How to Extend the Life of My Computer?

G

garpolnik

New Member
Hey everyone,

So as I'm heading off to college I want to try and enter with what is as close to as new of a computer as possible. I built this rig 2 years ago, and I want to upgrade to keep it running well. I have been cleaning it monthly, and I am seeking help on what to buy to hopefully extend the life of this computer as long as possible. I'm assuming I should start with new fans and a new HDD, but I really have no clue. Thanks!

Build:

SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820721107
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396
and
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
Tower: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161387

Thanks for any and all help!
 
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A fresh install of Windows every once in a while is a good idea to keep things running smoothly. This is assuming you can restore all your backups. What do you use your computer for? Your hard drive is fine and fans don't affect any performance. If you want more power get an FX 8320 for better processor performance and maybe a new video card for better gaming performance. Otherwise it's still totally fine.
 
As of now it is a low budget gaming rig, and I didn't mention that the fans sounded like they were being strained, and it runs extremely loud, so I didn't think it would hurt to replace them for like ~40$. I am more wondering what degrades the fastest, since this thing is 2 years old I figure some things could go for a replacement. I will end up putting Windows 8 on the SSD and wiping everything else from the SSD and HDD before college, but you think this will hold up for another 2 years without any major upgrades?
 
If it's too loud you probably just need to dust it out and get a fan controller. Even cheap fans shouldn't be too loud if run through a fan controller. Yeah it would probably do okay. Like I said, if you want actual performance upgrades get a new video card or a new CPU. However if you just feel like upgrading for the sake up of keeping it up to date, that's pretty pointless. If you feel it holding you back in what you want to do, upgrade it. But upgrading simply for the sake of upgrading, just leave it. If it was me though I'd replace the video card with something a bit stronger for better gaming performance.

Interestingly enough that is an incredibly similar machine to how mine started out about 2.5 years ago. An AMD Quad core and a 6770 housed in a Rosewill Challenger. Upgrading my video card was a huge step forward in performance.
 
I have 2 monitors currently with another one in the closet, I could just add in a 7970 and then I could utilize all 3 monitors.The reasoning for upgrading right now for the sake of upgrading is so that I don't encounter any problems in college since I won't have as many tools at my disposal, so upgrading there would be more precarious. I just want to be preventative rather than reactive, but if you think I'll be fine I can just take your word on it since it isn't really holding me back much
 
You can safely ignore that post. ^^

If you've got the money to spend then a new video card would definitely be the way to go, especially if you want to use your third monitor.
 
Two years and you already want to upgrade? Wow...

The only thing I upgraded on my first computer was the HDD (for space, added one internal) and RAM. It lasted for eight years, so don't worry about your two years old computer :). You could upgrade the GPU, but if you don't need it for gaming or 3D rendering you'll be fine.

I think it all comes down to what you want it to be able to do.
 
Change case fans to silent fans, and with fan controller if you want.
Change stock cooler to a quieter aftermarket cpu cooler
Upgrade your video card if you want to.
 
The best way to extend the life of your PC is to leave it off. :P

Seriously, you're in good shape and if it's doing what you want it to do then no worry about upgrading.
 
garpolnik said:
Is there anything I can do as far as maintenance is concerned?
Click to expand...

Periodically go through and remove programs you don't use. Run a virus scan regularly. Set it to run daily when your computer is normally on and forget about it. Defrag every few months, or more depending on how much you move files around. Run Ccleaner every month or so, but MAKE A BACKUP. I've had to spend 3 days wiping and reinstalling a machine because a Ccleaner run messed up something and I didn't make a backup.
 
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