Computers are big
investments. Like any expense, it makes sense to get the most use out of
your computer. Keeping your hardware humming for a few more years will
mean good things for your finances and your sanity. Here are eight ideas
to help your computer stay healthy and last longer.
1. Keep it Covered and Clean
Dust
and dirt are your worst nightmare. One of the best ways to keep your
computer running over the long term is to keep it clean. Dust and pet
hair can gum up the gears and cause issues in functioning. Remember to
clean your computer and keep it covered when not in use to prevent dust
and dirt from getting into the inner components. Use canned air to
remove debris, especially from fans. If fans get clogged with too much
dirt, they can slow down and not remove the heat from the computer,
causing a melt down much earlier. Clean your screen with screen cleaner,
never window cleaner, as the ammonia will dull the screen. Also, don’t
eat food or place drinks next to your computer for the same reasons. One
accident can have serious consequences.
2. Keep it Cool
Heat
also causes many issues. Your CPU and graphics card can get so hot,
they can cook. The computer generates heat when it’s running. When you
combine that with ambient room temperature, your computer works harder
and slows down. Try to put your computer in a clean room that stays cool
and out of the sun. Provide proper air flow and don’t place anything in
front of the fans on your PC. Again, clean your CPU fans to ensure they
run smoothly and move heat out of the computer. You can also add extra
fans to your PC or use a cooling stand for your laptop.
3. Keep it Current
While
those updates may seem like a pain when you’re trying to get work done,
they are necessary maintenance for your system. If you have an Apple
computer, the updates will not only update your computer, but also
defrag the system. If you have a PC, you will need to do defrag and disk
clean up manually (at least once per month). You can set it to run
during the night so it doesn’t interfere with your work. Also, if you
have a PC, keep your antivirus software updated.
4. Don’t Jostle It
While
the computer is running, it’s a good idea not to move it. If you have a
laptop, remember not to jostle or move it more than needed. Be gentle.
Too much movement can damage the moving pieces and cause issue later.
Also, if you have a laptop, hold it at it’s base, never by the screen,
and use both hands. When traveling with a laptop, invest in a padded
case.
5. Surge Protector
Make
sure your protect your computer with a surge protector to prevent
frying your hard drive. Also, during storms, unplug the computer as an
additional precaution. It just takes one hot surge shot, and you’re
going computer shopping again.
6. Make Sure You Have Enough RAM and Hard Drive Space
Your
RAM (random access memory used for active programs) and your hard drive
(used for things you store like videos, documents, and pictures) should
be at the right levels to meet your needs. If you got a good deal on a
computer, it’s likely they gave you the bare minimum of memory and hard
drive space. You can upgrade memory fairly easily, and your computer
will run faster and last longer.
7. Solid State Drives Are an Affordable Upgrade to Increase Longevity
One
of the best ways to refresh a computer and lengthen its life is to
replace the hard drive with a solid state drive. The new solid state
drives are becoming more affordable now. They have no moving parts and
run much cooler than standard disk drives. They also will increase your
start-up speed, and you will notice a must faster response in your
computer overall.
8. Don’t Treat Your Computer Like a Light Switch
Unless
you have to keep your computer running all the time, you may want to
turn your computer off when not in use to save on power costs. Turning
it off once per day (like at night) is fine. However, continually
powering it on and off multiple times per day stresses the components as
you are changing the temperature inside the system, causing the
hardware to contract and expand. Try to limit this stress. Your system
will last longer.
Just like a car, when you perform routine
maintenance and treat your computer with care, you will most likely
squeeze a few extra years out of the system. When you consider the cost
of computers, it makes sense to invest in a few additional efforts to
stretch your money farther and gain additional quality and quantity from
your system.
