’s life span.
- To ensure your PC’s longevity regular cleaning with a can of compressed air to blow out any debris is a procedure that should be carried out every 3 to 6 months. This will not only make your gaming experience more enjoyable, but it will also extend the hardware’s life exponentially!
- Don’t eat or drink near your computer. Any food particle or spilled drink can damage your PC.
- Keep your PC in a cool space to prevent it from overheating on the days when it is extensively used.
- Check the wattage requirement of new components and use the appropriate power supply to avoid damage to the components.
How does overclocking affect the CPU and GPU:
Overclocking is the process of making your CPU or GPU run faster than it was originally designed to run by the manufacturer. Overclocking increases your PC’s performance and can keep up with the games and software the original GPU and CPU couldn’t run smoothly.
When should you overclock:
When your PC becomes old enough and cannot run the latest games smoothly, you can overclock to keep up with the high-end graphics of newer games. This will increase the “useful lifespan” of your PC.
Is it bad to overclock?
Overclocking isn’t necessarily bad for your PC but it does heat your CPU quickly because it’s making it work faster than it is originally meant to work. This can decrease the lifespan of your CPU and GPU but you can slow this process by upgrading your cooling system. Invest in fans and this will increase the lifespan of both CPU and GPU.
Conclusion:
Every person expects something different from their PC. Some people want to play games with maximum graphics and so have to upgrade their PC often. Others can compromise a bit on graphics and result in their PCs lasting longer than the earlier group. You can buy either a pre-built PC or build according to your own choice of each component. Apple computers have a reputation for lasting longer. If you are buying a new one, expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $3,500, depending on how sophisticated the computer is. The lifespan of each either of them will ultimately depend on your expectations and how well you take care of your PC.