Lifespan of computer

ThrashZone · 04 May 2015

Computer0304 said:

AddRAM said:

You never touch a MB battery unless it dies and you have to replace it, that could take 5 to 7 years.

Yes, I know. I am just curious why ThrashZone said it is bad for the battery to unplug it on the weekdays.

I said it's the only workout not that it was bad :)

Computer0304 · 04 May 2015

That's amazing that your Pentium III processor computer still works. Well, I guess the lifespan of a computer is pretty random.

Edit: So you didn't mean to say that it is bad for the battery? And that's what you do too?

ThrashZone · 04 May 2015

I have a laptop but it has it's own battery so I don't remove the battery on it that would be the same as unplugging a desktop,
But I use my desktop everyday so I don't unplug it every night or when I go to work.

But if I had a spare desktop I might unplug it when not using it.

I believe my point is there nothing wrong,
Heck this machine is 6 years old and I just recently changed the mobo battery out not because I had too but because it's a compact case and the swapped out the hdd for a ssd and the mobo battery is behind it :)

Computer0304 · 04 May 2015

Ok, now I get it. Thanks for explaining ThrashZone. I usually use my laptop daily and don't use my desktop except on weekends and Friday.

AddRAM · 04 May 2015

Just to clarify, I was talking about the cmos battery on a desktop motherboard.

Thrash is talking about a battery in a laptop.

Sorry for any confusion on my part :)

Computer0304 · 05 May 2015

Ok, now I understand. :)

groze · 05 May 2015

I have an dell all-one computer not a laptop, that had the motherboard replaced under warranty do to a electrical surge. I bought it in Jan 2014, the motherboard was replaced later that year.

I have seen refurbished products last longer that newer products. I actually still have an old compaq business systems (that was given to me) that has windows 98se that still works. I could fix it up and get back on the internet if I wanted. I did make a dual boot system out of it with xp. This system without some modifications I found out is restricted to a 40 gb or less ide hard drive. What I would need to fix it up, is a 40 gb ide hard drive, cd, network card. I can still actually boot to windows 98se or xp but just can't use the high speed service because the network card also got the electrical surge. I also had a surge protector that didn't work.

Computer0304 · 05 May 2015

groze said:

I have an dell all-one computer not a laptop, that had the motherboard replaced under warranty do to a electrical surge. I bought it in Jan 2014, the motherboard was replaced later that year.

I have seen refurbished products last longer that newer products. I actually still have an old compaq business systems (that was given to me) that has windows 98se that still works. I could fix it up and get back on the internet if I wanted. I did make a dual boot system out of it with xp. This system without some modifications I found out is restricted to a 40 gb or less ide hard drive. What I would need to fix it up, is a 40 gb ide hard drive, cd, network card. I can still actually boot to windows 98se or xp but just can't use the high speed service because the network card also got the electrical surge. I also had a surge protector that didn't work.

Hmm, maybe they fixed up the parts before you got it?

groze · 05 May 2015

Computer0304 said:

groze said:

I have an dell all-one computer not a laptop, that had the motherboard replaced under warranty do to a electrical surge. I bought it in Jan 2014, the motherboard was replaced later that year.

I have seen refurbished products last longer that newer products. I actually still have an old compaq business systems (that was given to me) that has windows 98se that still works. I could fix it up and get back on the internet if I wanted. I did make a dual boot system out of it with xp. This system without some modifications I found out is restricted to a 40 gb or less ide hard drive. What I would need to fix it up, is a 40 gb ide hard drive, cd, network card. I can still actually boot to windows 98se or xp but just can't use the high speed service because the network card also got the electrical surge. I also had a surge protector that didn't work.

Hmm, maybe they fixed up the parts before you got it?

I know how to install a hard drive in a desktop. When they gave it to me, it only had 20 gb hard drive. However, I was going to put a 80 gb hard drive, but come to find out the Compaq bios at that time had issues recognizing hard drive above 60 gb without some other modification. So, I put a 40 GB hard drive, and added memory. (Since I was new at that time, I had the repair guy put the memory in.) He did for free, I just paid for the memory. I opened up the case for him and closed it back. I wanted to make sure I got the correct memory. I got more memory myself later and put it in myself later.

Wishmaster · 05 May 2015

IF you have decent cooling, and remember to periodically clean the dust out, it should last a long time.

A gaming rig built with quality parts should last a long time too, even if heavily used, if properly maintained. I see no reason one wouldn't last you 5-10years. Granted it may outdated and slow by that time, but should still be working just fine.

How fast technology and software complexity grows is a far greater issue,IMHO, than how long your hardware will last.

I do think if you build a new machine, build the best you can at that time.
Mines still on P67 chipset and a 2700K Sandy Bridge, but still a great machine. Sure I could build new thats faster, but not that much faster to justify the cost of a new build. Though i may be building again next gen

Lower end builds will start showing their age a lot sooner, meaning you'll need to rebuild sooner as well.