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The computer I used the longest was an Ivy Bridge CPU series computer. I think it was a 970 ti? Anyway, what is the combination of the computer you used the longest?

My old family computer with an i3. I can't remember the exact specs but I've used it for many years. Switched to an i7-4770k later on. I currently have a 3800X build that I've been using for 5 or so years. Not thinking about upgrading anytime soon, I'll keep this as long as it suits my needs. If I upgrade in future, I'll get the best CPU and motherboard possible and be done with it for another 8 years.

I know someone still using a PC with a Geforce 9800 GTX.

It might finally die soon, as windows 11 does not support the card.

The computer I used the longest was an Ivy Bridge CPU series computer. I think it was a 970 ti? Anyway, what is the combination of the computer you used the longest?

still using my ivy bridge i5-3350p with 750 Ti. The longest duration machine i still have and use sometimes is a Dell Latitude D610 from around 2004.
My oldest computer that works that I use occasionally, but which I have not had most of that time, is from 1980 (commodore VIC-20).

The PC I use out in my workshop (light browsing, pulling up images/pdfs, printing templates) is an old i7 and a 1080. Probably 10ish years old now. My everyday driver is a Ryzen 7 5800x/3080 that's about 3. Probably won't upgrade for at least another year or two unless something happens.

M3, not the Apple one, the Intel version.

It was the 12-inch MacBook from 2015, my very first computer. I loved it because of that sentimental value. But, if I’m being honest, it wasn’t a great product.

Even when it was brand new, its performance left much to be desired. Still, I held onto it until 2021. I learned to work with shells and commands, dabbled in programming, and even created graphic artworks on it. In the end, it’s the memories tied to it that make it truly special.

My first custom build from 2009 finally died late last year after struggling with overheating issues for a few years. I was still using it ostensibly as a server, but really just as an extremely inefficient NAS. I tried fixing it just to prove that I could, but the motherboard's just gone. In terms of daily driver use it lasted about 9 years.

Edit: pulling out the box for the specs, we have an HD 5770 and an I5 750

This post has been edited by sotl: Jan 29 2025, 10:03

The computer I used the longest was an Ivy Bridge CPU series computer. I think it was a 970 ti? Anyway, what is the combination of the computer you used the longest?

there was no 970ti

I had a 4790k for 9 years. originally with a 970, then 1660S, then 3060. good CPU.

My current computer was made in 2012 and bought refurbished in 2014, and it still works almost perfectly and runs almost every game I'm interested in playing.
I love her to bits and I'll be happy to keep using her into the 2030's and 40's if I can.

Out of curiosity: what’s the definition of computer in this thread?

If the case and most other components hail from, say, 2006, but the motherboard has been replaced with an unused 2012 model in 2016, does that count as a 2006 computer, a 2012 computer, or something else? (Not exactly what I have, but my desktop used to be something like that as long as it worked properly, and I am planning to give a new life to the case if even close to practical by any means.)

I am typing this with a [en.wikipedia.org] Thinkpad T430, which I believe is the newest functioning computer currently in my possession.

This post has been edited by Katajanmarja: Mar 9 2025, 20:30

Man, longest used computer...

Gotta agree with some of the earlier posts in this thread and say "the family computer"

My parents bought an Inspiron 580 in like, 2008-2009? i5-750, 4GB of DDR3, 256GB HDD, absolute unit survived multiple "fuckups" throughout it's lifespan before eventually being put out to pasture.

(IMG:[cdn.gsheps.com] https://cdn.gsheps.com/u/yAQ1Uk.jpg)
This picture is grainy / blurry as shit, but it's the only one I have of it "in action, the OG-setup, gamer-config"

(IMG:[cdn.gsheps.com] https://cdn.gsheps.com/u/wTxL7a.jpg)
The computer in question, I had the full-size version, I believe the one pictured is the compact version?

I upgraded the crap out of that thing, maxed the RAM at 16GB, 1TB WD Blue + 512GB SSD (Non-QLC, my broke-ass highschool self couldn't afford the good shit yet), and multiple graphics card upgrades over the years lol. (GT710, GTX750Ti, GTX1030?)

