When purchasing a new laptop or computer, you may wonder, “How long will this product last?” To overcome this, technology planners employ the concept of “future-proofing” to extend the life of their investments.
Let’s take a look at this concept and see if it’s something you should think about for your next major purchase.
What is Future-Proofing?
Future-proofing is a design method utilized in numerous areas, including medicine, industrial design, and electronics. These design ideas are used to produce goods or strategies that will remain to be valued in the future.
When purchasing a laptop or desktop PC, you should consider the hardware specifications, the model’s construction, and the model’s repairability.
In reality, a future-proofed computer does not mean that it will never break. It just indicates that its abilities and efficiency will survive for a few more years. Since all computers will most likely face some form of hardware problem at some point in their lives, you should look for something simple to maintain.
How to Future-Proof Your PC?
Future-proofing your PC ensures that it is equipped with the most recent hardware and technology, which will (probably) allow it to live longer (and need fewer updates) than purchasing a new system every few years.
How to Future-proof PC-Build?
The processor is an integral choice for someone building a future-proof PC. There are usually two processors — AMD or Intel. AMD has become a fan-favorite when it comes to PC gamers in recent years, but that doesn’t mean it is automatically the best.
Make sure that you select a sufficient motherboard for your system and install enough memory (at least 16 GB) in your system.
When building a PC or purchasing a laptop, the essential components you need to consider are the motherboard, CPU, memory, and battery capacity (for a laptop). What you want to perform on the PC or laptop is also taken into consideration. When you decide what you want to use the device for, the type of construction you desire will become apparent.
What about a Future-proof Gaming PC?
Let’s face it: There’s no way to future-proof a gaming PC to perform exceptionally well for 5 years or more. Gaming specifications are rapidly changing, with new GPUs being released every few months.
Suppose you want a new PC to play a game that just came out. You look over the recommended specifications and buy a computer with that precise hardware. When the PC comes, it will be able to play the game flawlessly. Everything appears to be in order, right?
The issues occur when the computer’s hardware starts showing signs of wear after a year. New games wouldn’t run as well as they could because game hardware demands increased between the time you bought your PC and now. Still, there are steps you can take to ensure your PC lasts as long as possible. Here is how:
Things You Need to Future-Proof Your Gaming PC
The components of a PC, such as the CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, are discussed here to assist you in future-proof your gaming PC.
CPU
The CPU is a computer’s brain and undoubtedly one of the most significant aspects to consider when selecting a gaming Computer. The CPU is where other components’ needs are understood and executed. Without the CPU, your PC would be unable to do the computations required to run applications and play games.
If you want to get the best computer for gaming, you must ensure that the CPU is a little more powerful than your current needs. With the rate at which the need for computing power is progressing, you will be thankful for the extra power in the years to come.
Motherboard
Let’s take a look at the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge as an example of a future-proof motherboard.
This is the device that has everything a mainline gamer wants, such as:
- Excellent overclocking abilities.
- Great RGB lighting, along with an inclusive chipset heatsink lighting zone (we know it’s only for show, but let’s face it, it looks great and will continue to look great for years to come)
- Excellent networking, with an integrated Realtek RTL8125B 2.5G LAN controller, Intel AX201 Wi-Fi6 chip, and BT 5.1 support.
- This motherboard also offers a strong soundtrack thanks to the ALC1220 HD audio codec and also storage space with six SATA ports and two M.2 SSDs.
The motherboard is just one example of a component that is fairly future-proof, which means it should have enough slots to accept additional hard discs, RAM sticks, and other components that you may want to install based on your interests.
RAM
All high-end gaming PCs will have DDR4 RAM, but not most of them will have a similar RAM amount (8GB on the low end and 32GB on the high end; how much you want will depend on the style and quantity of games and apps you expect to run). The good thing is that it is very easy to upgrade RAM in a PC, so this will not be something that makes your computer obsolete.
Graphics Card
Many people will agree that a computer game isn’t as entertaining if the visuals aren’t up to standard. Aside from the CPU, selecting a graphics card for your gaming computer is the most critical factor to consider if you want to have the finest gaming experience possible.
When it comes to graphics cards, memory is often less crucial than bandwidth unless you intend on employing numerous high-definition displays for your gaming setup. Furthermore, if you’re a casual player, having numerous graphics cards isn’t necessarily essential.
You should also ensure that you understand the minimum system needs for the games you want to play. However, most high-end gaming PCs would be ready to play most new and popular games by default.
Simply put, go for the best card that is in your budget, as it will last the longest. Unfortunately, replacing your card in a few years will be necessary no matter what you purchase.
