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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : How old is your daily driver PC

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Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5078
Posted: 01:57am 15 Nov 2024
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I was curious as to how old my PC was. Its been my daily work station since new, I would spend most of my day at it, I use it for work, games and watching youtube when I eat lunch. Its running from 8am to 11pm most days.

Since new I've upgraded the HD to SSD, power supply, and video card. I run dual 2560X1440 screens of it.

It came with Win7 Pro, which was later updated to Win10 Pro. Never reinstalled the OS, never needed to. I'm pedantic about installing any software I dont actually need for work, I use another PC for testing software and keep this one clean.

Its just over 10 years old now.

I've never had any reason to get a new PC, this one runs fine, boots up fast. Unfortunately its not Win11 compatible, so next year when Win10 comes to EOL I'll have to get a new PC.

But until then I'm sure this one will do just fine.

Glenn
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
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Volhout
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Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4212
Posted: 08:32am 15 Nov 2024
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Hi Gizmo,

The company I work for replaces PC's every 4-5 years. The PC at work is post-Corona.

At home I have 1 windows laptop (3 years old) for my wife, 1 MAC (13 years old, since 5 years it did not receive any updates anymore, so I am hesitant to use it on the internet, but it has a very nice 27" screen), and a bunch of Ubuntu 20.04 machines (8-10 years old). These are the machines I use for hobby.

Lots of PC's, but nothing (I guess) trumps my wife's sister. She is (not on internet) almost daily using an HP laptop that runs Windws Vista... She must be the only one in Netherlands still using Vista. It must be close to 20 years old. The laptop is at it's 3'rd mouse, 2'nd power supply, the screen is quite dim. But it works for the games she playes (and that are not made anymore). So when this laptop dies...I have the task to find replacement games for either windows or linux. A hard task.

Volhout
Edited 2024-11-15 18:35 by Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3797
Posted: 09:03am 15 Nov 2024
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laptop, 1/2013, bought used in 8/2019

Had 8GB, added 8GB

John
 
Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6757
Posted: 09:25am 15 Nov 2024
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I've not bought a new PC or laptop for many, many years. They have all been either home built (at best) or hand-me-downs from others in the family or from work.

I've had some ancient ones (like a P4 "server"), but my current daily usage one is a little Beelink fanless PC, about five years old, I think. It failed the test for upgrading to Win 11 but that doesn't bother me.

I have a similar one, but with a fan, which has Win 11 on it. I rarely use that, but it's better for Minecraft as it has more RAM and a much bigger C: drive. There isn't enough difference between Win 10 and Win 11 to bother about really as I switch off all the AI stuff anyway.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
al18
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Joined: 06/07/2019
Location: United States
Posts: 205
Posted: 02:34pm 15 Nov 2024
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Two years old tower I assembled myself in an RGB glass case. It has an AMD 8 core CPU and an Nvidia 3060 running Windows 11 Pro.
 
Martin H.

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Joined: 04/06/2022
Location: Germany
Posts: 1113
Posted: 02:47pm 15 Nov 2024
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Laptops:
Dei 7300 core i 7 ~ 4 years old
Del 6830 core i 5 ~ 8 years old
Tower (MusicPC)
HP Z220 Intel Xeon ~ 8 years old
'no comment
 
stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2108
Posted: 05:33pm 15 Nov 2024
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if you want win 11 on hardware that does not meet win 11 compatibility then get win 11 iso from ms, 64bit only and use Rufus to make bootable usb then change boot order to usb and boot.
it bypasses the processors with security and install.
search for generic win 11 activation key to activate win 11 so it don't nag you and makes it customisable. works and legit
Edited 2024-11-16 03:33 by stanleyella
 
PeteCotton

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Joined: 13/08/2020
Location: Canada
Posts: 367
Posted: 06:33pm 15 Nov 2024
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I would love to claim that my daily driver is 18 years old....

But it's pretty much Trigger's Broom (for British folks) or the Ship of Theseus (if you're posh).

I got the case in 2006, and have probably upgraded every component in it four or five times over that period. But I have just never come across a better case in the last two decades. As far as computer components go - it's easily the best value for money I've spent.