I kept pushing it as hard as I could, I think it started on Win7 home, upgraded it to 8 (free license through Microsoft Dreamspark) and then took the free upgrade to 10 when that was offered.

Then, I finally got to build a custom Ryzen-based system for my 17th birthday, and threw this thing to the side in the basement.

I got into homelabbing ironically a few months later, shit ton of desktops piled up on a folding table running Ubuntu server (hadn't figured out virtualization yet) including, the almighty, the resilient Inspiron 580 running a Nextcloud instance (from what I can recall)

Then, I learned about virtualization, and hacked together a custom build of ESXi 6.0 with realtek drivers (because I got unlucky and got a non-intel nic model / mobo) Ran a Pfsense router, PiHole, and (I think) a Windows Server install all virtualized within the poor, screaming out in pain, wanting to die hardware lol.

(IMG:[cdn.gsheps.com] https://cdn.gsheps.com/u/sd1T4I.jpg)
"The OG Lab"

A year or-so later, I ended up buying some proper hardware (Poweredge servers, rack, etc.) and totally ditching it (It was in the rack for a very-short stint, but quickly decommed)

(IMG:[cdn.gsheps.com] https://cdn.gsheps.com/u/UtmE6Z.jpg)
"wtf is this doing in a rack lmao"

I still own it to this day! I ended up moving the motherboard into another case, and ironically it uses standard ATX power supplies, so I hooked it up with a 750w and now it's some franken-stein's monster for testing weird stuff lol.

Used a prebuilt from 2011 all the way through the end of 2023 without upgrading. At that point I built my own since the motherboard was proprietary and the upgrades I could put on there were severely limited...and, well, I was sick of the ever growing library of titles it couldn't run.

It had an ATI HD 6770 (1GB) and an intel i7-2600. But perhaps most impressive was the Western Digital 2TB Green HDD. Despite it writing, rewriting and deleting data for over a decade it had 99% disk health upon assessment. Was the sole component that earned a spot in the belly of the new beast as an extra drive for storage (as opposed to its previous role as the primary boot and everything drive).

There's a site where you can not only get hardware recommendations to build your setup but also share the ones you have. Here's mine:

[pcpartpicker.com] https://pcpartpicker.com/b/s2ykcf

(IMG:https://forums.e-hentai.org/uploads/post-1703168-1748639174.jpg)

I could update my junk, but videogame addiction is something I can't control, so I'd rather keep using what I have until it burst

This post has been edited by nikos3194: Jun 7 2025, 07:14

There's a site where you can not only get hardware recommendations to build your setup but also share the ones you have. Here's mine:

[pcpartpicker.com] https://pcpartpicker.com/b/s2ykcf

I could update my junk, but videogame addiction is something I can't control, so I'd rather keep using what I have until it burst

I think I have upgraded one of those before if you can get cheap 16gb ram Kingston hyper x ddr3, Intel 4790k (needs new heatsink like coolermaster 212+), a GTX 1080. Probably needs a better power supply.

Intel 4790k - $70-80
Gtx 1080 - $100-200
Kingston Hyper X 16gb ddr3 - $40
Corsair CX550 - $60-75


That would be decent for a while longer, and possibly get the upgrades for $200.

I think I have upgraded one of those before if you can get cheap 16gb ram Kingston hyper x ddr3, Intel 4790k (needs new heatsink like coolermaster 212+), a GTX 1080. Probably needs a better power supply.

Intel 4790k - $70-80
Gtx 1080 - $100-200
Kingston Hyper X 16gb ddr3 - $40
Corsair CX550 - $60-75
That would be decent for a while longer, and possibly get the upgrades for $200.

OMG! Thanks for the upgrade tips. I'll take note of everything 🔥

I think my current one is the longest I've had. A gaming laptop first bought in Dec 2019, right at the start of the COVID pandemic.

Intel i7-9750H
GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
16GB DDR4 (later upgraded by me to 32GB)
120Hz 15.6"

I build a DIY desktop soon and retire this laptop to backup/secondary use.

