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If you are investing to buy a gaming laptop or already bought it at a high range price, then you must have a question in your mind that how long do gaming laptops last? Normal office or home laptops are lower in price than gaming laptops. We expect to use it for a long with good performance and enjoy gaming.
If we answer your question in a typical way by observing average statistics, then we would like to say that a gaming laptop lifespan with a mid-range price is 3-4 years.
The high-range gaming laptop lifespan is more or less 5-6 years. A roughly and carelessly used gaming laptop can last 2 years only. On the other hand, if you are an expert in taking care of a laptop, then your laptop will last more than 5 or 6 years, sometimes it might be more than 8 years.
The lifespan of a typical laptop and gaming laptop depends on how you use the laptop and the way you take care of it. Taking care means cleaning, upgrading, updating, etc. But if you want to know the details of the matter about how a gaming laptop lasts and the lifespan of each vital component of a gaming laptop, then this article is for you.
Here we will explain how long do gaming laptops last and the durability of laptop components from our observations and experiments. At first, we would like to talk about those factors which affect the gaming laptop lifespan.
What affects gaming laptop lifespan?
The longevity of a gaming laptop depends on several factors. Many things we need to notice when thinking about the lifespan of a gaming laptop. Let’s discuss some points that you have to consider to gather knowledge about gaming laptop lifespan.
Primarily three factors we can consider:
- The hardware quality of your gaming laptop
- The works you do on your laptop
- The handling and maintaining procedure of your laptop
The hardware quality of your gaming laptop
The standard and quality of your hardware decide how long your gaming laptop will last. Laptops are like smartphones and other devices, if the manufacturing and the components are high in quality, then your laptop will last for a long.
And when we are talking about gaming laptops, then the quality of CPU, RAM, battery, graphic card, chassis, cooling fan everything plays a big role here. CPU and GPU can be upgraded however the RAM is fixed.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
This is called the brain of a computer. Every computation happens here. It is so much important for better performance of gaming. Day by day the processor is advancing incapacity. CPU is responsible for sending input data to the GPU and displaying the output. So an advanced level of processor is needed.
For example, Intel Core i9 is faster and advanced than Intel core i5. To get better performance and better lasting capacity you have to buy an advanced CPU. For the gaming laptop, an advanced processor is a must.
If you think about the price range and find a cheaper one, then you are doing wrong. Because Intel core i7 or Intel Core i9 will give you long-lasting facilities with good gaming experience than Intel core i5. So take a wise decision and stop finding the cheaper one.
Graphic Processing Unit (GPU)
GPU is responsible for producing high-quality images on the display. Like the CPU, day by day GPU is getting advanced in quality and price also. To get a better quality display, you must have an advanced-level GPU in your gaming laptop.
NVIDIA and AMD are the most popular and high-quality GPUs in the world. A normal laptop uses lower quality GPU which are not fit in a gaming laptop.
When you are buying a gaming laptop, you must select a high-quality GPU for a good gaming experience and long-lasting. Otherwise, GPU also spreads more heat and finally gets damaged very soon. So for the longer-lasting of your gaming laptop, you must have a high-quality GPU.
If we see some examples, then look at the GTX 10 and 16 series graphics cards. They are not bad but already outdated. You must choose RTX 20 series GPUs to get better performance and long-lasting advantages.
The quality of Chassis
The chassis quality is an important factor when talking about the longevity of gaming laptops. It holds all the internal components of the gaming laptop and protects everything from outside interferences.
The build material of the chassis is so much important here, the overall lasting of your gaming laptop depends on it. For example, aluminium build chassis is better than a chassis made out of light plastic.
As a result, the aluminum build is so strong and long-lasting, on the other hand, low-quality plastic can be destroyed easily. That does not mean that all plastic-made chassis is bad.
Most of the chassis is made of plastic in a gaming computer, the quality of plastic matters. So the quality of the chassis is an important factor to consider that affects the lifespan of a gaming laptop.
The cooling fan
In a gaming laptop, the CPU and GPU produce huge heat while running. Temperature rise so high. High temperature is so much harmful to gaming laptops and it reduces the longevity of the device. Only a good quality cooling fan can help it out and keep the system cool.
Extreme heat is the main reason for hardware failure and damage. CPU starts throttling which reduces the gaming performances and longevity of the component. Normally, a gaming laptop has its capacity and techniques designed by the Manufacturer’s Company to reduce heat.
Some of the techniques are multiple high-speed cooling fans, vapor chamber cooling, and metallic casing that help to dissipate heat from internal sources. If the cooling mechanism of the gaming laptop is not well designed, the motherboard and its components will fail very earlier and finally reduce the lifespan of the gaming laptop.
