Last Updated January 16, 2023

How Long Do Gaming PCs Last?

One of the best purchases a gamer can make is a gaming PC. They open the door to a completely new realm of hardware, graphics, and games. They do, however, require a significant time and financial commitment. Knowing how long gaming PCs will last is only fair if you’re prepared to make these commitments.

Do gaming PCs and standard computers differ in any way? The solution is undeniable. Gaming PCs, as their name suggests, are made for playing video games. Gaming PCs are more powerful and have superior graphics and sound cards when compared to standard computers.

How Long Do Gaming PCs Last?

A gaming PC can last an eternity with the right maintenance, if you’re willing to keep updating the hardware and components. A gaming PC can operate for about ten years without any parts needing to be changed or updated before the performance starts to suffer.

 

After ten years, new games will probably demand more graphics, which will make it more difficult for your old hardware to run them. However, this issue can be easily fixed with a simple upgrade.

 

Your hardware will almost always be able to run the games you purchased it for, which is a great feature of gaming PCs. Ten years from now, your only concern will be whether it can still run the most demanding games at its highest settings.

 

Remember that dust ruins computers and their hardware. So, if you want to maintain your gaming PC over time, you should buy some compressed air and give it a monthly cleaning.

 

How Frequently Should a Gaming PC Be Replaced?

After five years, you should replace your gaming computer. This timeline guarantees that all of its components can be significantly upgraded and that you’ll get a much better build than your current one.

 

But a gaming PC rarely needs to be completely replaced. They should be updated once every three years instead. Different PC components will remain cutting-edge longer than others.

 

It is best to spend more on each component, especially the Motherboard if you want to ensure the longevity of your new PC. This will ensure that your PC can play brand-new games at their highest settings for a very long time.

 

Some new games might not run as smoothly after about three years, but you can still play them at medium to high settings.

 

However, after five years, you’ll likely have to use low settings for many newer games, and at that point, you should think about upgrading or replacing them. It’s better to replace the entire build at that point rather than upgrade a single component if all of your parts are five years old because doing so will probably cause a bottleneck.

Do Gaming PCs Last Longer Than Consoles?

Consoles don’t last as long as gaming PCs do. The lifespan of a console’s parts is typically six to seven years before they begin to fail. In addition, support for older consoles ends, and new consoles are released every seven years. Since PC games are not designed for specific PC models, their lifespan is unbounded.

 

Players prefer PCs over older consoles because they can be upgraded, whereas consoles cannot. A 10-year-old PC can play a brand-new game if a few components are changed, but an Xbox 360 will never be able to run a Series X game.

 

Most PC games also let you alter the graphics settings, so even older systems can play them, further extending the life of your computer.

 

How long is RAM good for?

RAM lasts for at least ten years. Every five years, you should replace your RAM to maintain performance.

 

Gamers replace their RAM because of technological advancements that have made much better RAM more accessible, not because it breaks down and stops working.

 

The majority of games have suggested hardware configurations, so if you notice that more and more of them are calling for more RAM than you currently have, it’s time to upgrade.

 

Although RAM failure is rare, it frequently results from incorrect RAM installation. If your RAM is installed correctly and isn’t being used to power a server or exposed to extremely high voltages, it is much more likely to become outdated before it breaks down.

 

How Long Do Graphics Cards Last?

Before something much better enters the market, graphics cards last for about three years. Before they lose the ability to run brand-new games at high settings, they last for about five years. The average lifespan of a graphics card is 10 years before it starts to fail.

 

The most frequently replaced parts in a gaming computer are the graphics cards because new models get exponentially better almost every year.

 

What games you play will determine how frequently you should replace your graphics card. Your 10-year-old graphics card will work just fine if you like to play older games or accessible games like League of Legends and Fortnite.

 

Even with lower graphics, you’ll probably need a game from the last 3 to 5 years to play the most recent AAA title.

 

How long can a gaming computer last?

An upgraded gaming computer can easily last ten years. After ten years, your PC won’t be able to run new AAA games, but it will still be able to run older, less graphically demanding games if you don’t upgrade it. To prolong the life of your PC, give it a monthly cleaning with compressed air.

 

The parts are interchangeable, which is a nice feature of gaming computers. When it comes to consoles, you typically cannot upgrade the components if they slow down or become dated.

 

While this is happening, you can upgrade a PC’s parts one at a time as new ones become available or as your budget allows. As a result, your PC can last a lot longer because you can maintain it for ten years without having to replace it.

 

What Should I Do with an Old Gaming PC?

Old gaming PCs could sell on online marketplaces like eBay or Craigslist, but ensure to wipe or remove the hard drives first to protect your privacy. You can donate the computer if you have a friend who needs it. The old PC could keep as a backup, which is a great option.

