Many of us put off buying a new PC because of the expense. But there could be times when buying a new PC is necessary. Below are just a few signs that it could be time to replace your PC.
You need a PC that’s portable
Desktop computers have their advantages including being more powerful and allowing more flexibility when it comes to position of the keyboard and monitor. However, desktops can confine you to one place - which may not be useful if you need to work or study from different locations. If you feel that your desktop is restricting you, it could be time to buy yourself a laptop. Some people own a desktop and a laptop, however you may find that a laptop is all you need.
You want to take gaming more seriously
When it comes to getting the best performance out of video games, a regular PC typically won’t do. Instead, you’re likely to require a gaming PC. These computers are desktops with more powerful CPU and video cards than your average PC. They also offer increased ventilation and more expansion slots allowing for future upgrades. If you want to be able to compete with pro gamers and not be hampered by small performance issues, buying one of these computers (or building your own) could be essential.
You need something more professional for your business
Some PCs are designed for casual personal use. They may not look professional and may not be able to handle powerful software. If you have such a PC, it could be worth upgrading your computer to something that is more suitable for your business. Check out this guide at https://www.techradar.com/news/best-business-desktop-pcs to compare some of the best business PCs.
Your PC is starting to lag/crash
Frequent lagging and crashing could be a sign that your computer’s parts are starting to wear out. It could be a harddrive issue or even a problem with the fans. Of course, lagging and crashing isn’t always a sign that you need a new PC. High CPU usage could be affecting the performance of your computer, which may be easy to solve by disabling certain apps (check out this guide at https://setapp.com/how-to/check-cpu-usage-on-mac for more information on CPU usage). You could also be running out of RAM or disk space, which you may be able to upgrade.
Your PC is taking forever to start up/shut down
If your computer takes ages to boot up or shut down, it could similarly be an issue of too many apps running (slow startup issues could be due to too many apps launching upon startup). However, in many cases, it can also be due to worn hardware. If you’ve had your PC for a while and you’re experiencing very slow startups and shutdowns, consider whether it may be time to retire your current computer and buy a new one.
Your PC has gotten very noisy
Modern PCs are designed to be almost silent. If your fans are whirring and spluttering, this is usually a sign that something is wrong. Parts are likely overheating and your fans are having to work harder to cool them - which is one of the earliest signs that your computer is coming to the end of its life. You can read more about noisy fans and how to silence them here at https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-silence-noisy-laptop-fan/.
Your PC is broken - and fixing it will cost more than replacing it
A broken PC is not always a good reason to replace it. There could be a cheap fix to your problem that could extend the life of your PC for many more years. If there isn’t a cheap fix and you're likely to spend hundreds on repairs, you should consider whether you’re better off buying a new computer. There’s no point spending £300 to repair a laptop when you spend less than that to purchase it.
Your PC is broken - and you’ve already spent huge amounts of repairs
When deciding whether to repair or replace a broken PC, you should also consider the total cost of previous repairs. If you’ve already spent huge amounts of money replacing parts and fixing software issues, you should consider whether it’s worth continuing to splurge money on future repairs. You could keep paying for future fixes, or you could buy yourself a brand new computer that’s reliable.
Your PC isn’t compatible with the latest programs and operating systems
If your PC’s hardware isn’t compatible with new software and you need this software, it could be a sure sign that you need a new PC. Compatibility issues could be a particular concern if software is about to expire and you cannot use the latest software on your computer. Continuing to use expired software could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. Bugs may also start to occur which cannot be patched up. By upgrading to a new PC, you can make sure that you’re able to run the latest software so that your computer is secure and fully operable.
You’ve been using the same PC for 10 years or more
The average life of a laptop is three to five years, while the average life of a desktop is three to eight years. It’s very rare that a computer lasts 10 years, and if it does then it’s usually a sign that you’re on borrowed time. If you’ve been using the computer regularly, hardware is likely to be quite worn by this point. Compatibility issues are also likely to become a problem at this point. Consider preemptively replacing your computer with a newer model before anything goes wrong.
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