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How old is your current computer, and how long do you expect you'll use it for?

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Acer C720P Chromebook is what I currently live on.

My wife has a photo-editing workstation (Hackintosh) that I use occasionally for video editing, but beyond that, I mostly just use the Chromebook. Have had it for a couple months now. Unless I get more free time outside of work, I don't foresee myself jumping off this platform for several years. I'd like to build a new rig, primarily for doing video editing, but it all comes down to free time :awe:

I thought a tablet would be the right answer, but I hate typing on a touchscreen. I did purchase the Chromebook with a touchscreen, but I would not buy one again - I don't use it that much, and my work machine is a similar size - 11.6" Lenovo touchscreen - but the Windows version has a much better touchscreen; the chromebook isn't very sensitive, so it's a bit of a hassle to use. I haven't noticed much of a difference using the 2GB version either (4GB is also available).

It's pretty funny how technology progresses. The first computer I ever built as a 1.4ghz Athlon Thunderbird with 1.5 gigs of RAM; now the engineering stations I build at work are 6-core i7 monstrosities with 64 gigs of RAM & PCI Express SSD cards, and don't even cost all that much. And yet I prefer using my Chromebook because it gets great battery life & starts up quick. I always feel like I'm slogging through technology waiting for Windows to boot up & get ready, run an A/V scan, etc. haha.
 
Bought an i7-2600K when Microcenter had them for $199 two years ago. Asrock Z77 Pro4, Noctua D14, 2 x 8GB G Skill memory, LG BD writer, Antec 300 V2 case...

Still runs like a champ...

Probably upgrade when Microcenter has a killer deal on the next gen CPU's...so it will be awhile...


My first build was ECS K75SA pro...don't remember what chip but I miss those Fry's motherboard/CPU combo deals....

Pic I took awhile back of the motherboard boxes...LOL
Motherboard1.JPG
 
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Nov 2007.

Intel Core2 Q6600 @ 2.4 GHz
4GB ram
2x 750 GB HDDs
ATI 5850

The Hard Drives scare me, I'd like to buy a new comp soon as I can. Won't be for several months.
 
My SONY VAIO laptop is 3.5 years old. I hope to have it for a little longer. Compare to Mixolydian I like to have the technology as long as it works 🙂
 
Two years old, and even when I built it I actually spec'ed at around mid-range at the time. I don't play games much at all any more, and even if I did, PC gaming is a wasteland. I'll use this system until it drops, at which point I'm hoping we'll be in the era of phablets that we all carry around as our primary PC, too.

Dell is a goner.
 
The pc I use the most is a Dell Latitude D610 laptop circa 2005. Use it for surfing, office type tasks, and occasionally netflix or a game of Starcraft classic. Upgraded it last year from a 1.73ghz Pentium M to a whopping 2.13ghz P-M that I got off ebay for like $12. Pretty much maxed it out otherwise (2gb, 160GB PATA HD) back in 2009. Still works & runs great, though Chrome sometimes causes the CPU usage to jump to near 100% if I open up too many tabs. Also, the fan in it is starting to get noisy. May need to replace that soon. Testament to how well Dell built their corporate/business laptops back in the day. I will probably use this until the mb burns out or it can no longer run OS/software at at least a reasonable speed.

My work laptop is an HP IB core i5 from 1-2 years ago. Don't use it for anything other than work. Thought about adding a alternate boot drive to the secondary bay, but it was more trouble than it was worth. Will probably use it until they want it back or they do a forced upgrade company-issued laptops.

Home desktop is a SB i7-2700k, built 2 1/2 years ago. Embarrassingly, don't use it for much other than DC projects. I did install Diablo 3 & Starcraft 2 on it, but only play those once in a blue moon. Will probably keep this one for a while, at least until I see a substantial enough increase in cpu power to make a difference. More likely to change out the GPU. Went from a GTS450 to a 7790 in it last year.
 
Markbnj said:
My side monitor (formerly main) is also nearing a decade. It's a 2405fpw that refuses to die. To honor its stubborness in clinging to life I bought it a U2412M to sit next to 🙂.
Click to expand...

Yep, I have the same one and I see no indication that it is going to die anytime soon. It's awesome.

KT
 
A couple of years but it is constantly evolving and will be having a new mobo,cpu,gpu in a couple of months at which point the clock starts again.
 