Gamer PC Lifetime

This is one of the scariest things for someone trying to get into PC gaming, and it’s a question I constantly see asked in the r/buildapc subreddit, followed by the parts list.

 

Let’s get to it:

 

You’ll be very disappointed at the end of the fifth year if you believe the gaming PC you build today will perform the same in five years.

 

Moore’s Law states that as computer processing power rises, graphics constantly improve and games get harder to run.

 

But that doesn’t mean your computer will always break down, and you shouldn’t spend more money on a long-lasting gaming computer. I wouldn’t approach it in that manner.

 

Let’s say you have an $800 gaming PC budget and can fit a GTX 1070 and a Ryzen 5 3600 in your build. You want to play all games at 1080p on high or ultra settings.

 

It all depends on your expectations, which you must determine for yourself. That mindset would be acceptable for two to three years.

 

Example

 

Consider John receiving the new computer with an R5 and a GTX 1070. John wants to play all of the most recent games in 1080p with top settings and framerates, but he is okay with lowering his settings and not having locked 60 FPS in games that require more processing power.

 

Ken, however, is building the same PC but with much higher standards. He demands that all games play in 1080p at a frame rate of 60.

 

Ken’s computer will, in this case, have a much longer “shelf life” than Ken’s. But if you think like Ken, should you spend more money on a powerful RTX 2080 Ti rather than a GTX 1070 to keep your PC running longer?

 

Not at all, no.

 

The ability to upgrade whenever you want is one of the best benefits of building a gaming PC rather than purchasing a console.

 

Buy a Ryzen 5 and 1070 as soon as possible if that’s what you need to accomplish your goals. You can upgrade to the best graphics card in two years or whenever you feel it is necessary.

 

PC setup for gaming

Selling your current GPU and using the proceeds to pay for your new card. It will also help to defray the price of the new GPU, which is also pretty awesome.

 

The best way to get the most out of your computer is to upgrade. It was necessary, rather than spending a large sum of money upfront and hoping for the best. The best way to get the most out of your computer is to upgrade. It was necessary rather than spending a large sum of money upfront and hoping for the best.

 

Nevertheless, bear in mind that you must strike a balance. Purchase a more expensive graphics card if you intend to keep it for longer than six months. You’re just wasting money at that point.

 

Getting the right balance applies to more than just the GPU. You also have the choice to switch from the Ryzen 5 to the Ryzen 7 at a later time. Additionally, you can add more RAM.

 

It’s impossible to place a time stamp on a person’s PC. Because we all have different needs in terms of gaming computers.

 

You might be like John and be content with lowering some settings and not getting a fully locked 60 FPS. In this case, your PC will last longer.

 

However, if you’re like Ken and want to play all of the newest games at 1440p or even higher performance levels. You’ll need to upgrade more frequently than someone with an earlier mindset.

 

The key is to evaluate your expectations. Yes, you will need to upgrade. When you play games on a PC, that is a simple fact of life.

 

That’s not entirely a bad thing, though. One of the best aspects of PC gaming is the increased graphical fidelity. PCs can change at will, whenever you want. In contrast to consoles, whose performance lock to a single generation.

 

How Long do Prebuilt PCs Last?

Due to its prebuilt nature, a prebuilt PC won’t necessarily last more or less time than a custom-built PC.

 

The only difference between prebuilt and custom-built computers is that prebuilt computers are built by someone else.

 

However, since you are paying for their labor. The prebuilt PC company needs to make a profit as well. Prebuilt PCs frequently cost more.

 

Having said that, it would be challenging to find a prebuilt PC with comparable performance for the same price. If you want to know more check out our blog on the best prebuilt gaming PC.

 

iBUY Power Pro Gaming PC

Prebuilt Gaming PC under $500

 

Specifications

CPU             AMD Ryzen 3 3100 

GPU             AMD Radeon RX550 2GB

RAM            8GB DDR4

Storage      240GB SSD

 

One of the most affordable options is the iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC, which is also probably the best cheap gaming PC available.

 

One of the best-prebuilt gaming PCs you can buy for the money is definitely this one. It has a Ryzen 3100 processor with a maximum core speed of 3.9GHz and an AMD RX550 2GB graphics card, which is easily capable of handling 1080p gaming. In addition, you will receive a 240GB SSD, 8 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM, and a genuine mid-tower gaming case with 4 USB 3.0 ports and tempered glass on the side. This Ryzen configuration can easily handle 1080p gaming on medium settings and deliver strong performance.

