Tag: new hardware 2025

Computers and laptops are a significant investment, especially for business owners who need to supply staff with devices to work on (hardware costs typically represents a significant portion of many business owners technology budgets). You may be wondering how long that investment will last?

Computers degrade in performance over time due to both hardware aging and software advancements that demand more resources. Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of how a computer can become less effective with age:

Year 1

• The computer performs optimally, handling tasks efficiently.
• Software updates run smoothly, and the latest applications are fully compatible.
• Cooling systems and thermal paste are fresh, keeping temperatures stable.

Year 2

• Newer software and OS updates begin requiring more RAM and processing power.
• Dust accumulation in cooling fans may lead to slightly higher temperatures.
• Battery capacity (for laptops) starts to degrade, reducing overall battery life.

Year 3

• CPU and GPU thermal paste may start to dry out, slightly increasing temperatures.
• Hard drives (HDDs) may experience minor slowdowns due to wear and fragmentation.
• Newer software and updates may introduce features that run slower on older hardware.
• RAM usage increases, causing occasional lag in multitasking.

Year 4

• SSDs may start to show signs of wear (if heavily used), and HDDs may begin failing.
• Newer graphics-intensive software and games may struggle to run efficiently.
• The latest OS updates might no longer be fully optimized for the older hardware.
• More frequent crashes or errors may occur due to aging components.

Year 5

• The cooling system may degrade, causing overheating issues and possible thermal throttling.
• Some critical software may no longer support the aging hardware.
• Motherboard capacitors may start to degrade, leading to instability.
• More frequent hardware failures (e.g., failing RAM, storage corruption).

Year 6+

• The system may struggle with basic tasks, especially if newer web technologies or software updates demand higher specs.
• The risk of complete hardware failure (motherboard, power supply, storage) increases.
• Finding compatible hardware upgrades (RAM, CPU, GPU) becomes difficult.
• Some online services and applications may no longer support the system.

Beyond Year 7+

• The computer may only be viable for very light tasks (e.g., basic web browsing, document editing).
• Certain hardware components may have reached end-of-life and might not function reliably.
• Many newer peripherals (e.g., printers, webcams) may no longer have drivers for the aging system.
• Major security vulnerabilities arise due to the inability to install the latest OS updates.

Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the cooling system, replacing thermal paste, upgrading RAM or storage, and switching to lightweight software, can extend the usability of an aging computer. However, at some point, upgrading to a new system becomes the more cost-effective solution.

That’s where Valley Techlogic can help, we have offer procurement services exclusively for our customers. We can help you pick out the best devices for yourself and staff to make the most of your technology investments. Learn more about our procurement services here or reach out today for a consultation.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.