I've updated the fans a couple of times (currently 8 x 120mm cooling fans, which is ample cooling even when they are just ticking over).

But the reason I love it is that it's just so easy to work inside. A hinged door on one side gives access to the motherboard and another hinged door on the other side gives access to the drive bays (5x5.25" and 7x3.5") and power supply. I don't actually use any of the 3.5" bays, preferring to mount my non-M.2 SSD's in Caddies in some of the 5.25" bays.

I suspect I'll keep it for many decades to come (or until computers evolve so much that they non longer use the traditional motherboard/card layout). Even then, it'll make an interesting side-table  

 
matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 9080
Posted: 06:34pm 15 Nov 2024
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Don't own a laptop

Desktops - only ever buy second hand and/or build from 2nd hand parts. Nearly always buy ex-corporate machines at fraction of their original price. All running W11 *.

2022: Main dev machine: Dell Precision 3660 I7-12700 + Nvidia A4000, 32GB
2019: Secondary dev machine: Homebuilt I9-10920X + GTX1080, 32GB
2017: Acer TC-885 I7-8700 + GTX1650 (workshop for CNC, laser  and 3d print), 16Gb
2018: Retired dev: Homebuilt I7-8086K + GTX1060, 16GB
2020: Use TBD: HP SFF I5-10600 + A2000, 32GB
2020: Wife Main: HP SFF I5-10600 + Quadro P620, 16GB
2019: Wife secondary: HP SFF i5-9600 + Quadro P620, 16GB
2009: *Boat anchor (linux): Dell Precision T5500, Dual Xeon X5650, Quadro K2000, 32GB
2018: Media player: HP SFF I5-8500 + Quadro K600, 8GB

Really need to sell some if only to make space!!!
 
lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3148
Posted: 07:09pm 15 Nov 2024
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Almost 2 years ago I bought off of ebay for less than $100USD a Lenovo ThinkPad T440s Core i7-4600U 2.1GHz 12GB 240GB SSD 14" Win10Pro. Perplexity.ai says "The ThinkPad T440s was announced and launched in October 2013", so over 11 years old (the design, if not this particular laptop).

I was surprised that 12GB was sufficient (not upgradable). I have 24 apps open now, including 4 browsers (chrome, iridium, edge, and brave), 3-6 instances of each, and many windows (56 in my most frequently-used instance of chrome). All seems speedy enough. I'm close to running out of disk space, and have in fact offloaded to a remote drive some files. I could replace the SSD, but at this point, it doesn't seem worth it.

I will probably buy a win11-capable laptop sometime in the next year, but it will not be new.
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6089
Posted: 07:49pm 15 Nov 2024
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24 years ago I sold a PC to a lady who walked into my store.
I delivered it and set it up.
She needed training so that was arranged.
She started to feed me on the evenings we did the training.

We have been married 18 years. (Got hitched after we sold her business)

The computer is in the shed because I don't have the heart to throw it out.
I have upgraded her PC a few times since then,
She still needs training and I still get fed.

Jim

I still have an Acer Note One mini laptop running XP for a few radio configuration programs that are still in use.
VK7JH
MMedit   MMBasic Help
 
stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2108
Posted: 08:36pm 15 Nov 2024
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ah. nice  
 
stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2108
Posted: 09:12pm 15 Nov 2024
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I bought an optiplex 3020 i5 mini desktop pc. win 11 activated only 8G ram but fine.
1920x1080 vga and plays films fine on 42" tv. only 120G ssd but less than £70. refurbished
 
Bleep
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Joined: 09/01/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 509
Posted: 09:57pm 15 Nov 2024
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Originally running NT on a ASUS motherboard (2013) with AMD Athlon 880K CPU (2015) PC cabinet, much older, possibly 10 years older. Drive C: got upgraded to a 256GB SDD (best speedup) also a 4TB spinning rust, D:E:F:G.
This spec was rejected by Microsoft for upgrade to Windows 10/11 however I found a site that allows you to create an install image, which bypassed the hardware check, with dia warnings from MS during install, it also allows you to leave out various MS bloat ware.
When I installed Windows 11, I did upgrade memory to 8GB.
Now it very happily runs Windows 11, speed is perfectly acceptable, so the MS spec. check is a con.
Kevin.
 
