When you purchase a brand-spanking-new laptop PC, you expect it to last you for a number of years. Sadly, many folks have found that the lifespan of a laptop is tremendously short. If you are one of those individuals, you might be curious about the average lifespan of a laptop.
If so, continue reading the information below to learn how to prolong your laptop’s life and understand why your PC might give out early.
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Laptop?
When it comes to the average span of a laptop, there are two key factors pertaining to lifespans. There is the operational life expectancy and the valuable life span. The useful lifespan determines how long the laptop will function effectively.
The practical lifespan indicates the length of time the laptop will have the capacity to run updated programs. Technically, you could have a laptop computer that may last over 10 years.
However, it might work well when running upgraded applications. Most new programs put high needs on your CPU, RAM, and on your graphics card in order to work effectively. But an older notebook computer doesn’t have the capability to hold it.
On the other hand, if you don’t need a high-performance computer, then you’ll probably be able to use your laptop past the five-year lifespan limit.
Planned Obsolescence: What Is It?
Due to intended obsolescence, you can’t predict the lifespan of a laptop. Your personal computer could die faster than anticipated. The reason being is because of planned obsolescence. It’s a well thought out plan that manufacturers came up with to make laptops inoperable after a couple of years.
The objective is to make the laptop computer you bought a few years back unable to run the software of updated applications. Software program designers, specifically those who deal with games, have a tendency to create software that dissolves your computer’s resources.
Therefore, you’ll always need a newer CPU or a better graphics card to run the current software program. You can upgrade applications like RAM and hard disk on a desktop computer, but you can’t do it on a laptop.
Basically, you’ll need a new laptop. If you use your laptop to run extensive applications, then its lifespan will probably be short. So, you’ll find yourself buying a new laptop within a couple of years.
Since planned obsolescence exists, you should search for the best deals for laptops. There’s nothing worse than buying a new PC, only for it to give out in a couple of years. To find affordable laptops, visit lenovo.com.
How Long Does a Laptop Last: Battery Life
The primary factors to the longevity of a laptop are how the laptop is designed and its power source. The power comes from the battery, of course. Although your laptop could have a long lifespan, your battery won’t hang in there as long.
As your battery ages, its capacity to hold charge significantly reduces. Generally, a laptop’s battery life lasts between 18 to 24 months, depending on what you use it for. But as it gets closer to the end of its lifespan, it won’t hold battery juice for too long.
Factors That Contribute to Laptop Lifespan
When trying to predict the lifespan of a laptop, there are a few key components to factor in, which include:
The Use
Exactly how do you use your laptop? How often do you use it? For obvious reasons, a laptop that’s overused won’t last as long as it should because of extensive utilization. The fewer tasks you do on your laptop, the longer it’ll last
For example, if you only surf the net and don’t require large downloads, then you won’t overload your computer.
On the other contrary, if you use your laptop for games, multimedia manufacturing, or development, you can expect a shorter lifespan. These types of activities require more CPUs, as well as routine overclocking.
Therefore, when you’re in the market for a new laptop, make sure you purchase one that fits your needs.
The Hardware
Your laptop’s hardware determines out how long it will function properly. To put it simply, if your CPU was made a couple of years ago, don’t expect it to last very long. If you keep an outdated computer, update the programs on it.
Also, if you have a slow laptop that always sticks while you’re using it, even if you have adequate storage, then that’s an indicator that your processor is out-of-date.
But just so you know, your CPU is not the only feature that has to be upgraded every few years. Other processors and components like the GPU and the RAM also play a role in the life of your laptop computer. The better your GPU and CPU are, the longer it will last. Also, the higher the RAM storage, the better it can handle tasks.
Furthermore, the quality of your equipment also has to be taken into consideration. Even if your CPU is strong, that doesn’t mean that it’s made with exceptional quality. The good news is, reliable manufacturers design high-quality equipment, so laptops are better suited for the long-term.
The Care
How you care for your laptop definitely affects how long it operates. One of the most basic reasons for a laptop failing is a damaged battery. A battery loses its strength when it’s overcharged. Over time, your battery’s capacity to hold power reduces, which leads to more charges.
It also helps a lot if you clean your laptop computer. You don’t have to do in-depth cleaning, but make sure to wipe it off, dust the keyboard and screen.
While laptops won’t become inoperable because of dust and grime, it’s still essential that you keep it clean to make sure that it doesn’t get moisture or dust on the inside. If it does, it’ll slow down your computer and cause issues with the hardware.
Not only that, but you should keep food and drinks away from your laptop. The last thing you want is to ruin it by spilling something on it.
How to Extend Your Laptop’s Life
Although there are many factors that account for how long your laptop will live, there are a few things you can do to prolong the lifespan of a laptop. Below are a few tips:
Use it Correctly
The best way to care for your laptop is to only use it for what it’s designed for. Overclocking is only good sometimes. However, if you have to do it regularly, then you should think about upgrading your CPU. Honestly, overclocking shouldn’t be done regularly on your laptop. That’s the quickest way to prematurely damage it.
Adjust the Power Settings
What’s fascinating about newer laptops is that you can change the power settings. Therefore, you can maximize your laptop computer while also lessening the amount of power it has to use.
There are battery saver options that reduce your screen’s brightness, put your laptop to rest, and more. Using these controls will drastically enhance your computer’s functionality long-term.
Close the Programs That You Aren’t Using
This is a really basic technique for extending your laptop computer’s life. When you’re not using a program, shut it down.
Of course, you should keep it up if you’re going to continue using it, but if not, it’s best to close it down. When there are too many programs open, it puts your laptop into overload mode, contributes to a shorter lifespan.
Use Your Battery Properly
It’s essential to use your battery correctly. You shouldn’t overcharge or let the charge get too low. Many lithium-ion batteries don’t need to be booted up all the way, so it’s helpful to unplug it once it gets to 60% charge. It’s okay to let it fully charge sometimes, but it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence.
It understandable if you prefer a full battery. If so, just let the battery drain a bit before putting it back on the charger. That way, the power source isn’t overloaded or depleted.
Should You Get a New Laptop?
Don’t panic if you feel like your laptop won’t last long. Sometimes your PC will surprise you. The key is to make sure that you take care of it as best as possible.
Not to mention, if you don’t use your laptop for big projects, it should last for a few years— which is great. You don’t automatically have to get a new PC once you’ve had it for a while, unless you want a new one. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
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