A good mid-range gaming laptop may last for about three to four years, while a high-end model can last for about five to 10 years, depending on the laptop’s hardware components.
There are people who treat gaming as a hobby, while there are professionals who make it a living by streaming on Twitch.
Nevertheless, no matter how intensively someone uses their machine and uses their gaming laptop sparingly, they will still need to invest in new components after a few years.
A gaming laptop’s lifespan is, unfortunately, limited to a few years. The wear, tear and durability of a gaming laptop depends primarily on how the laptop is used.
What is the life expectancy of a gaming laptop?
Depending on the maintenance and model, a gaming laptop’s lifespan is usually between five to 10 years.
Most gamers end up selling their old laptops after a few years because laptops, just like any other technology-dependent item, gets outdated very quickly. There is always a new configuration, or a new processor that is required to play the latest games.
If a user is looking for something that will last longer than a gaming laptop, they should invest in a higher end personal computer (PC). However, it would be much more difficult traveling with a PC than with a gaming laptop.
What affects a gaming laptop’s life span?
The environment
Multiple factors can have an influence on the lifespan of the laptop, one of the most obvious is the environment in which the laptop is used.
A laptop that is carelessly placed on the floor, or one that is used in a smoker’s household, or is placed close to a heater will have a shorter life span than one that is properly taken care of.
How the laptop was used
If the laptop is constantly used for gaming, or if numerous files are stored on it, the hard drive performance and the battery will diminish faster than one that is occasional used.
Build Quality
The build quality, as well as the make and model of the laptop play a huge role in the lifespan of a gaming laptop. If the laptop is made of inferior plastic, or if it does not have a good ventilation system, the chance of an early shortcoming is higher than with a well-built laptop.
The different components that go into the gaming laptop will also determine its lifespan. Provided that the components are properly maintained and not put under too much stress, hardware components can last up to 10 years, before it is no longer able to support the latest games.
Graphics Processing Unit
One of the most important components that go into a gaming laptop is the graphics processing unit (GPU).
It is important to compare different GPU’s before picking a laptop, as a starter graphics card, like the NVIDIA GTX 1050, can last up to five years before the user will need to invest in another card, as this graphics card will not be able to run the latest games.
On the other hand, high-end models, like the GTX 1080, can serve the entirety of its lifetime without the need for an upgrade.
Central Processing Unit
The central processing unit (CPU) processes all the data in a machine. It is the component that interacts and carries out tasks from the user’s applications, games and programs. The CPU is seen as the “heart” or “brain” of the computer.
However, it is not as important for a gamer as the GPU. Even so, it is still a crucial component and the user’s games would not be able to run with a bad CPU, as it can cause lag and slower loading times in a video game.
A gaming laptop should have an AMD or Intel-based processor. In particular, the Intel Core i5 and i7 are reliable options for most gamers. While the Ryzen 5 and 7 are reliable AMD processors.
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An entry level CPU life expectancy is around four to five years. So, a user might invest in something high-end to make their laptop last longer. Moreover, the high-end processor will perform much better in newer games.
Random Access Memory
Random access memory (RAM) refers to the short-term memory of a computer. It performs all the tasks a user is ‘currently’ using, such as internet browsing, multitasking between applications or playing video games.
RAM speeds up the loading time and it reduces lag. The minimum RAM one should get is 8 Gigabyte (GB). In the case that a user chose a budget friendly gaming laptop with less than 8GB, it is recommended that the RAM gets upgraded to at least 8GB.
The reason for this is that the computer’s processors (GPU and CPU) rely on the RAM to process information.
If it is possible, it is recommended to upgrade to 16GB RAM, as modern games are becoming increasingly demanding, which includes their RAM requirements as well.
For example, Half-Life: Alyx and Red Dead Redemption 2 requires gamers to have at least 12GB RAM available. In addition to this, if a user plans to multitask and stream, it is ideal to go for a higher RAM as it helps to carry out multiple tasks at once.
Hardware
The laptop’s hardware includes all of its physical components. This refers to the keyboard, trackpad, mouse and monitor. However, it also includes the components inside the laptop, such as the graphics cards and storage among others.
Hardware could last between five to six years, or even more, depending on how the user takes care of them. Gaming laptops are built stronger since they are supposed to handle heavy duty tasks. The life expectancy of a gaming laptop is longer, compared to a normal laptop designed for everyday tasks.
When referring only to the hardware, the maximum gaming laptop lifespan is around 10 years. However, the chances are that the laptop would not be able to keep up with the software side of things – updates.
Despite all these things having an impact on the lifespan of a gaming laptop, technology is getting more and more advanced. This means that gaming laptops are improving every day, which could lead to companies manufacturing gaming laptops with a longer life expectancy.