How To Extend Your PC’s Life In Five Easy Steps!

A computer virus is only a code — It can’t be used to physically damage your computer. The best it can do, software-wise, is corrupt your operating system which can be reinstalled. So, the virus won’t really have that bad of an effect on your PC’s (personal computer’s) lifespan. At most, you might lose important data.

A virus can, however, create scenarios to put added pressure on your hardware, such as the processor or GPU (graphics processing unit). It can also be used to temporarily turn off your computer fans, causing your computer to heat up for the moment. But that’s the extent of it. None of those two things are permanent and can simply be resolved by restarting your computer and getting rid of the malware.

The major problems a computer has to face are overheating, overworking of hardware and electrical surges. There are multiple ways to avoid these problems and as a result, extend your PC’s life. We’ve put together a few tips to help you set your priorities straight:

Don’t Leave Your PC Plugged in All the Time

Never leave your PC plugged in, especially if it’s a laptop. If your laptop battery keeps being overcharged, it will have a detrimental effect on the battery’s cells, shortening the battery’s lifespan.

If your laptop or computer is switched on and plugged in with no supervision, you’re only exposing it to unpredictable power surges. One unexpected, uncontrollable electrical surge and you risk damaging multiple parts of your computer. We strongly advise against leaving your PC plugged in all the time. We also suggest buying a power surge protector for your computer.

Keep It Cool: Ventilation

Whether you’re planning to get a laptop or build a custom desktop PC, one thing you have to be really mindful of is ventilation. Not only does your computer’s casing need to have enough vents for airflow, but it should also have enough fans placed at proper, well-thought-out spots.

Since we don’t get much of a say in it when buying a laptop, it’s important that you choose a laptop after scouring through enough customer reviews. When you’re building a desktop PC, however, you need to put the parts in a casing that provides proper ventilation and they must be accompanied by PC fans. Nowadays, you can purchase gel-based PC fans that work on the same principle as water air coolers. PC fans are excellent at protecting your computer against dust and heat-ups. You may also have to get your hands on some thermal paste and apply it to your GPU from time to time.

Regular Maintenance

Even when you have proper ventilation, fans, and exhausts in your PC, the stubborn dust and weather elements will still mess up your hardware. This is where your regular maintenance comes in to blow out dust from your computer. We suggest doing it once every two weeks. Make sure your computer is switched off when you’re blowing out dust from it. The fans, in particular, can develop grime and dirt marks and they’ll need servicing after a while.

Invest in an SSD

You can also extend the life of individual hardware parts in your computer. A solid-state drive is a relatively new technology, replacing the good old HDD (hard disk drive) — it’s a faster storage drive and can really compensate for low RAM (random access memory). Once you install an SSD on your computer, you’ll also instantly notice your operating system becoming more efficient.

Buy a Case for Your Laptop

Lastly, when your computer is not in use, you should be keeping it in a casing. This is usually the norm with laptops but we suggest catching up on the practice with desktop computers as well. When it comes to laptops, the casing should have some padding in it — it’ll serve as extra protection for accidental impact against a table, wall, or other people.