RAM
Random Access Memory is a vital thing in a gaming laptop. While a normal laptop needs 4GB RAM, there a gaming laptop needs 8GB or more RAM. The total performance depends on RAM capacity. More RAM will give you a more convenient way of gaming.
Unlike other components, you cannot upgrade the RAM. So you have to be careful when you are buying a gaming laptop. Only lower RAM can give you a bad gaming experience and reduce the longevity of the lifespan of your gaming laptop.
If it is possible to add 16GB RAM, then that would be the smartest idea. For example, if you choose to pay for a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Half-life: Alyx, then you require 12GB RAM. If you do extra work with the playing like chatting with the opponent, then 16GB is best for you.
So, the right amount of RAM in your gaming laptop is so important, because 4GB or less RAM could slow you down with your system and reduce the longevity as well.
Above all, we can say that the hardware quality of the gaming laptop is matters on how long your gaming laptop lasts. So you have to be careful when planning to buy a gaming laptop.
The works you do on your laptop
The most important thing is what you do on your laptop. The lifespan of the gaming laptop depends on what kind of works you usually do on your laptop daily. Some games and tasks are more demanding and produce more heat and utilize more CPU. More heat will damage your system by reducing longevity.
If you play games in the emulator then it will reduce the lifespan of your CPU. So it’s better not to play games in an emulator.
Some works are really easy and some games are so light. These games and works never produce heat and never reduce the CPU longevity.
For example, a college or university student uses the laptop to play light games, browse the web, and watch YouTube videos. On the other hand, a professional gamer use to play hardcore games on his laptop which requires a high configuration laptop with GPU.
The laptop lasting capacity or durability of the laptop depends on the use of the laptop. So, the first person’s laptop will last for so long. His laptop does not take too much pressure. But the professional gamer’s laptop will last for short, because of the high pressure and over usage of the laptop.
So the kind of works you do on your laptop determines how long your gaming laptop will last.
The handling and maintaining procedure of your laptop
Your laptop longevity depends on how you handle and treat your laptop. If you are careless about the maintenance of your laptop, you reduce the lifespan of the laptop. Gaming laptop needs more care and more cleaning procedures.
Every electronic device needs good maintenance to keep it cool and strong.
Things that can damage your gaming laptop are given below:
- Drop your laptop
- Accidentally spilling coffee or water on the laptop
- Putting your laptop on a warm surface, that produces more heat
- Not cleaning your laptop from inside
- Using damage battery
Regular cleaning and maintenance are needed for the long-lasting of your gaming laptop.
How long do gaming laptop components last?
A gaming laptop may last 4-5 years on average. But its components may last longer or shorter than it. Let’s discuss some frequently asked questions about the longevity of different laptop components.
How long do laptop fans last?
A laptop fan is an essential component of a laptop. It is the responsibility to keep the CPU cool. Sometimes it cools down other components too. The average lifetime of a laptop fan is about 50,000 hours.
It is written somewhere a long time ago. 50,000 hours means 5.7 years. That is the reason most of us never bother about the fan. But one thing we need to remember is that if you do not clean the fan regularly, then the longevity will be too short and the lack of a proper cooling system could damage the CPU and other components too.
You will see common signs when your laptop fan goes bad. At first, the fan will spin slow and make noise. After that, it will stop someday silently which is dangerous for your system. Running the fan at perfect speed is completely right for your laptop.
How long do laptop GPUs last?
GPU is the main component in a laptop for which a gamer can enjoy playing games perfectly. It produces the perfect images and reduces the load of the CPU. So it is an important question that how long do laptop GPU last in gaming laptops.
The average lifetime of the GPU is 3-5 years. The GTX 1050 can last up to 5 years if you take good care of your laptop. To get better performance and high-speed response, you need to upgrade your GPU regularly.
Some GPU may last more than 5 years, but the level of performance will go low and the gamer will not enjoy gaming as before. So to get faster performance, you should change your GPU after 3 or 4 years, only if you are a hard-core gamer.
If the GPU goes bad then at first the stuttering will start. You might also see visual freezing and overheating problems. Some signs will notify you that the GPU is dying.
The computer crashes and won’t reboot. One moment, your graphics card is running the latest graphic-intense game without a single issue. Graphical glitches that occur while playing games is common symptoms.
Abnormal noise of fan and performance is a most occurring sign of GPU damage.
How long does laptop CPU last?
CPU is the brain of the laptop. Every computation has happened here. The overall performance and quality depend on the CPU in a laptop. CPU is the most vital component in a gaming laptop.
The average lifetime of a CPU is 7-10 years. Though it depends on the usage and maintenance process of the CPU. Sometimes a CPU may last more than 10 or 15 years also. Depends on what you do and how you treat your laptop. CPU failure from normal use is too rare. Sometimes it may last 20 years.
