Computers and upgrades

My first computer was a Desktop with AMD Sempron processor which used to run at 1.6GHz. It was...

My first computer was a Desktop with AMD Sempron processor which used to run at 1.6GHz. It was blazing fast! (Atleast until my neighbour got a better one.). It came with Windows XP and 512GB HDD. I learned all my computer black magic with it. I got my first Ubuntu CD mailed to me (from London!) when I had this computer. It came installed with GTA2. I played GTA3, Vice City, Thing 2, Age of Empire, Crazy Taxi, Claw 2 among other games. Everything until Prince of Persia Two Thrones worked on it. I still remember changing some random file and it's settings which made the game run fast on my limited hardware. It is the first computer which I opened up as well. Installed SMPS when my old one gave way. That was the only desktop I've had. The rest are all laptops. My first laptop still works as well. I run latest Arch in it despite it being 15+ years old. Despite it being toothless (lost a couple of keyboard keys, lost the speaker and finally have a line through the display since recently). As you might have observed, I am very attached to my computers. I use them for a long time.

Recently, I wanted to try out coding with a limited hardware. Hoping it would lead to better code. For this reason, I migrated from my 2018 Thinkpad X Carbon to my first laptop. It was rather successful I should say. But as soon as I started daily driving it, it started heating up too much and I was afraid it was going to break. So I have officially tagged him retired. I have him for my small small experiments. Trying out FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD in it in one partition and doing light computing with it with the other. Like writing for this website.

Since my first desktop back home hasn't been switched on for almost a decade, I wanted to see if I can resurrect it again. Something that is ~20ish years old. This happened last year in 2025 by the way. I bought a new DDR2 (?) RAM from Amazon and tried making it boot. I found that motherboard had become rusty with pins and other components having visible rust. But not until I had to open it up after what happened when I tried switching it on. But I was hopeful (for god knows what reason!). Cos I remember replacing the SMPS within the last decade and assumed all could be well with new RAM and relatively new SMPS. The fact that the cabinet's light came up gave me unrealistic confidence that I am about to see my old Windows XP installation with KMPPD-MBHKT-8MKRK-RKCP6.... Hmmm! I have finally forgotten my old Windows XP licence key. I have reinstalled that OS countless time. Sometimes multiple times a day. Anyways, it just threw a lot of sparks due to rust and made a loud pfff sound. Sadly it didn't wake up from that sleep. The key part here is that it tried to switch on. Despite being not touched for so long.

My computer getting switched on after a decade

Laptops vs Desktops!

Forward to now, I am in the market for a new computer. Obviously, laptops right? But why not a desktop? No no. Not a fancy custom PC which will run 40B parameter local LLM. But an upgrade for my laptop hardware that I have. Apart from work computer, I don't move around much with my laptop. I put it in my backack. And when I want it, I open it and put it on top of the same table I use it everyday on. Always plugged on. So a desktop which is an upgrade from 7th gen Core i7 U prrocessor might not be bad idea. Maybe to a 14th gen desktop Core i3. Or maybe a 9000 series Ryzen 5 desktop processor.

Comparison of core i7 7600u process with 14th gen core i3 desktop processor

And I can get this setup for <₹50,000 (Approx. $527) excluding monitor and peripherals cos I have them. This means I can get 2 of them setup for ₹1,00,000 (~$1000). One for my native place and another one for my Bengaluru home. This is obvious right? I mean, we all know that desktop processors are more powerful than laptop processors. Especially 7 generation differences! Now you might be thinking about portability. Yes. But to me, who has a laptop already, that's a small issue. And I can probably get a Macbook Neo or Air later to solve this as I move most of my computing towards desktop again. Desktop has this permanence to it. And desktop will always run for longer periods with less problems. And any problems can be replaced or be upgraded easily as well. Not to mention, this ₹50,000 is for lil more relaxed and comfy setup. I can cut some cost here and there to make it ₹40,000. Especially since I can always upgrade my parts whenever I want.

I started thinking about this because my dad got a new laptop an year ago. Asus Vivobook which costs around ₹85,000 ($900). It stopped working recently and it's motherboard had to be replaced. And it already has charging issues. Within one year. I can't assume this coming up for a desktop. At least not as often as laptops having issues. Not to mention that my dad just wants to run spreadsheets and a browser for his work. He doesn't take it anywhere and essentially uses it like a desktop. He could've setup a good enough desktop for half the price and better performance. But apparently laptops are the norm and we go get a new one without thinking while making unnecessary hardware/quality/reliability sacrifices. I don't think this is a rare instance. I know a lot of people who uses laptops as desktop like this. Including me. Maybe a desktop and a laptop should be good enough for portability and hardcore work for a developer or a tech worker. And for the rest, it might not be a bad idea to go back to desktops instead of half baked products which has heating issues, battery issues and what not. So why not move the majority of our computing back to desktop instead of a inferior laptop which could cost 2x desktops? Let's go back to 2010s where most had a desktop and only people who had the need had a laptop. I know not everyone can move away from laptops. For example students. And moving away from laptop is not the ask here as well. It is just to get something according to your needs and not default to laptop just because laptops are the norm now. I definitely think there is a crowd for which desktops are a better choice instead of laptops.