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You’d think after eight years of consistent use, my gaming PC would have one foot in the grave, but it hasn’t shown any signs of quitting. Other than a new CPU fan I installed in 2019, I haven’t felt the need to upgrade and it ultimately comes down to how I use the machine day-to-day. Here’s what playing on an older PC has taught me.
1The Indie Scene Is a Gold Mine of Fun
Although my gaming PC is ready for senior living, it hasn’t caused a noticeable bottleneck in the games I play and enjoy—not while the indie scene is booming like it is. For me, indies have been the perfect avenue for me to take, since they often emulate the kind of games I grew up with.
Unsurprisingly, these bite-sized experiences have been a boatload of fun, like Vampire Survivors and Terraria, sinceindie games tend to be more experimental. I’m getting far more mileage than I anticipated without seeing a drop in quality. It’s like I rolled back the speedometer in my car!
Best of all, indie games rarely recommend hardware beyond what I have. Stardew Valley, for example, doesn’t list any specific GPUs and CPUs—just the bare minimum of 2GB of RAM and 256MB of video memory. I have that in spades, so am I really missing out if I can’t play AAA games on PC?
2My Wallet Is Notably Thicker
Despite the onslaught of indie games on my wallet, I noticed it isn’t on life support anymore. Sure, that’s in large part due to indie games being cheaper, but it has more to do with my computer’s older hardware acting as a harsh filter.
My computer is essentially a time capsule of 2015, so most games released then and before run just fine. In fact, I’m still chipping away at a wishlist that predates my PC. And because of that, I have no need for any upgrades. Why bother when it’s good enough, right?
As for new releases, I pick them up on console. All the money I saved actually went towards my Xbox Series S and PS5, where I like to do a lot of my gaming anyway. But despite that option being available to me, I haven’t seen an uptick in the number of console games. Quite the opposite, actually.
The way I approach PC gaming has affected my spending habits altogether. I wishlist more often, pick up games when they’re on sale, and I’m not sweating over hardware upgrades. In other words, my geriatric PC has turned me into a thrifty spender.
3My Computer Still Has a Chance at a Second Life
E-waste is a constant concern of mine. I love gizmos and gadgets, and I’ve made a habit of using said tech until it’s broken. That includes my gaming PC. It doesn’t sit well with me knowing that I’ll only make the problem worse if I toss the computer now without at least repurposing it.
With its aging hardware in mind, it’d be the perfect candidate for a second life as a Linux machine. Linux is much more lightweight and ultimately helps me in my endeavors toreduce my own e-waste. I’d still be able to game, work, or use it for a fun project.
I’m always looking for opportunities to advance my own skills too. I’ve put together computers before for my kids, but the intent was to use the machines. The components had to be handled with care. My old computer? Not so much.
Maybe someday I’ll replace my computer, but it just isn’t showing any signs of quitting right now. I frequently delve into retro, AA, and indie games, so it’s never pushed beyond its capabilities. It does everything I need it to, and then some. Until my PC decides to one day never boot up again, I’ll keep on maintaining it as best I can.
