The graphics measurement is the most important thing for a gaming PC. The FPS or the frame rate in the video game shows the number of times the image gets refreshed to produce movement, motion, and effects. If the computer allows you to play with a high FPS then this is a gaming PC. To sum up, a gaming PC is the one that can play video games at high visual quality with a high frame rate.
The gaming PC has to have a powerful processor. This is so that the system does not get bottlenecked. There are a number of processors available to cater to the needs of the beginners as well as the professional gamers.
How long should a gaming PC last?
A gaming PC that you have purchased new will work great in the first year. As new games start to develop and the current games start asking for updates, your gaming PC will start to get slow. You are sure to feel the performance going down. If the gaming PC is balanced and well-built then you can run the PC for many years to play your favorite games in it.
In order for your gaming PC to be well balanced, it is important that the graphics card that you choose is good. You should upgrade the GPU since the graphics card slot will hardly change the standard or the interface.
The CPU, however, will change the standards in every 2 to 3 years. There are compatibility issues here so if you wish to upgrade the processor of your gaming PC you will have to upgrade the motherboard as well. It is possible that the gaming PC owners use the combination of processor and motherboard for 5 years or more.
The GPU will age much faster than the CPU. The game designers push the limit of the gaming technology and it could very well happen that a game that is running smoothly today struggles to run in a few years’ time.
Count the years
On average, 3 years is the maximum that your gaming PC will serve you. You would then have to change the graphics and other settings in order to cope up with the change in the gaming requirements. This can be different based on the kind of GPU that you use. The games are sensitive to the GPU and thus GPU will prove to be a bottleneck more than the CPU.
Here are a few points that you need to keep in mind about your gaming PC:
- If you have built a gaming PC using the best components, then your computer will run the games at an ultra-high speed setting for at least 5 years. After this you will have to tweak the settings
- If you have built a gaming PC with components that are of a budget category then 3 years is the maximum that you can expect out of this gaming PC. Some games will play slow on ultra and high settings.
- When your gaming PC reaches over the threshold then this will cause deterioration of performance when you play the AAA games.
- When you tweak the game setting then this will lengthen the hardware lifespan and you will lose the beauty of the graphics. If you are a gamer that demands high resolution and ultra-settings than the gaming PC will last you for 3 years in an average.
Factors that affect the life of your gaming PC
The life of your gaming PC is dependent on components used in the computer and the maintenance of your computer. Some damage or outdated parts in your computer could also cause your gaming PC to not work to its full potential. To get the best performance keep your gaming PC free of any virus. It should be regularly updated and in good condition. This will let the gaming PC to last for its full lifetime.
Choose the best gaming PC
There are desktops that have impressive specifications but are not marked as a gaming PC. This is even if you check the latest and the high-end laptops and desktops.
It is easy to tell which is a gaming PC when you look at the top end versions. On the lower end, however, it could be confusing to understand whether it is a regular desktop or a gaming PC. The parts that are needed to build a gaming PC are pretty much the same as that of a desktop. These include the:
- Motherboard
- Storage drive (Hard drive or SSD)
- Graphics Card (GPU)
- Processor (CPU)
- Memory (RAM)
- Cooling (fans, CPU cooler, etc.)
- Power supply (PSU)
The business and home computers have all these parts too. The only difference could be the graphics card because many computers may be using onboard video processing. So if both the regular PC and the gaming PC have the same components then what makes them different?
It is the power and the PC performance that differentiates both the types of PCs. The high-end desktop may be also used to play games and this could have the same specifications as a good low-end gaming PC.
- The Motherboard
The motherboard is important and it determines the kind of processors that your computer will use. It also determines the features of the processor.
- The Processor
The processor is crucial that determines the life of your gaming PC. This is difficult to upgrade and thus you should get the best CPU so that your gaming PC lasts for many years. You may, however, have to upgrade the other components of your gaming PC.
Conclusion
If you take good care of your gaming PC then it will last you for 5 years on an average. It may last physically for even 10 years but the hardware will get obsolete. This is true even if you use a high-end gaming PC.
Talking about the performance of your gaming PC, you can expect that the GPU will perform well for 2 years. After that, you will have to lower the setting so that it maintains the desired frame rate. Gamers look for lag-free, high quality, and high definition gameplay. They are not interested in the lifespan, durability, and backward compatibility of the gaming PC.
