Investing in a gaming laptop can be a complex thing. An excellent gaming laptop or even its components are more expensive than regular laptops. But how long do gaming laptops last? To put it simply, gaming laptops last 3-4 years on average. A well-maintained gaming laptop can also last up to 10 years. But long-lived gaming laptops often face issues like outdated hardware, reduced battery life, faulty cooling, and maintenance.
What is the lifespan of a gaming laptop?
The longevity of gaming laptops boils down to their overall build quality. Best gaming laptops under $1200 can easily last for 5-6 years compared to best gaming laptops under $300 ones which last about 3-4 years. But higher the lifespan, the higher the chances that the hardware may turn obsolete. One has to either spend on replacing parts or buying a new one because of its inability to support more recent games and software updates.
Here are the important components that you need to pay attention to assess the lifespan of your gaming laptop:
GPU (Graphic Processing Unit)
A GPU (graphics processing unit) is one of the most imperative aspects for optimal gaming. Superior GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or the GTX 1080 promise a life of 5 years. These must be able to support both current and future generation games. Newer games demand better graphics for seamless gameplay, especially the AAA title games, which have rendered all the older GPUs obsolete.
CPU (Control Processing Unit)
Opting for a good CPU (Central Processing Unit) is not as pivotal as opting for a good GPU, but many FPS (first-person shooter) and multiparty games rely on an excellent-performing CPU. Dual-core Intel processors such as the i5 and i7, the AMD processors, namely Ryzen 5 and 7, are dependable options. Another preference would be quad-core processors, should dual-core processors bottleneck your GPU and hamper GPU-CPU coordination. It helps the laptop to last longer without the need for upgrades. Investing in high-end CPUs and GPUs mainly comes in handy when down the line the screen dies off. The laptop can be connected to an external display through an HDMI port without buying a new one for a year or two.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
Another performance-relevant factor would be RAM. 8-16GB is perfect for most gaming laptops. Anything less than 8GB will cause delay and bouts of stammering for more demanding games. Gaming laptops come with the disadvantage of not allowing for a full breadth of customization. Hence, one has to either stick with a laggy performance or substitute their computer for another with greater RAM.
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
Several gaming laptops still come with an HDD. It slows down over time because of two factors: Wear and tear, slamming the reading head onto the motor of the disk from jostling the laptop around too much. Replacing the HDD with an SDD provides a performance boost without damage and increases battery life too.
All of these components above take up lots of battery and, this causes the battery to lose its charge very quickly. A gaming laptop should not be on charge 24X7 as it causes the device to overheat. It turns the battery incapable of holding much charge on its own. Some battery charging exercises such as charging only when low on power, switching the adapter off at a 100% charge and not letting it drain out completely can be helpful.
With any other electronic device, some hardware failures are bound to happen. Planning ahead of such failures by buying an external monitor and other replaceable components beforehand can help save on time spent on repairs, leisure, and entertainment.
Gaming laptops can use for other purposes such as watching Youtube videos or streaming on Twitch. Being thinner, they are more portable than regular laptops. Cleaning the interior and exterior of the laptop is very efficient.
Overheating can damage internal components too. There are several ways to keep gaming laptops cool easily. It is avoidable by using cooling pads. Since cooling pads are connected via the laptop’s USB port, it does not consume much battery. Another trick to avoid overheating is using compressed air to blow away the dust from the laptop’s vents.
Do gaming laptops last longer than standard laptops?
When compared to regular laptops, gaming laptops are at a considerable disadvantage due to all the heavy machinery, compromised battery life, and the demand for increased maintenance that arrives with it. Regular laptops, however, are not equipped with up-to-date GPUs/CPUs etc. It is because they are not deemed for roles such as gaming, graphic designing, or video editing. They are perfect for day-to-day activities like emailing, making excel sheets, to name a few. For the same reason, they are relatively low maintenance, consume comparatively less charge and do not require component replacement as frequently as gaming laptops do.
Does gaming on a laptop reduce its life?
Playing hard-core games on a laptop reduces its life both quantitatively and qualitatively. Prolonged playing sessions without regard to battery life, overheating, cleanliness, and careful handling cause damage to internal components. You would then need to replace it. Even a well-maintained gaming laptop over the years needs to undergo software updates and hardware replacements. This assists in supporting software updates regardless to fulfill the pre-requisites of accommodating newer era games. At the same time, turning a blind eye to anti-virus and anti-malware can compromise the system’s functioning.
Conclusion
The lifespan of a gaming laptop varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and from model to model by the same manufacturer. Even then, one can expect their gaming laptop to function well for 3-7 years. Most of this depends on the frequency of usage, care and system configuration. Regular hardware replacement will help you keep up with the newest gaming trends. Apart from that, regularly updating the anti-virus software is also helpful. Charging methods, maintenance, cleanliness, efficient cooling after gameplay is a few efficient ways to prolong the life of a gaming laptop.