If you’re the type of person who only upgrades their PC once in a blue moon, you’re not alone. So, it might seem logical to spend some extra cash now to build a top-tier PC that can last longer. However, that isn’t a good approach to PC building. Allow me to explain.
The Myth of the 10-Year Computer
Time and time again, I find myself fielding questions from friends and family about their next PC build. One of the most common asks I get is, “Can you help me build a PC that’ll last 10 years? I’m saving up now and want to avoid future upgrades.” They probably think of PCs in terms of “quality,” similar to many other items in our everyday lives, such as cars, toasters, and fridges.
Unfortunately, this simply isn’t how things work in the computer world. If you spend twice the money on your PC today, you won’t get twice the performance, and it won’t last twice as long. The law of diminishing returns applies here: as you move up the price scale, each additional dollar you spend will provide less and less of a performance increase.
That’s only one half of the equation, though. The other half is that technology is constantly evolving, so the best-in-class hardware of today will only be as good as the entry-level options a few years from now. For example, the NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti (MSRP $699) was the top-of-the-line GPU when it was released in 2017, but it can’t even hold a candle to the NVIDIA RTX 4060 (MSRP $299) from 2023.
This shows just how quickly hardware evolves. The best of 2017 has been surpassed by the “worst” GPU of 2023. This example gives you a good idea of how your expensive PC of today will perform six years from now—it’ll be comparable to a budget PC.
Longevity Isn’t Just About Raw Performance
When I mention longevity, I’m not talking about whether the hardware is going to stop working after a few years of use. Unless it’s overclocked to the extreme or there’s a random manufacturing defect, most computer parts can outlast their usefulness.
But longevity isn’t just raw performance numbers, either. Computer hardware evolves in new and unexpected ways. A few years back, specialized RT cores for ray tracing became a key feature in GPUs, giving models like the aforementioned RTX 4060 yet another advantage over older models like the GTX 1080 Ti. Today, the spotlight has shifted to AI chips.
These are notable hardware-level features that demand an upgrade if you want to stay on the bleeding edge. Your expensive PC, which was supposed to last ten years, suddenly became obsolete in the face of new technology. Moore’s Law isn’t dead; it’s just taken on a new form. Since we can’t predict the future, and technology evolves in new and unexpected ways, it’s better to upgrade more frequently.
In addition to unpredictable high-tech features, there are some hardware advances that we can actually predict. The most notable are the architectural changes that come with a new platform, which are often significant enough to justify a new PC. Some other recent improvements, such as HDMI 2.1b, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, PCIe 5.0, DDR5 RAM, and GDDR7, show how standards are constantly evolving. Depending on the standard, a new iteration typically arrives every five to seven years, which conveniently aligns with a more practical and reasonable upgrade schedule.
The Value Isn’t There
Computer hardware suffers from diminishing returns, meaning the performance gains decrease relative to the price as you go up in tiers. Take the RTX 4090 as an example. It’s a powerhouse of a GPU and the best you can get today, but it currently costs around $2,000. You could buy a running used car for the money! In fact, it’s so expensive that the RTX 4080 Super, another high-end card, looks like a reasonable choice.
Although there isn’t a clear cut-off point for what’s still considered, and prices tend to fluctuate, it’s usually somewhere between the mid- and high-end. The more money you spend past the mark, the less you get. For the average gamer, mid-range components offer a reasonable blend of value and performance. If you just need a simple office PC, you can build it for as little as $250.
A More Realistic Approach to PC Building
When building your PC, you want to strike a sweet spot between your current needs and performance per dollar. Instead of spending $3,000 on a high-end machine that’s supposed to last 10 years, you’ll get far more value by building a $1,500 PC now and another $1,500 PC five years from now.
Better yet, account for future upgrades to get solid performance for years to come without changing the whole PC. You’ll save a lot by reusing parts like the PSU, RAM, cooling, and case, allowing you to focus on performance parts instead. For instance, if you want to build a gaming PC that can do over 60 FPS in AAA titles at 1440p before upscaling and frame generation, the RTX 4070 Ti Super or RX 7900 XT are probably good for the next 4–5 years. When the time comes, get a new GPU, and you’re good for another couple of years.
As for the CPU platform, you’re limited to how long the socket will remain supported. For instance, AMD’s AM4 platform, which launched in 2016, saw three distinct microarchitectures (Zen 1–3). Although Zen 3 was released in 2020, AMD made the unexpected move to release additional Zen 3 CPUs in 2024, as the platform remains viable. However, this level of support is uncommon. That said, it’s still reasonable to expect your PC to last through the lifespan of its socket with regular CPU upgrades.
Regardless of how you look at it, overpaying for your PC today won’t give you a significantly longer lifespan; it’ll just give you a better one instead. You’ll be much better off if you build a more reasonable system today and leave the money you would have spent for future upgrades five years down the line. Remember, it’s easy for things to swing in the other direction with generational upgrades, so don’t go overboard by replacing your CPU and GPU every two years.
