This question can have multiple answers if you are searching it on the internet, but in actuality, it totally depends on the usage and type of tasks executed by that particular Gaming PC.
As there are different types of users, some like to continue doing some tweaking and upgrades in their systems while some like to keep their system as it is for a few long years.
There are many people who say that Gaming PCs become weak and lose their high-end ability and overall value as time passes, but these sayings aren’t backed by any solid technical proof.
A Gaming PC that was built in the year 2011 cost around 2200 dollars and now in 2022 it has lost more than 300% of its value and comes around a range of 500 dollars.
So, this depreciation in price is quite big as compared to any other machinery object or electronic device.
The main credit of this price depreciation directly goes to the new brands and companies arising in the world at such an immense rate and we can see new brands emerging every year.
However, not every component depreciated at the same rate. The rate of depreciation differed because some parts, like cases, are going to hold their value better than others.
A PC cabinet, LED Monitor, keyboard and Mouse-like components can stay for quite long and can be considered usable for many years, whereas components like motherboard, RAM, and GPU can be felt old.
CPUs are, however, always being developed as new models are released, and a 10-year-old CPU will be many times faster than the most recent CPU, as per Moore’s Law.
Additionally, to calculate the total depreciation on the PC over 10, I wanted to know the amount each component was worth over the course of ten years.
You can easily get this and observe from the superficial level, that the GPU, RAM, and CPU losses their majority value and performance in comparison to the other parts of the PC. This is quite normal since they’re updated most frequently and have the biggest influence on the gaming experience.
The results indicate that when the time arrives to elevate, there is likely a requirement to refresh your CPU and GPU, and then your RAM. The case, however, appeared to be losing more value than your motherboard and HDD disk. Also, your PSU will last the most, at least in our study.
Our observations are logical unreliable too – when we try to get upgraded our computer the first thing we switched is the graphics card and then the CPU, and finally the RAM.
It’s the exact motherboard, case, drive, and power supply that was initially installed during the build.
How Long Will My Gaming PC Last?
This is the most common and usually question surfing on the internet and if you are the one who thinks that the Gaming PC or Laptop that you bought are built today will remain the same three to five years from now, then you might be the unluckiest and disappointed person after the end of Five years.
Graphics technology is constantly evolving and games are getting more difficult to play as the computing power is increasing (Moore’s law).
It really doesn’t mean that the PC will be a failure, and neither do you need to spend more dollars to help keep your gaming computer running longer. I would not recommend going with that approach.
With a budget of $800 Let’s say that you are able to install a Ryzen 5 3600 and a GTX 1070 into your system and play all games at 1080p using ultra or high settings.
This kind of mindset is fine for a couple of years, but ultimately it is all about your expectations, which you have to determine on your own.
As an example, suppose that a boy receives a new computer equipped with the GTX 1070 and some other higher-level GPU like the R series. That boy would like to play all the latest titles at 1080p, with the best settings and frame rates, however, he would be quite okay and fine in adjusting his settings to a lesser degree and not being locked 60FPS for higher-end games.
On the other side, there is another boy, who is building an identical computer but has more ambitious expectations. He is hoping to play every game at 60 FPS 1080p and with the highest settings.
In this particular case the first boy is supposed to have a long and lasting life, but thinking from the second boy’s point of view would you like to go for a muscular RTX 2080 ti in place of GTX 1070 in order to extend your PC life.
Never, right?
One of the great things when building a gaming PC rather than buying a console is that you have the ability to upgrade as often as you’d like.
Get the parts you need today to get what you want, i.e. a Ryzen 5 or 1070. Within 2 years or at any time you think it is appropriate, you’ll be able to change your graphics card and get the latest and greatest.
The sale of the graphics card you currently have and using the proceeds to finance the purchase of your new device will help to cover the cost of the new card as well it is amazing.
Upgrade your PC when the right time comes is the most efficient way to maximize the value of your dollar, as opposed to investing in a whole new system at first, believing that your computer will last for a long time.