My personal typical refresh timeline is:
Tablets + Smartphone = 2 years between replacement
Laptop = 3 years between replacement
Desktop = 5 years between replacement
 
Last major upgrade was a 2500k+Z68 I got Sept. 2011. I'd probably be better off upgrading my video card and HD. Think its an AMD 6850 and don't have any SSD drives yet.
 
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Mine's about 2.5 years old, though I did upgrade from a 560ti to a 7950 about a year ago, maybe a little more.

I'll be using this thing until it dies, at which point I'm not sure I'll build another. I have 200+ steam games, most of which I haven't played, but at this point I'm not really interested. Aside from WoW (which I play for 3-4 months, then quit for 6-8, rinse and repeat), been mostly watching movies/tv in winter and walks / yard work / shooting hoops in the spring/summer/fall.

As long as my HTPC / Flexraid array works...
 
Imported said:
Damn, that case looks awesome. Makes me itch to upgrade things..
Click to expand...

Yeah, but way overpriced because it was a crowdfunded project with a limited manufacturing run (contracted to Lian Li). I ordered in late August (before they were manufactured) and it arrived in January.
 
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My comupter is 2-3 years old or so I think.

Rosewill Thor case
i5-2400?
pair of 6870s in crossfire
Three cheap 21,5 inch 1080p monitors for Eyefinity
8gb ram
600gb raptor for OS + Steam
3TB drive for data

I'll probably replace the HDD with an SSD when 1TB SSD's come down under $200-300. Probably consider upgrading/replacing the video card when I have trouble or problems running what I want to run.
 
Current system is 1 1/2 years old, built Sept 2012 (see sig.). Used for video encoding/graphics.

But I still use my Sept. 2007 build. Asus P5K Premium, Intel Q6600 @3.2GHz, 8GB DDR2-1066, PNY 9600GT 1024mb, Chieftec Dragon ATX Case, Triple boot Windows 7/Windows 8/OSX 10.8.2.

Expect to use it till mobo breaks or not worth fixing. I have computers built from 2001-2005 in storage that still boot up to BIOS, but too slow for current uses.
 
Ichinisan said:
Yeah, but way overpriced because it was a crowdfunded project with a limited manufacturing run (contracted to Lian Li). I ordered in late August (before they were manufactured) and it arrived in January.
Click to expand...

it's too bad they couldn't get the second case designed and built. i really like the parallel motherboard and graphics card.
 
My rMBP is just over a year old, and I have no plans to replace it as my main PC for a few years. I might get an iMac to use to digitize my DVD/BR collection this year, but waiting for a product update to see what comes next.
 
Xonim said:
Mine's about 2.5 years old, though I did upgrade from a 560ti to a 7950 about a year ago, maybe a little more.

I'll be using this thing until it dies, at which point I'm not sure I'll build another. I have 200+ steam games, most of which I haven't played, but at this point I'm not really interested. Aside from WoW (which I play for 3-4 months, then quit for 6-8, rinse and repeat), been mostly watching movies/tv in winter and walks / yard work / shooting hoops in the spring/summer/fall.

As long as my HTPC / Flexraid array works...
Click to expand...

LoL yup. My computer is basically a glorified Netflix machine.
 
FWIW, I found an old G31 mobo for cheap on craigslist.. $25 for Xeon E5440, $30 DDR2 4GB HD4870 for $20..rest of the parts I have already. I'm gonna try the LGA771 mod. Will give the desktop to my parents, if successful 😉 Not sure if I'm getting my money's worth..
 
raildogg said:
Hmm, you use your laptop for daily use due to power usage? Just curious. I have a laptop but I tend to use my desktop at home almost always. Might be able to save some power by using laptop instead especially since my desktop has a dedicated GPU.
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Yep. Power usage goes down as does heat and noise output. I only fire up the desktop when I want to play a game.
 
Intend to use my build till a game crushes it then as always give it to family who most likely will use it till the thing can't even youtube or do basic things like browse the web.

Would be bold to say this i5 2500 could very well be a usable chip in 2020.
 
Built it after tax return season last year. So... March 2013 I think.

It replaced a 2008 vintage Q6600 rig, although there was at least one GPU upgrade in there too.

So... a few years.
 
C2D 2.53Ghz 4Gb memory, 32-bit, some $200 graphics card from back then. Overall it was $700 probably 4 years ago.

Meh! I don't game on it anymore, we have 1 gaming computer that gets used... sometimes. Perfectly fine.
 
2600k@4.4 stock cooler. 670gtx sad 6gb ddr3 24" 144hz monitor

Built 6 months ago. Use it for another year or two. Might throw another 670 in there for sli
 
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