If a CPU goes bad or then there are some symptoms by which anyone can realize that the CU will die soon. Let’s discuss some symptoms. Random shutdowns and system freezing, these two signs are very common before dying of a CPU.
The system will crash frequently without notice. The laptop will not turn on, you have to try 2 or 3 times at least. The fan is spinning but no display on the screen. These all signs will obvious before a CPU die.
Another important reason is there when a transistor fails suddenly, then the CPU will die instantly. This phenomenon happens when excessive load and pressure are given to the CPU. Overheating is the main reason for damaging transistors and then the CPU.
How long do the laptop battery last?
The laptop battery is a component that makes the laptop different from the desktop. The role of the laptop battery is huge. On average a laptop battery lasts about 2-4 years when the laptop is used typically. Normally the laptop battery lasts 1000 charge cycles.
Most of the time we use to plug in the power with the battery. Many of us think that this is the wrong way. It reduces the lifetimes of the battery. But, once it is fully charged, it automatically stops charging. So keeping your laptop plugged in is not an issue. Normally a battery gives 3 -4 hours of backup.
Here are also some signs that will notify you that your battery is dying. Overheating of the battery is the most common sign. After charging the battery or after using the laptop for a long time, the battery will be overheated.
Sometimes it will give you a replacement warning. Refuse to charge that means stop charging. The abnormal shutdown is another reason here. All these are the symptoms that will be found when a laptop battery is dying.
Most of the laptop battery comes from the manufacturer with 2 years warranty. The maximum battery is made of lithium. Actually, after a certain age, the battery started to reduce its backup time and longevity.
How long does the laptop display last?
Display where the images are produced. The lifespan of the LCD monitor is 30,000 to 60,000 hours of use which means 10 to 20 years if the monitor is used 8 hours per day.
The lifetime is longer than a plasma or CRT monitor used in previous time and shorter than the advanced LED monitors. On laptops, we normally get LCD and LED displays.
Laptop displays rarely go bad. We should know how to determine if a laptop screen has physical damage. Pressure crack is a common symptom, a black spot might be seen on any corner of the display.
Multicoloured vertical lines are another common symptom of a damaged display. White blotches and screen fractures happen sometimes before the dearth of a display. All these signs happen when a screen of a laptop has been physically damaged.
Laptop Maintenance Guide
We have discussed the lifetimes of the gaming laptop and all vital components’ lifespan in detail. You might have a question that “is gaming laptops worth it”? The answer is “Yes”.
It is beneficial of buying a gaming laptop. When you buy a costly and highly advanced gaming laptop, you will feel the comfort of using it and enjoy gaming the most. We should not only gather knowledge about the lifespan of gaming laptops but also be careful about maintaining procedures for the longevity of the gaming laptops.
The gaming laptop is a kind of dream to many to play games with more enjoyment. So we should do some routine work to keep the laptop perfect for a long time.
Firstly, we should pick the best hardware for our dream laptop. Secondly, clean the laptop’s outside and inside regularly to keep the inside components fresh and cool. After that, keep your laptop plugged in while gaming. This will increase the performance and keep the battery healthy.
Always use the laptop on a hard surface, this will keep your laptop out from overheating. Sometimes you should replace the thermal paste to keep the CPU perfect. Keep your system updated. Then overall performance will be compacted and maximum.
While playing the game you may issue CPU overheating issues. So you have to reduce CPU usage while gaming.
Always use an extra cooling fan underneath your laptop which will keep the whole laptop specially the CPU very cool. To extend the lifespan of your gaming laptop, you can add an extra SSD from which you can run your operating system, this will fast your system.
Conclusion
So, in the end, we would like to give you some advice about gaming laptops. If you buy a gaming laptop and take very good care of it, it will last more than five years for sure. Because taking care is the most important thing here when talking about the lifespan of a gaming laptop.
The laptop might physically last more than ten years, but the hardware will be backdated and the performance will be so poor, then you will have a very bad gaming experience with it. If the performance is your main concern, then you have to change the GPU first after three years.
In this article, we deliver the message that the lifespan of your gaming laptop depends on how the hardware is, how you use your laptops and how you take care of it. Normally a new gaming laptop is expected to last more than three years. If you take very good care of your laptop, then it will last 5-6 years or more.
So you have to decide the price range of your laptop according to your capability before buying it. Entry-level, mid-level and high-level gaming laptops’ lifespan is different from one another.
One thing you should remember always is that the longevity of your gaming laptop depends on how good you are at taking care of the laptop.
If you are interested in gaming chairs then you read our article on Why gaming chairs are expensive?
