While it’s easy to ask: “Do I need a new computer?” when looking at your personal device, it’s a lot harder to tell when computers need to be replaced at work.
There are many more computers to oversee, and replacing everything at once can be cost-prohibitive not to mention impacting productivity. Plus, slow or freezing computers can sometimes be solved by removing bloatware or running a few speed hacks. So, how can you tell when to buy new computers for your business?
6 Crucial Signs You Need New Computers for Your Staff
1. Your warranties are more than 12 months out of date
The standard computer warranty is usually three years. If your computers are more than 12 months past that date, it’s a good idea to plan for their immediate replacement.
With our clients, we typically advise rotating 25% of computers each fiscal year, which will eventually put you in a cycle of replacing all computers every four years.
2. Logging in takes a lot of time
Unless a computer is going through a major software update, starting up and shutting down should take no longer than a minute or two. If each of these processes takes five minutes or more to finish, your machine may be a little too old.
Don’t get us wrong — overly long startup and shutdown times can also be caused by other factors. But if deleting unnecessary files or uninstalling redundant applications results in little to no improvement, you should consider new and faster computers.
3. You want to save on desk space
Newer computer models are now available that take up much less desk space, freeing up valuable real estate throughout your office. These mini-computers are about as large as a hardback book and are just as powerful as the traditional tower computer models.
Plus, these mini-computers can often be installed at the back of a monitor, allowing you to use one power cord and one power button for each unit. This leads to a simpler and faster hard shut down process (in the rare event it’s needed) and a cleaner desk.
4. Your hardware is insufficient
As hardware has gotten more powerful, so have our expectations for computer speed and performance. If you’re running computers in your business with less than 16GB of RAM or that don’t have an SSD, it’s time to replace them.
5. Your employees are dealing with random hardware and software glitches
While the occasional glitch is no cause for alarm, if your employees are dealing with hardware or software glitches regularly, it’s a sign to start looking for replacements. These glitches can be frustrating for employee morale and can add up to substantial productivity losses.
6. Your computers still run Windows 10
The newest Windows and Mac operating system (OS) versions pack more security features than their predecessors but may be too heavy for old computers or require newer hardware. If you’re still running Windows 10 because your computers do not have TPM chips or other hardware resources needed for upgrading to Windows 11, you may not be as secure as possible. TPM chips are used for disc encryption as an example. Lack of TPM which was not required for Windows 10 puts you at greater risk of suffering a cyberattack.
New computers can run updated operating systems and more recent versions of essential cybersecurity tools, which are critical to keeping you safe from cyberthreats.
How Long Should You Wait Before You Buy New Computers?
The lifespan of your computers will depend on several factors, including their make, components, and how often they’re used. On average, office computers should be replaced every three to five years. In many cases, these machines are replaced not because they don’t work, but because they are no longer as efficient as they need to be.
Should You Throw Away Your Old Computers?
We get this question often from our clients: what can you do with an old PC? Many businesses donate their old computers to libraries, schools, and nonprofits. You can do the same or repurpose them into guest computers, network-attached servers, and more. This lets you get more from your computers and helps reduce the number of machines that end up in landfills each year. Just remember to sanitize any computers prior to donating as businesses have been known to suffer embarrassing data loss from leaving information on a donated computer.
