How Long Does A Gaming Laptop Last & Common Problems

A good mid-range gaming laptop should last you three to four years.

High-end models can last up to six years with proper maintenance. You can expect up to ten years of service out of your gaming laptop physical components.

Laptops can last up to 10 years if they are adequately maintained, but new technology will have evolved so much in that time that they will not be able to run any games that are launched in the years to come.

Given that gaming laptops are so expensive than their desktop counterparts, it’s no small decision to buy one.

As a result, you’re probably curious about the long-term value of this purchase and the durability of the laptop itself.

How long do gaming laptops last, as well as how to best maintain your portable gaming system cool and running for a long time, will be discussed in this article.

What Causes Gaming Laptop Issues?

1. GPU – Graphics Processing Unit

When it comes to video and graphics processing, the GPU is in charge. It’s the key to a more fluid gaming experience.

The graphics card on your laptop is the most critical part of your gaming rig. For the most part, this is the case with more popular games as well.

Why? Because it necessitates the use of 3D graphics, texture mapping, and high-resolution rendering software.

NVIDIA and AMD make the best graphics cards.

But with so many models to choose from, where do you even begin? The frame rate is a nice place to start.

The number of frames processed by your GPU each second is referred to as FPS (frames per second). The smoothness and responsiveness of your games will be improved with higher frame rates.

You should aim for 30 FPS at the very least. It’s the most common in almost all PC games today.

If it is possible, 60 FPS will be the sweet spot. Even on a gaming PC, it is possible to get 120 frames per second (FPS).

NVIDIA GTX 1050 and AMD Radeon RX 460 are excellent entry-level GPUs for specific models. You won’t have to replace these cards for 4-5 years if you start with the entry-level models.

High-end graphics cards will be able to last for their whole physical life spans. A FEW HIGH-END VARIANTS ARE the NVIDIA GTX 1060, GTX 1080, AMD RX Vega 64, and RX 580.

Consider the RTX series from NVIDIA if you’re more of a “go big or go home” kind of person. To provide the ultimate visual experience, it employs artificial intelligence (AI) and ray-tracing.

2. Hardware

The wide variety of hardware that goes into PCs and, by extension, laptops means that they cannot be designed to function optimally on the hardware arrangement for the duration of a console generation (approximately six years).

On top of that, a laptop is significantly more compact and portable. Manufacturers must make some modifications to their components for this to be achievable. This means laptop computers will always be slower than their desktop counterparts.

The good news is that the technology gap between rich and poor has shrunk to historic lows.

Hardware components can live up to ten years if properly maintained and not regularly put under duress.

How long until laptops can’t run the latest games? That’s a good question.

3. CPU – Central Processing Unit

Most of the high-end gaming laptops now on the market are powered by Intel i5 or i7 processors, while some lower-end versions are powered by AMD processors such as A12, A9, and other APUs from this family.

Building a PC for gaming is all about making sure your CPU doesn’t stifle the performance of your graphics card. You don’t have to worry about this because gaming laptops are pre-built by manufacturers. As a result, the GPU should be your primary focus.

4. RAM – Random Access Memory

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the computer’s short-term memory for storing and transferring data.

Your laptop’s current processes are all handled by this tool. A few examples are surfing the web, playing games, and multitasking between applications.

Memory (RAM) helps to reduce lags by speeding up the loading time of applications. A solid-state drive (SSD) is also speedier than a traditional hard disk (Solid State Drive).

At least 8GB of RAM is required. This should be standard on most gaming laptops.

It is highly recommended that you upgrade your laptop’s memory if it has less than 8 GB (say 4 GB or less).

Since the CPU and GPU and the HDD or SSD will all rely on your RAM to process information, it’s crucial to have a lot of RAM.

It’s a good idea to get 16GB of RAM if you can. Why?

It is becoming increasingly difficult to play modern video games. This includes the amount of RAM they need.

For example, you need at least 12 GB of RAM to play Red Dead Redemption 2 and Half-Life: Alyx.

Even if you don’t plan on streaming or multitasking, it’s a good idea to go with a higher RAM because it allows you to perform multiple things at once.

How to Make Your Gaming Laptop Last Longer

We looked at how long do gaming PCs last, now let consider some critical aspects in making gaming laptops last longer.

1. Software

How long does a gaming pc last before it needs to be updated? The operating system isn’t likely to be a factor in your decision to buy a new gaming laptop in the future.

Because Windows is the most widely used operating system and the most commonly used for game development, there isn’t much to be concerned about when it comes to compatibility issues.

Microsoft used to produce a new version of Windows every couple of years, but they’ve recently stopped doing so. Updates for their operating system are currently being removed from the web regularly.

As a result, you won’t have to worry about a new operating system’s minimal system requirements making your computer obsolete. The operating system type isn’t an issue for gaming laptops because the hardware required is so high-end.

Gamers using Macs or Linux for gaming have even more time to switch because newer games aren’t as readily available.

2. Regular Maintenance

Keeping your gaming laptop clean is one of the easiest and most overlooked ways to extend its lifespan.

The interior and exterior should be cleaned regularly.

The process of cleaning the exterior of your gaming laptop is simple.

Clean the monitor, keyboard, and fan grills using a microfiber cloth. It’s easy for dust and other substances to build up in these locations (from food and drink).

However, how can you clean the inside of your gaming laptop’s chassis?

Many of today’s laptops can’t be unlocked by their owners. Who has the time to open it even if you can?

Nevertheless, there’s just one solution: pressurized air.

Your gaming laptop does not need to be disassembled to use compressed air.

To clean out your laptop’s ports and vents, all you need to do is spray compressed air into it.

One of the most common causes of overheating and component damage is dust. Your gaming laptop’s lifespan is reduced by the accumulation of dust over time.

3. Cooling System

A laptop that is fully dust-free is still likely to emit a significant amount of heat. However, this is to be expected, given that both the CPU and the GPU are powerful for a device of this size.

Cooling pads are a simple and inexpensive solution to keep your laptop cool. For increased cooling, these are equipped with one or more fans capable of boosting airflow significantly. Additionally, since they plug straight into a USB port on your laptop, they don’t draw much power.

So, How Long Does A Gaming Laptop Really Last?

How long does a built gaming PC last? A gaming laptop’s lifespan depends on a variety of factors.

Depending on how much you spend and how long you use your gaming laptop, you may expect it to last from a few months to many years.

As compared to lesser gaming laptops, the more expensive models can last for more than five years. In some cases, upgrading your laptop’s hardware rather than purchasing a new one may be an option.

Your laptop’s lifespan can be increased by up to ten years if you follow the steps explained above.