How to Tell How Old Your PC

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It’s important how to Tell How Old Your PC is, whether you’re trying to find compatible software or parts to replace. Technology tends to change more quickly than expected, making a lot of older computers useless.

Unless you buy each part of a computer separately and put it together yourself, the dates of manufacture are usually the same for the whole machine. Most, if not all, computer manufacturers put the dates they made their parts somewhere on the outside of the machine. This helps find out which batch of computers came out of the factory, so any known problems can be found in that batch.

Most of the time, these dates are written on the serial number sticker, which also tells you right away what model and brand the machine is. If there isn’t a clear date, the serial number may have a code that tells you when it was made.

How to Tell How Old Your PC

Check Your BIOS Version

• Go to Start, type cmd, and open the Command Prompt. Type the following command: systeminfo.
• You will be presented with a bunch of different information. What you need, though, is the BIOS version data.

Check Your CPU’s Release Date

Another way that can give you a rough estimate of how old your computer is is to check what CPU you have and then see when that CPU was first manufactured.

• In the Windows search box in the taskbar, type sysinfo and hit enter.
• Your CPU will be listed next to ‘Processor’
• Take your processor name and search for it in Google
• Click on the manufacturer’s website (either Intel or AMD)
• Somewhere on that page, there should be an initial release date of your processor

Check the ‘Date modified’ Dates of the Folders in Your (C:) Drive

How to Tell How Old Your PC, Another way that you can use to help you tell how old your computer or laptop is, is to check the ‘Date modified’ dates of the folders in your computer’s (C:) drive.

This is another method that isn’t full-proof and it is possible that you will see items in your (C:) drive that are actually older than what your computer is. But, again, this can be a good method to cross-check the information you’ve found using the methods listed above.

• In the Windows search box in the taskbard, type file explore and hit enter.
• In the File Explorer on the left-hand sidem click on ‘This PC’
• Then, double-click on ‘Local Disk (C:)’
• Check the ‘Date modified’ dates listed after the folders
• You can also hit the ‘Date modified’ tab twice to sort by the oldest items

Checking the Serial Number

Here’s the simplest way to figure out how old your computer is. This method works great for laptops and PCs that are already put together. The good news is that it doesn’t matter when you bought your computer; the serial number will help you figure out when it came out.

To do this, you need to find the model name and number for your machine. Most laptops have this number written on the front of the screen or on the bottom of the case.

• Click open Start.
• Type and search System Information. Click on it to open.System-info-bios-v2
• Click on System Summary on the left side of the window.
  The model number of your device will be under the “System Model” field on the right pane.

System Report

• Click the Apple logo on the left side of your top bar.
• Select About This Mac.
• A window that has details about your system should now open.

When Is a Computer Too Old?

We get this question a lot from people who want to buy an older computer for a family member or want to know if they should replace their current computer. The answer is “it depends,” because what the computer is used for determines whether or not it has enough power.

If the computer still meets or beats the minimum requirements for the programs you need to run, there’s no reason to replace it. Even computers from ten years ago are still pretty powerful, so if all you need to do is basic web browsing and work, they’re probably fine.

FAQ

How long do computers last?

For most desktop PCs, you can expect a minimum three-year lifespan. However, most computers survive five to eight years, depending on the upgrading components. Maintenance is also critical, as dust is very problematic for PC components.

Can I leave my PC on 24 7?

If you’re using a desktop computer manufactured in the past five years, there’s really no need to shut down your PC every time after use on a daily basis. The manufacturer will have configured sleep mode to engage full hibernation of your PC or laptop components.