However, remember that you need to strike a balance. Do not buy a cheap graphic card that has to be upgraded in only six months. Then you’re spending money.
Finding the right balance is about more than only the GPU too. If you’d like to change from a Ryzen 5 for a Ryzen 7 the choice is available too. You could also add more RAM, too.
The idea of putting a time stamp on a PC isn’t feasible as we all have different expectations for Gaming PCs.
It’s possible to find yourself in the Jim group of people who are content by adjusting your settings but not getting a 100% locked 60 FPS in which case, you’ll enjoy more life-span from your computer.
If your situation is similar to Bill’s and would like to play the latest games at 1440p, or higher performance than that, then you’ll need to upgrade your system more frequently than someone who has an earlier mentality.
All it boils down to is taking a look at your own expectations. Sure, you’ll be required to upgrade. It’s a fact of life when playing on the PC.
But, it’s not entirely negative. The ability to get better graphics from your games is among the most enjoyable aspects that come with PC gaming. Contrary to consoles, where performance is limited to the whole generation, PCs are able to be upgraded at any time you’d like.
Components That Affect the Life of a Gaming PC
Processor
Beginning at the core of a computer, Central Processing Units (CPUs) are among the most crucial components of the PC. It is a good thing that CPUs typically last between 5 and 10 years, depending on several elements. CPUs are subject to a variety of cycles of cooling and thermal heating when they are in use.
This happens each when you start your computer and turn it off. The CPU will get hot to between 30 to 90 ° Celsius and then cool to normal temperatures. Although this doesn’t cause immediate damage to your CPU it is the silicon transistors the CPU is made of will degrade as time passes, with thousands of thermal cycles happening.
Overclocking your CPU can remove certain protections, however, this means that the additional performance usually comes at the cost of longevity. In the event that your processor has suffered massive damage, you’ll most likely be experiencing blue displays, or even random shut-downs when you use it frequently and you’ll need to seek support to have this addressed.
GPU
A Graphics Processing Unit is like the CPU in the sense that it is among the most crucial components of the PC. In standard computers, GPU sits integrated into the CPU’s silicon and shares memory and power with the CPU.
The GPU is placed inside a separate PCB which is inserted into the motherboard. It houses its own memory and power sources.
A separate graphics card is likely to ingest more energy. This is the reason they are generally furnished with massive heatsinks as well as multiple fans to keep things working in a cool environment. Graphics cards can run between 40 to 70 degrees Celsius, however, the latest GPUs that automatically scale up and down their implementation depending on the temperature at which they operate.
It means that a graphic card that is running at 60C when playing games will perform better than one operating at 80C. The high temperatures and general degradation due to prolonged use for a long time can affect a graphics card like the CPU.
One method to prevent this is to ensure that your fans are operating in a proper manner and increasing their speed when temperatures increase. GPU damaged screens are often the cause of flickering, strange artifacts, or even full-blown crashes in extreme cases.
Motherboard
A motherboard is among the most durable components of computers. It’s the foundation of all computer components and the performance of the motherboard could impact the performance of CPUs.
The motherboard is responsible for absorbing energy from power sources and then transferring it to the RAM and CPU. If the motherboard is unable to cope with the power requirements from the CPU it will be forced to reduce its performance.
The motherboard component which will suffer the most wear over time is called the Voltage Regulator (VRM). This is the component that is responsible for filtering and delivering all the power coming from the power source directly to your CPU.
They are designed to operate at temperatures of up to 105C and even the temperature of 125C. They don’t generate much heat however that’s why they typically include a heatsink made of metal to them and do not require an actual fan. The motherboard contains a variety of other components, so be sure to take care when working on it so you don’t snap the capacitor or any other small part.
Mike is an experienced video game journalist and enthusiast with more than a decade of experience in the gaming industry. As founder and lead editor of mygamingsetup.net, Mike strives to keep gamers up-to-date with the latest gaming news, guides, tips and tricks for popular video games.