A computer's life expectancy
Updated February 15, 2005
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Can you tell me what needs to be replaced most frequently: computer, monitor, mouse, or keyboard?
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Submitted by:
Lisa,
CNET forums
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Your computer will need to be replaced more frequently than any of the peripherals you attach to it. The parts inside your PC--the processor, the memory, the hard drives, and the graphics cards--become outdated as more powerful parts are released and more intensive software apps are created to take advantage of the new hardware.
PC
A typical PC should give you 3 to 5 years of good use before you need to look for a replacement or upgrades. By comparison, though a monitor loses its brightness over time, it certainly won't need to be replaced every 5 years.
Monitor
CRT monitors are rated for approximately 25,000 to 30,000 hours of use. So if your CRT monitor is on for an average of 8 hours a day, it should last roughly 10 years before you notice a drop in its brightness (you can double those figures for flat-panel LCDs).
Keyboard and mouse
As long as you avoid spilling coffee or soda on your keyboard or mouse, those parts should last at least as long as your longest-lived computer.
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Matt Elliott heads up CNET's coverage of desktop PCs, bringing readers timely reviews of systems, from budget boxes to tricked-out gaming PCs. He also lends his expertise to CNET's coverage of Internet phones that use Voice over IP technology.
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