Bamspeedy
CheeseBob
Me and my wife are having a disagreement about our soon to be 'old' computer.
1. How long should a computer last (running 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week)?
This one lasted 4 years (with no hardware upgrades) and still does basic tasks, but I can't play Sims 3 anymore than 5 minutes without the blue screen of death (BSOD). It also does this when running other games or if I have more than 6 internet windows or tabs open (sometimes less if it's a higher intense web page that for example has a video on it). But since it still does what she needs it for (the internet for job searches, dictionary, etc.) she didn't see much of a need for a newer computer.
She says her computers at her (former) job lasted 10+ years (office work), so surely the better computer we have at home should last longer than 4 years. I say playing games on it puts more stress on it than just running spreadsheet and word processor programs all day.
I do want to run Oblivion, Witcher and Sims 3 which the old computer did for years before the computer problems (if the game settings weren't all the way up), but I don't need the best computers to run the newest games and I never play multiplayer games.
Sure, her office computers would have problems, but nothing a system restore wouldn't fix. I did that on this computer and would get the BSOD during the restore so obviously I'm still going to have problems. The BSOD would have different messages about which file caused the problem, but I think it was just because of what program was running at the time when the memory was exceeded. Hardware Diagnotic tests all come back just fine except when I do a Memory Diagnostic and then halfway through the test the computer just shuts off with no messages about what caused the computer shutdown.
2. What's the typical hourly rate for having a computer fixed (I know I would also have to add the cost of the parts). I say after 4 years it's time for an upgrade anyways, not just because of hardware failings from being old but also compatibility issues to newer programs we may want to use or install. I can buy a $500 computer and it will still be an upgrade to the $800 computer I bought 4 years ago. If I spend a couple hundred $ fixing the old one, I just wonder how long before a different part fails and I have to take it back in?
3. I can install as many games as I want and it won't hurt the computer, right?
She thinks I had too many games installed and that is why the computer is failing. I say that as long as I have the disk space for it then it won't hurt the computer (now obviously if I tried to play more than 1 game at a time I would probably be asking for problems)
4. Would trying to play a game on a computer that does not meet the game's recommended specs possibly damage the computer?
I say no, it won't damage the computer, the game just won't work (or lag too much to be playable). She wanted me to find some sort of protection program or something that would protect the computer if I tried to run too powerful of a game. If the computer can run it (just barely run it or otherwise) then it's ok to play the game or does that decrease the computer's lifetime since it's using more resources (if so could it decrease it significantly, or just slightly)?
5. How often should a computer be cleaned for dust?
I insist this is why our computer is shot, she wanted to blame the games. And I admit this is a failure on our part.....We never cleaned it and it was stored on the floor that has carpeting. About a year and a half ago the computer would make much more noise and then 6 months ago the noise stopped. My theory is the loud noise was the cooling fan struggling to still turn. When the noise stopped it was because the fan just couldn't run anymore at all. This allowed the computer to overheat, damaging it. This is the only explanation my wife agreed with and allowed me to get a new computer.
6. Newer computers still come with a hookup to the old style monitors, right? Or do we need to buy a flat screen monitor?
I want a new monitor, she says since the old one still works so we can still use that until we move into a bigger place where we can run both computers and then we would have a reason for having two monitors.
1. How long should a computer last (running 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week)?
This one lasted 4 years (with no hardware upgrades) and still does basic tasks, but I can't play Sims 3 anymore than 5 minutes without the blue screen of death (BSOD). It also does this when running other games or if I have more than 6 internet windows or tabs open (sometimes less if it's a higher intense web page that for example has a video on it). But since it still does what she needs it for (the internet for job searches, dictionary, etc.) she didn't see much of a need for a newer computer.
She says her computers at her (former) job lasted 10+ years (office work), so surely the better computer we have at home should last longer than 4 years. I say playing games on it puts more stress on it than just running spreadsheet and word processor programs all day.
I do want to run Oblivion, Witcher and Sims 3 which the old computer did for years before the computer problems (if the game settings weren't all the way up), but I don't need the best computers to run the newest games and I never play multiplayer games.
Sure, her office computers would have problems, but nothing a system restore wouldn't fix. I did that on this computer and would get the BSOD during the restore so obviously I'm still going to have problems. The BSOD would have different messages about which file caused the problem, but I think it was just because of what program was running at the time when the memory was exceeded. Hardware Diagnotic tests all come back just fine except when I do a Memory Diagnostic and then halfway through the test the computer just shuts off with no messages about what caused the computer shutdown.
2. What's the typical hourly rate for having a computer fixed (I know I would also have to add the cost of the parts). I say after 4 years it's time for an upgrade anyways, not just because of hardware failings from being old but also compatibility issues to newer programs we may want to use or install. I can buy a $500 computer and it will still be an upgrade to the $800 computer I bought 4 years ago. If I spend a couple hundred $ fixing the old one, I just wonder how long before a different part fails and I have to take it back in?
3. I can install as many games as I want and it won't hurt the computer, right?
She thinks I had too many games installed and that is why the computer is failing. I say that as long as I have the disk space for it then it won't hurt the computer (now obviously if I tried to play more than 1 game at a time I would probably be asking for problems)
4. Would trying to play a game on a computer that does not meet the game's recommended specs possibly damage the computer?
I say no, it won't damage the computer, the game just won't work (or lag too much to be playable). She wanted me to find some sort of protection program or something that would protect the computer if I tried to run too powerful of a game. If the computer can run it (just barely run it or otherwise) then it's ok to play the game or does that decrease the computer's lifetime since it's using more resources (if so could it decrease it significantly, or just slightly)?
5. How often should a computer be cleaned for dust?
I insist this is why our computer is shot, she wanted to blame the games. And I admit this is a failure on our part.....We never cleaned it and it was stored on the floor that has carpeting. About a year and a half ago the computer would make much more noise and then 6 months ago the noise stopped. My theory is the loud noise was the cooling fan struggling to still turn. When the noise stopped it was because the fan just couldn't run anymore at all. This allowed the computer to overheat, damaging it. This is the only explanation my wife agreed with and allowed me to get a new computer.
6. Newer computers still come with a hookup to the old style monitors, right? Or do we need to buy a flat screen monitor?
I want a new monitor, she says since the old one still works so we can still use that until we move into a bigger place where we can run both computers and then we would have a reason for having two monitors.