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Is it true PCs don’t last has long has Mac? What is lifespan of PC computer today?
- Thread starter Bubble99
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maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
Queen6
macrumors G5
Replaced my gaming PC last year, at the 8-year point. The old system continues to serve for lesser tasks. Is just BS an equivalent PC will last as long as any Mac. My oldest in use is a 2011 15" auto destruct MacBook Pro as wasn't willing to inflict it on family or friends. Speakers are gone, the Radeon dGP is isolated other than that is holding up as out offline media server.
Windows systems easier to move out, as who doesn't want a powerful computer. We have an OG HP at the farm and last I booted it up it was running ok, 20 plus years... Mac's lasting longer is just an internet myth driven by fanboys. Like to get my money's worth, but if someone else has a greater need that's good with me.
Q-6
Windows systems easier to move out, as who doesn't want a powerful computer. We have an OG HP at the farm and last I booted it up it was running ok, 20 plus years... Mac's lasting longer is just an internet myth driven by fanboys. Like to get my money's worth, but if someone else has a greater need that's good with me.
Q-6
IMO, the hardware in question life span is predicated whether the software loaded call for more pow-er, or when Apple stops supporting it.
Following that logic, PC last longer than Mac. For example, I used to run Photoshop 6.0, circa 1995 on my Windows 7 and that ran fine, there was no complaint from neither that I must update. Mac however will complain about 5-7 years, you must update to keep going. Plus PC hardware can typically be updated 1-2 generations, Mac are locked as purchased.
YMMV.
Following that logic, PC last longer than Mac. For example, I used to run Photoshop 6.0, circa 1995 on my Windows 7 and that ran fine, there was no complaint from neither that I must update. Mac however will complain about 5-7 years, you must update to keep going. Plus PC hardware can typically be updated 1-2 generations, Mac are locked as purchased.
YMMV.
SnowPenguin
macrumors 6502
Unless we are talking about cheaply made PCs (mostly laptops), then no. PCs can last as long as a Mac. From the software side of things, you could install the latest version of Windows on a 10-15 years PC, and get all the software support. It may not be that fast, but you get to decide when to retire your PC.
VictorKurgan
macrumors newbie
I just replaced my daily driver after 15 years, it still works, I just wanted something a little more modern lol.
lowendlinux
macrumors 603
It is all relative to cost no a weak processor and 4gb of ram and a 256 hd will not go the distance but equally spec'd will last just as long. As of this year in order to get close to the same performance level of the M5 it will cost a couple of hundred more for the PC using BestBuy and Microcenter as specs and pricing.
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
Dare I say longer since windows supports a lot older hardware where macOS, not so much
Not so sure about Windows supporting hardware longer in other forums they are complaining about not being able to move from 10 to 11.
That all depends whether the peripheral vendor wanna bother to write a new driver for the newer Windows, or they may decide meh, we rather want you to buy new hardware to keep our revenue stream.
It can depend on your vendor or your technical skills.
There's always the option of running Linux too.
1BadManVan
macrumors 68040
Depends on a lot on the hardware you bought and the upgradability of it. Buy a cheap laptop that's lower/mid tier, won't last as long. Buy a higher end laptop with upgradeable ram and storage, it will last years. Same for desktop pc's, if you went out and bought AM4 today, probably be harder to stretch it for as long on a dead platform. AM5? Yea, zero issues and its upgradable
Also depends what its being used for. A gaming pc? If you want to keep playing current gen games and want decent frames and settings, laptops definitely wont last as long, and even a desktop you'll eventually hit a hardware limitation with it
Also depends what its being used for. A gaming pc? If you want to keep playing current gen games and want decent frames and settings, laptops definitely wont last as long, and even a desktop you'll eventually hit a hardware limitation with it
We have a case from 2011 and it's on its third motherboard and second PSU. SSDs have carried over (old SATA3 I think) too.
iHorseHead
macrumors 68020
My father built a PC in 2003 and it's still in use today for older games and downgraded back to XP from Windows 10.
My brother still uses his laptop from 2004, I think. Some HP laptop and is running Linux on it. All he does is read news.
He changes distros all the time, so I don't know what's on it now, but yeah… PCs can last you for ages as well.
My first MacBook was unsupported within 4 years and the maximum OS it could officially run was Lion. By 2015 it was quite unusable, so I installed Mavericks on it (Yosemite etc didn't run well on it) and nowadays it's unusable under Mac OS X.
My brother still uses his laptop from 2004, I think. Some HP laptop and is running Linux on it. All he does is read news.
He changes distros all the time, so I don't know what's on it now, but yeah… PCs can last you for ages as well.
My first MacBook was unsupported within 4 years and the maximum OS it could officially run was Lion. By 2015 it was quite unusable, so I installed Mavericks on it (Yosemite etc didn't run well on it) and nowadays it's unusable under Mac OS X.