One thing that worries me are the CPU x graphics card bottleneck calculators

On the Intel 4790k + Gtx 1080 I get 26.8%
[pc-builds.com] https://pc-builds.com/bottleneck-calculator...asks/1920x1080/

And on the Intel i7-9750H + GTX 1660 Ti, 8.6%
[pc-builds.com] https://pc-builds.com/bottleneck-calculator...asks/1920x1080/

I've seen some videos saying that no one should pay attention to these bottleneck calculators, but it still worries me since some comments say the situation is usually worse than the results they provide

One thing that worries me are the CPU x graphics card bottleneck calculators

I've seen some videos saying that no one should pay attention to these bottleneck calculators, but it still worries me since some comments say the situation is usually worse than the results they provide

Its more complicated. Generally its mostly valid if you are putting a high end card with a low end cpu or a much newer graphics card.

The 4790k is an old cpu, its just likely to be the bottleneck in new games. The 1080 is from the same generation, but with 8 gigs of ram will be the bottleneck as well in newer games.

Your GPU upgrade choices for that board are probably (depending on price if you can get for <$200)

1060 6GB (sub $100)
1660
1660 ti
1080
1080 ti
Titan Xp (now hard to find sub $300)

It really depends on the price. With your mobo, the 4790k is the processor that will least bottleneck the graphics card.

The best time is when nvida launches a new graphics series, then there will be a 1-3 month dip in used prices. I saw TitanXPs for $130 when the latest 5000 launched, now they are back up to $300-400. V-Ram is starting to be the bottleneck in new games, so the 6GB for a 1060 is a bit low if you want to hold the computer for another 4 years. Titan XP has 12gb allowing it to play new games on medium settings at 1080p, but at current prices you would be better off buying a lower end modern GPU.

Now it really depends on price and your budget and region and hunting for good value.

The second hand market prices is different across the world, so you need to check your markets (ebay etc). Be careful of facebook markets and Ali-express unless you know what you are doing otherwise you might get an expensive paper weight.

Or you could save up for a new or 1-2 generation old stock laptop. Slightly older gaming laptops usually go on sale end of financial year (nowish) or black Friday / cyber Monday.


The disadvantage of upgrading an old computer is if parts do not last. Usually its the cheap no brand PSU that used to take things out, and before that it was the capacitors on the mobo. If you are keeping things cool with a decent PSU, computers last for a long time now.

I've seen some videos saying that no one should pay attention to these bottleneck calculators, but it still worries me since some comments say the situation is usually worse than the results they provide

You would always have a bottleneck in your system, the trick is to balance what you compromise. The most important parts I built around are my monitor (resolution and refresh rate) and CPU (core count, IPC, and PCIe features). Those could last you for 10 years or more as there's very little improvements between generations.

If you're having frame drops, lowering game resolution and removing shadows fixes a lot of stutter in my experience. So don't worry about the bottlenecks too much. Those comments are likely running high end PCs at 1440p or higher where their CPU is getting bottlenecked by the GPU instead.

OMG! Tyvm for writing that detailed explanation. You've really added value to this thread. I'm gonna take note of everything

The best time is when nvida launches a new graphics series, then there will be a 1-3 month dip in used prices. I saw TitanXPs for $130 when the latest 5000 launched, now they are back up to $300-400. V-Ram is starting to be the bottleneck in new games, so the 6GB for a 1060 is a bit low if you want to hold the computer for another 4 years. Titan XP has 12gb allowing it to play new games on medium settings at 1080p, but at current prices you would be better off buying a lower end modern GPU.

Again, thanks for the tip. And yeah, I do have the money, but since I was unemployed for some time during the last pandemic lockdown, I got into the habit of being overly careful with my expenses >_<

If you're having frame drops, lowering game resolution and removing shadows fixes a lot of stutter in my experience. So don't worry about the bottlenecks too much. Those comments are likely running high end PCs at 1440p or higher where their CPU is getting bottlenecked by the GPU instead.

Thanks for your reply too. I'll keep that in mind