 

The AMD Ryzen 3100 is a decent processor that, by itself, could handle some of the latest games without a dedicated GPU, but when pair with the RX 550, it can outperform many high-end desktops that cost a lot of money. On a 1080p display, games like Warzone and Fortnite will run smoothly, but if you’re looking for a 60 fps lock, this setup is not strong enough to support that type of gameplay.  Additionally, 240GB SSD is certainly enough given that almost 60GB of storage would used by Windows alone, but for the price, you won’t find a better one.

 

There are plenty of spaces on this pre-built computer for adding more hard drives and SSDs. Moreover, you will receive a mouse and a gaming keyboard set, as well as RGB-lit fans and magnetic dust filters. If you are an adventure gamer you will love this prebuilt gaming PC its RGB-lit fans made your room a battle station.  

This gaming rig is the one to have if you’re looking for a gaming PC that costs under $500. The best-prebuilt gaming PC under $500 is the iBUYPOWER Pro. Since it’s one of the top cheap gaming PCs available.

Whereas, the gaming experience with the iBUYPOWER SlateMR 500AD is excellent for a budget under $800. You won’t find a gaming PC that performs this well for the price, even though it isn’t the top performance. This PC was capable of handling all the latest games I threw at it. Even though I tested this PC with 8GB of RAM, you can get even higher frame rates by increasing the RAM size. I experienced frame rates of 65 and 68 while playing demanding games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey respectively.

PROS

• Can handle 1080p gaming 
• Good airflow
• Magnetic dust-filters
• 1-year warranty 

CONS

• Only 240GB of storage

 

                                BUY ON AMAZON

 

How Long Will a High-End Computer Last?

If you’re willing to reduce your settings a little, a high-end PC will last a long time. Undoubtedly, when a top-tier PC is first built, 1440p gaming will run smoothly on it.

 

But after a year or two, you’ll need to upgrade if you want to keep the performance level.

 

However, if you don’t mind lowering the settings slightly, you won’t need to upgrade at all.

 

Example

For instance, when he was in the eighth grade. My friend built his gaming computer (probably 5–6 years ago at this point). He made a significant financial investment at the time. Choosing an i7-4790K, an R9 290X, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and an SSD for his computer.

 

All in all, his PC was a monstrous beast that cost close to $2000 gaming PC in total. The PC is still running smoothly even though he has made no other upgrades besides adding another SSD.

 

However, he doesn’t play incredibly taxing games or max out the most recent titles at 1440p Ultra settings.

 

Nevertheless, he is still able to play a few of the most recent AAA games in 1080p with respectable graphics and framerates.

 

But he would need to upgrade if he wanted to play the newest games at the best performance. Once more, everything depends on your expectations. If you want to know more check out our blog Are gaming PCs worth it?

 

Conclusion

Your computer can maintain properly, and there are many ways to extend its lifespan. Whatever PC gaming setup you choose, it can last as long as you like. As long as it stays current with the games you want to play. 

 

It can be challenging to find the best laptop for you, but HP offers many options. The best HP gaming laptop includes the most cutting-edge gaming technology available as well as modest, entry-level budget models. Any potential buyer would be wise to include HP’s selection of reasonably priced, custom machines on their shortlist. especially in light of the regular discounts and sales offered by the HP store, which could save you hundreds of dollars.

The Pavilion, Victus, and Omen are the three product lines that makeup HP’s gaming lineup. For first-time buyers or casual gamers, the Pavilion lineup is a no-frills, cost-effective lineup of laptops. The Victus line of gaming laptops marks the point at which features like faster displays and more potent graphics start to cater to core gamers. The Omen family of laptops, in conclusion, offers the most potent hardware and high-quality components. Omen laptops are perfect for more serious and experienced gamers because they are focused on delivering top-tier performance.

We’ve compiled our shortlist of HP’s best products for you to check out, whether you’re looking to invest in a new setup or are curious to see what the brand is currently showcasing. Some of these contenders can even be found on our lists of the best gaming laptops and refurbished laptops on Amazon.

Which HP gaming laptop is the best? 

HP Omen, HP Victus, and HP Pavilion are the three HP gaming laptop options that qualify as “gaming laptops” and fall under one of these three product lines. The HP Omen gaming laptops are the most expensive in the HP lineup. They have the best build quality and frequently the most powerful hardware, and their prices range from lower-middle to high-end, though they fall short of some other brands’ standards. The HP Victus gaming laptops are a new line from HP that, while offering comparable gaming performance to the HP Omen, makes compromises in other areas to keep costs down. Finally, the HP Pavilion gaming laptop are true entry-level models with entry-level Nvidia 30-series GPUs and the like, but they typically have older-generation CPU and GPU hardware.

Before making any of these laptop purchases, we advise you to quickly read through our Things to consider when buying an HP gaming laptop section further down this page for more details.