Can a gaming desktop be upgraded again and again forever?

[The Future Hacker]

I was planning to buy a gaming laptop, but then my friend told me to buy a gaming desktop instead, because, according to him, components inside the laptop, save for the RAM, cannot be replaced.

And then something crossed my mind. If you can upgrade/replace the components of a desktop computer, does it mean that, should its components fail (GPU, HDD, CPU, Motherboard, etc.), you can replace it again and again forever or, at least, in a very long time like 15-20 years?

Sorry for my bad English. I'm not a native speaker.

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

For the most part, yes. In a custom PC you can replace any and every component as you wish as long as it is compatible. You just have to have the right stuff and the know-how.

I started with an old beat up broken down computer installed a new OS and HDD and it booted up. Then I started replacing pieces until I have the build I have now. Even replaced the original 650 Ti with a 1080 and then upgraded again to a 1080 Ti, which should hold me over for a while. And I also plan on upgrading the MB, RAM, and CPU for the next gen CPU later this year.

That's the beauty of custom builds, you can pretty much do anything you want with them, and upgrade them as you see fit, as long as the parts are compatible.

 

[RobCrezz]

Pretty much, but if you eventually upgrade everything is it the same pc?

 

[DSzymborski]

There's no reason it can't be. Though after a decade a so, none of the parts will likely be original.

 

[CRO5513Y]

Pretty much, but if you eventually upgrade everything is it the same pc?

^ Tom's Philosophy tag needed right here.

It is true though, every individual components is upgradable (within certain compatibility boundaries of course). But i agree, by a certain point it's more or less just a whole new PC since you've changed everything.

 

[jaslion]

I was planning to buy a gaming laptop, but then my friend told me to buy a gaming desktop instead, because, according to him, components inside the laptop, save for the RAM, cannot be replaced.

And then something crossed my mind. If you can upgrade/replace the components of a desktop computer, does it mean that, should its components fail (GPU, HDD, CPU, Motherboard, etc.), you can replace it again and again forever or, at least, in a very long time like 15-20 years?

Sorry for my bad English. I'm not a native speaker.

my backup pc has been upgraded so many time now it no longer has any of the original parts so I essentially made a whole new pc over time.

 

[The Future Hacker]

For the most part, yes. In a custom PC you can replace any and every component as you wish as long as it is compatible. You just have to have the right stuff and the know-how.

I started with an old beat up broken down computer installed a new OS and HDD and it booted up. Then I started replacing pieces until I have the build I have now. Even replaced the original 650 Ti with a 1080 and then upgraded again to a 1080 Ti, which should hold me over for a while. And I also plan on upgrading the MB, RAM, and CPU for the next gen CPU later this year.

That's the beauty of custom builds, you can pretty much do anything you want with them, and upgrade them as you see fit, as long as the parts are compatible.

I see. How long did your desktop computer last then with all those upgrades?

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

For the most part, yes. In a custom PC you can replace any and every component as you wish as long as it is compatible. You just have to have the right stuff and the know-how.

I started with an old beat up broken down computer installed a new OS and HDD and it booted up. Then I started replacing pieces until I have the build I have now. Even replaced the original 650 Ti with a 1080 and then upgraded again to a 1080 Ti, which should hold me over for a while. And I also plan on upgrading the MB, RAM, and CPU for the next gen CPU later this year.

That's the beauty of custom builds, you can pretty much do anything you want with them, and upgrade them as you see fit, as long as the parts are compatible.

I see. How long did your desktop computer last then with all those upgrades?

My thing is I upgrade regardless of "needing" to. My issue is that if I am not happy with my performance I "need" to upgrade. I also have a $1000 3440x1440 100Hz monitor which requires a TON of power to utilize to the full potential. My 1080 did great for about 8 months but it didn't do what I wanted it to. Same thing with the CPU. It does fine but it doesn't do what I want it to. And I play A LOT of WoW, which is just a crappy unoptimized game that barely uses 4 cores (if you can call it that). For the most part it uses one core which is why I am wanting to upgrade again soon. Nothing wrong with my 6700K but I'm out of the most performance possible, and expense isn't an issue. I'd say the setup I have now would be good for at least 3 years of great performance before game engines evolve past what I am able to do, then all I would need is another GPU upgrade. Could be 4-5 years before I really NEED a CPU upgrade. And the other components could go until they die pretty much. Got a 10 year warranty on my PSU.

 

[RobCrezz]

Pretty much, but if you eventually upgrade everything is it the same pc?

^ Tom's Philosophy tag needed right here.

It is true though, every individual components is upgradable (within certain compatibility boundaries of course). But i agree, by a certain point it's more or less just a whole new PC since you've changed everything.

:lol:

My gaming pc for example I built in 2011, but since then everything has been replaced except for the CPU.. I guess its a different pc now, but I still consider it the same pc until I change to a new platform ... Most of the stuff I changed was upgrades, but the motherboard was changed due to a failure.

