SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

The internet doesn’t kill it. Internet use is not a particularly intense use of a computer. For the internet I can use my iPad or my phone just as well.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Time on & heat kills it.

BebuLamar

I don't mind using my old Windows XP computer from 2004 but the problem is I can't really find a browser that work with Windows XP now. So the need to access the internet created the need to buy new computer.
No heat doesn't kill my computer. My computers don't quit working.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I've two running over 10 years so far. The laptop basically 12 hours a day. The other sleeps a lot.
Give them time...
They will last longer if not/hardly used, but not the software.

BebuLamar

My current computer is from 2009 I believe (I bought it used) and I am fine with it and Windows 10. But when they phase out Windows 10 and software that once was working no longer work then I have to buy new one. I don't expect it to die due to hardware failure. I have my fair share of computer hardware failure but I have computers from 80's still working like new. But like new of those vintage means good for nothing today.
Same thing for my cameras. I do have cameras failed on me yes but I have plenty from 70's and 80's that still work fine if I can afford to buy film and pay for processing. I can't no longer do the processing myself because they won't ship some chemicals used for color film developing and printing.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Occasionally they break, but most will just keep running.
My oldest working electronic device is an Philco AM transistor radio from about 1965.
Bummer on the color chemicals.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I actually don’t turn my computers off. And I gave adequate heat sinks and fans that heat isn’t an issue.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My laptop is off overnight, on all day, basically everyday.
The desktop is "on" 24 hours a day, but sleeps after 3 hours of no activity.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

That’s exactly the issue. XP (even SP3) doesn’t support the security protocols that modern browsers and https sites require (and loading old versions of the browser doesn’t address the issue if the OS doesn’t support the security protocols required by most websites)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hopefully no one is going after XP boxes now, too few to be concerned with. They'll go after the most populous systems first.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

"2GB m.2 MVME SSD"

If Dell, I'd consider some other M.2 drive. The one they installed in my laptop was sh*t. I've thrown better stuff out. It also came configured to use the processor graphics, and not the on board graphics chip. On a positive note, the display is one of the nicest I've seen; it's superb. I ordered the smallest M.2 with the intention of putting two larger M.2 in place. With the finances, you have the opportunity of putting together a pretty good rig, if you want to assemble components. If not used to it, check to see if there is someone local that can help with the assembly. My son's assembled dozens of machines, just to help out. My next build will likely be an ASUS Z690 board, but I'm waiting for video cards to become available.

If you're into graphics stuff, then you have to save some pennies for a good monitor. Other than that, a gaming rig would be very useful... processor and video card. Also, you might want to investigate the amount of RAM. All of my computers only have 16GB, with intensive graphics you might need 32GB, but check it out. 64GB seems way overkill. Also find the fastest RAM chips you can afford.

Larry76 Loc: Alabama

I just finished a new Win 11 PC. Asus Maximus XIII 690 Extreme, Gen 5 PciE. Intel 12th gen I9-12900K, EVGA GTX 3080; EVGA Supernova Power 1200 P3, 32gb G.Skill 4800MHz DDR5 memory; multiple Gen 4 Samsung 980 Pro 1 & 2 TB m2 NVME SSD drives, and best of all dual multiple exterior sources for Thunderbird 4 similar Gen 4 m2's. The onboard 10Gbit Network is very nice replacing the need for an extra 10Gbt NIC card. I chose the new EATX case from Fractal Design Define 7 because it is wide open inside - blinking lights and water cooling are BS. The multiple fans are Noctua 120mm and 140mm silent grade, and a dual tower CPU cooler. It runs generally at 35-55 degrees and loafs at 4.9-5.0Ghz. I keep the CPU throttled at about 90-95% to prevent runaways.

It makes modifying and resizing large photo files -e.g., 100mb+ .tifs- a pleasure. Brief.

So, I use name brand parts from Amazon in case they fail. The only rotten warranty is Intel. They make you photograph the micro serial number on the underside of the chip to prove what item you are claiming has failed or misbehaved. If you don't do macro, you will not be able to do it. It is not doable even with a 10x mag. glass. Of course you will also need a backup motherboard and ram for it, in order "to prove" your originals of those two are not at fault.

I enjoy building pc's, in fact I updated 2 others at home with the older parts from the others around here. I watch TV and my wife does graphic artistry on the two previous generations of the foregoing. We do a lot of photography fine tuning/resizing and touchups for Inkjet printing and artists who wish to have their work printed.

The PC builds are not for beginners/novices, but not too difficult with name brand parts - and always read the specs and manuals.

Good luck to all photogs and PCers.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

Lovely rig... most of my M.2s are Sabrent... I think I've got 9 of them in all my machines and two Samsungs. My last 3 builds have been ITX boards... My Maximus 7, still running Win 7, was first time I used M.2 drives. I couldn't believe the temp specs... 100C. Had to order the drive from Australia; they weren't common here at the time. I just don't need expansion slots except for video card.

How do you find 32GB? Do you think 64GB would improve anything? Have you tried 16GB? My stuff isn't graphics related, mostly math, FEM and CAD, and there is no improvement over 16GB. I also don't run many programs at a time... 1 or 2 only.

Larry76 Loc: Alabama

I do not find any difference between 16 or 32 gb. G.skill really only sells 32gb sets. Silly to buy less when you want matching ram sticks in one set. In Windows for along time now, speed of Photography modification depends mostly on the swap file speed not ram, i.e., drive speed. M2s now approach 7000 mbytes/sec, and 5000 is standard. So think of the speed limited only by the size of the pipe, like water pipe, because the pump is super fast and the read of the drive is super fast and the write on the drive is super fast. Ram speed and quantity were big deals in the old days, as data went through one to get to the other end, but the limiting factor has always been read/write speed of the end place, the drive, not the ram. For your math calcs the speed of the chip set supporting the CPU is vital, and to a lesser extent so two are the number of threads. Any 12th gen Intel chip with 16gb of ram is a lot of power for math formulas and calcs for CAD. Hell the chip sets are bread to do calcs. The chip sets are the real race horses. The rest of the stuff just sort of loafs and pauses and waits and takes turns and tries to keep up. Of course given the lower prices of ram these days, I am sure some folks will try it. BUT WAIT we now have Gen 5 ram is here but not gen 5 M2s. And anything less than 2T is a waste of money, never big enough at 1T. Wait for 4th Q 2022, and sell your blood every month to get some when they come out. The whole world is waiting in line for them. Good luck. Larry

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Nice build Larry. The 3080 is the cost driver these days. Sounds as if you have the overclocking/heat dialed in.