Bryan1

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Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1343
Posted: 10:07pm 15 Nov 2024
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Back in '13 the hard drive failed in my desktop and when I put a new hard drive in win 7 refused to run saying the hardware wasn't compatible so a message on my wifes computer to a nearby friend burnt me a Mate DVD. So used linux for well over a decade.

Saw a laptop on auction a Dell one with 32gig of ram and in 2018 it was voted the best business laptop.  

also got a SFF box for the house computer and a 27" curved monitor so back on win 10 and getting more frustrated by the day.
 
stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2108
Posted: 10:23pm 15 Nov 2024
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  lizby said  Almost 2 years ago I bought off of ebay for less than $100USD a Lenovo ThinkPad T440s Core i7-4600U 2.1GHz 12GB 240GB SSD 14" Win10Pro. Perplexity.ai says "The ThinkPad T440s was announced and launched in October 2013", so over 11 years old (the design, if not this particular laptop).

I was surprised that 12GB was sufficient (not upgradable). I have 24 apps open now, including 4 browsers (chrome, iridium, edge, and brave), 3-6 instances of each, and many windows (56 in my most frequently-used instance of chrome). All seems speedy enough. I'm close to running out of disk space, and have in fact offloaded to a remote drive some files. I could replace the SSD, but at this point, it doesn't seem worth it.

I will probably buy a win11-capable laptop sometime in the next year, but it will not be new.

it don't need to be "win 11 compatible" as long as it's 64bit. if it runs win 10 it will run win 11. I upgraded my win 10 laptop to win 11 using Rufus and win 11 iso from ms and activated.
 
lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3148
Posted: 11:09pm 15 Nov 2024
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  stanleyella said  it don't need to be "win 11 compatible" as long as it's 64bit. if it runs win 10 it will run win 11. I upgraded my win 10 laptop to win 11 using Rufus and win 11 iso from ms and activated.


It may be a FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt), but there has been speculation that those who bypass the Microsoft requirements and install Win11 on uncertified devices may ultimately and perhaps abruptly find that their systems will no longer run.

If I can find another suitable laptop for not much more than $100, I'll go for the update.
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
Hans

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Joined: 18/10/2022
Location: Canada
Posts: 116
Posted: 11:28pm 15 Nov 2024
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Hi All;

Just bought an Apple M4 mini 24gb memory, 512 NVME SSD. The Mac mini late 2014 stopped updating the OS this year.

I have lots of old PCs running linux (4) but can't get up to date slicer softer that works with my printers. Tried but always had problems on linux.

Hans ...
 
PeteCotton

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Joined: 13/08/2020
Location: Canada
Posts: 367
Posted: 12:22am 16 Nov 2024
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  TassyJim said  24 years ago I sold a PC to a lady who walked into my store.
I delivered it and set it up.
She needed training so that was arranged.
She started to feed me on the evenings we did the training.

We have been married 18 years. (Got hitched after we sold her business)

The computer is in the shed because I don't have the heart to throw it out.
I have upgraded her PC a few times since then,
She still needs training and I still get fed.

Jim


Brilliant!
 
Martin H.

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Joined: 04/06/2022
Location: Germany
Posts: 1113
Posted: 05:42am 16 Nov 2024
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  stanleyella said  if you want win 11 on hardware that does not meet win 11 compatibility then get win 11 iso from ms, 64bit only and use Rufus to make bootable usb then change boot order to usb and boot.
it bypasses the processors with security and install.
search for generic win 11 activation key to activate win 11 so it don't nag you and makes it customisable. works and legit

Installing without TPM and Secure Boot:
this is how i updated from Windows 10 to Windows 11 24H2 on my Del 6830 laptop
Win+R
CMD
change to W11 install directory and type
setup.exe /product server

Edited 2024-11-16 15:50 by Martin H.
'no comment
 
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