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

Pretty much, but if you eventually upgrade everything is it the same pc?

^ Tom's Philosophy tag needed right here.

It is true though, every individual components is upgradable (within certain compatibility boundaries of course). But i agree, by a certain point it's more or less just a whole new PC since you've changed everything.

:lol:

My gaming pc for example I built in 2011, but since then everything has been replaced except for the CPU.. I guess its a different pc now, but I still consider it the same pc until I change to a new platform ... Most of the stuff I changed was upgrades, but the motherboard was changed due to a failure.

According to Microsoft, changing the MB makes it an entirely new PC lol.
I don't have a single piece left of my original PC, except the OS.

 

[RobCrezz]

Pretty much, but if you eventually upgrade everything is it the same pc?

^ Tom's Philosophy tag needed right here.

It is true though, every individual components is upgradable (within certain compatibility boundaries of course). But i agree, by a certain point it's more or less just a whole new PC since you've changed everything.

:lol:

My gaming pc for example I built in 2011, but since then everything has been replaced except for the CPU.. I guess its a different pc now, but I still consider it the same pc until I change to a new platform ... Most of the stuff I changed was upgrades, but the motherboard was changed due to a failure.

According to Microsoft, changing the MB makes it an entirely new PC lol.
I don't have a single piece left of my original PC, except the OS.

Which is odd because I called them to get it reactivated and said "my motherboard failed, so I have replaced it" and they happily let me re activate my windows licence.

 

[caqde]

And then something crossed my mind. If you can upgrade/replace the components of a desktop computer, does it mean that, should its components fail (GPU, HDD, CPU, Motherboard, etc.), you can replace it again and again forever or, at least, in a very long time like 15-20 years?

Going for the 15-20 year part my machine has been upgraded multiple times since 2002. Mind you I have none of the original parts. I've switched cases 3 times. Power supplies 3 times. I've changed the Motherboard/CPU/Memory 5 times with one Mobo/Memory switch while keeping the CPU the same. Added, removed, and switched countless HDD's and ODD's. Gone through 4 monitors, 3 keyboards, 4 mice etc. But as far as things go I haven't built myself a complete computer since 2002.

 

[King_V]

I was planning to buy a gaming laptop, but then my friend told me to buy a gaming desktop instead, because, according to him, components inside the laptop, save for the RAM, cannot be replaced.

And then something crossed my mind. If you can upgrade/replace the components of a desktop computer, does it mean that, should its components fail (GPU, HDD, CPU, Motherboard, etc.), you can replace it again and again forever or, at least, in a very long time like 15-20 years?

Sorry for my bad English. I'm not a native speaker.

Laptops tend to be extremely limited in how much upgrading you can do to them. Some are a little better than others, but, the upgrade options are usually minimal.

A desktop computer, particularly if you build it completely on your own from the ground up, is, as some others have posted, nearly infinitely upgradeable. You might eventually get to the point where everything has been changed. But, even without going that far, there's usually a LOT more flexibility in upgrades with a desktop vs a laptop.

(the exception may be some of the very compact budget-level pre=built desktops - those can be difficult/limited in how much upgrading can be done)

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

Pretty much, but if you eventually upgrade everything is it the same pc?

^ Tom's Philosophy tag needed right here.

It is true though, every individual components is upgradable (within certain compatibility boundaries of course). But i agree, by a certain point it's more or less just a whole new PC since you've changed everything.

:lol:

My gaming pc for example I built in 2011, but since then everything has been replaced except for the CPU.. I guess its a different pc now, but I still consider it the same pc until I change to a new platform ... Most of the stuff I changed was upgrades, but the motherboard was changed due to a failure.

According to Microsoft, changing the MB makes it an entirely new PC lol.
I don't have a single piece left of my original PC, except the OS.

Which is odd because I called them to get it reactivated and said "my motherboard failed, so I have replaced it" and they happily let me re activate my windows licence.

Yeah, you can only do that with the FULL version of Windows, if you have an OEM you have to buy a whole new license key. That's why I said according to them upgrading the MB is a whole new system lol. Also why I said if you have the right stuff you can upgrade as much as you want.

 

[LucoTF]

Here in the uk we call that Triggers broom: http://foolsandhorses.weebly.com/triggers-broom.html

 

[dontlistentome]

I'm using the same Lian Li case I bought about 12 years ago. Everything inside, including case fans, has been upgraded then replaced, so that the insides bear no resemblance to the computer I started with.

Laptops are disposable. You buy one, use it, then get a new one when the old one doesn't work for you anymore. Not only that, but mobility is the priority in laptops for the most part. Things like being upgradeable and having maximum performance are NOT why you buy a laptop.

 

[RobCrezz]

Here in the uk we call that Triggers broom: http://foolsandhorses.weebly.com/triggers-broom.html

:lol: yeah I was going to mention triggers broom.