Isn’t it great if we gamers know how to make your console last longer for years? As a gamer, I certainly know that not every gamer will be able to buy the newest console upgrade. This left us with only one option, we have to make sure that we take care of our console very well. But there are the chances that we could miss on key important areas that could risk prolonging the gaming console life. I did research and compiled the best and key ways to make your console last longer.
So how to make your console last longer for years? To make your console last longer for years you need to make sure you keep the console on a flat surface and have breathing space. Keep away from sunlight, smoke, magnetic force, and extreme cold. Avoid overheating by regular cleaning and take breaks by turning off the console.
There are key areas and procedures that will impact how your console lasts longer for years. I have explained these procedures and key areas further in this article. Please make note of these factors and steps in order to make sure you keep your console protected and super-efficient.
Best ways how to make your console last longer
We gamers love to play games on our favorite gaming console and do not like any interruption to the ongoing fun. I faced issues and interruptions while I was having fun on my gaming console. It was a wake-up call for me to do something and keep my console healthy for a long time.
I have heard from my friends that their console has suddenly crashed and now they are waiting for it to get repaired. In many countries the service centers for Xbox and Playstation are limited and you have to reach them along with your console and fix which can take weeks of time.
You certainly do not want to end up like my friends and waste your money and time for negligence. Do not worry now as if you follow the advice and implement it for your gaming console even with a handheld console like Nintendo Switch, then you will not get these issues sooner than you expect.
The important role of placement of the gaming console
Yes, you read it right! the placement of your gaming console matters a lot when it comes to lifespan. Many old consoles like Xbox 360 which you can keep it horizontally also vertically but nowadays new generations such as Xbox one series and PlayStation series are mostly horizontal. Here are a few tips to follow on the placement of these gaming consoles.
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Keep the console on a flat and special surface
Generally, we keep the console on a flat surface such as a TV rack, table, or shelf. But sometimes many gamers put the consoles on uneven surfaces which can cause air vents to block in many angles. Also very important to use a certain type of fabric or carpet as a surface of the gaming console. These fabrics or carpets should be heat absorbent and can be helpful to absorb excessive heat.
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Give your console space to breathe
My console shuts down with the error of saying inappropriate blockage for air vents. Yes, many consoles have this function in-build if they detect any blockage for air vents and it could cause overheating. This can happen when you keep your gaming console next to other devices such as a TV setup box, home theater, or speakers. Make sure you keep enough space around your console so that it can breathe well.
Also read: How To Choose A Gaming TV? 12 Best Factors To Consider
Protective measures for the gaming console
We tend to forget things when we are busy playing games and in life generally. Followings are the protective measures that you should keep in mind all the time. Anyone from the following can cause damage to your gaming console.
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Keep your console dry
Every electronic gadget will need to stay dry in order to run and prolong the life span. Gaming consoles are no exception. Make sure you keep all the fluids such as your favorite drink or cola away from the console. You won’t even notice when that glass of fluid can become the enemy of your gaming console by frying all the inside chipsets.
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Keep the console away from sunlight
In many homes, sunlight can enter inside from windows and can directly appear on your gaming console. Sunlight can increase the temperature of your console and overheating can occurred. This may look very rare but you need to keep this in mind in terms of the placement of the console as well.
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Keep the console away from magnetic forces
All latest gaming consoles consist of an internal hard drive and magnetic force can corrupt the data on the disc and it could be your game files, saved games, and important updates. Magnetic force can be found in appliances like VCRs, scanners, radio, printers, portable fans, fax machines, and other appliances which consist of magnetic force.
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Keep the console away from the smoke
Smoking is just not injurious to your health but also to your gaming console. Jokes aside, smoke, in general, can increase the heat inside the gaming console and also block the air vents from keeping the airflow well to maintain a good temperature. This particular preventive measure is easy to get unnoticed and can add up to the gaming console killing list.
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Keep the console away from extreme cold
Well, this is applied if you stay in extreme weather conditions or you put your console inside the freezer. Some weather conditions such as extreme moisture in your home also can be problematic in some cases. Make sure you know the conditions around you and then you are good to go with your gaming.
Also read: How To Choose A Gaming Monitor? 11 Best Factors To Consider
Overheating is a slow killer for the gaming console
Too much heat is anyway bad for any electrical appliances and a gaming console can get overheat if you do not give proper attention. Followings are the ways that you should keep in the mind to avoid overheating and ultimately causing issues with your gaming console.
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Do not allow dust to accumulate
This one is pretty common as dust gets everywhere all the time. You need to stop getting the dust inside your gaming console as in time it will block the air vents and the airflow will be compromised. This will lead to overheating so make sure you clean your gaming console and surrounding area on a regular basis.
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Clean your console on a regular basis
This one is a little different than the above solution as this will be the major cleaning of your gaming console. As a gamer, I always find cleaning is the one thing that can be delegated. But, make no mistake as your one habit of forgetting this incredible problem-solver can save years for your gaming console.
This will be a complete cleaning of your gaming console including the cables and other components. Make sure you turn off all the powers before starting this activity. Remove all the cables from the console and clean the console gently with the dry cloth.
Tip: You can use compressed air with spray, it will help with the dust getting removed from your gaming console which is difficult with normal cleaning. (Image credit alibaba.com)
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Take breaks and turn off console regularly
This one is very important while taking longer breaks we tend to keep the gaming console mainly in sleep mode which uses less power but still running in the background. This activity keeps all the internal components of the gaming console getting heated which will ultimately cause overheating sooner when you resume your gaming. If you are done with the gaming, I would recommend to please shut down your console so that it will go back to room temperature before you resume again.
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Keep the console away from heat
External heat is always bad for your gaming console. It will completely rule out all the options for your console to survive overheating. Chances are that your gaming console can crash or one of the internal components can be fried due to overheating. If your environment is already hot then you should not play games for a long time as it would create overheating.
Your handling can make or break a gaming console
You won’t believe it, you won’t even get to know what has happened to your broken gaming console. Your gaming console can carry minor issues while you poorly handled your console while cleaning or moving it.
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Do not drop the console while handling
Dropping your game console can be a heart attack for gamers like us. but, I am not talking about dropping your console right to the floor, in many cases, it can slip and get enough shock to get something crack even with the small distance. I handle my gaming console very carefully and you also should take of it if you want to make its lifespan longer.
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Do not touch the lens in the disk drive
Nowadays, I use only digital games which can be downloaded over and over again. But, a lot of us have a game disc as a library and for this reason, you should not touch the lens inside the disc drive of a gaming console. It will be harder for the console to read games and can get multiple errors before or while you are playing the game.
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Do not keep the disc inside the disc drive after finishing the game
Your disc games are also as important as your gaming console. This article shows how to make your console last longer but your disc games are also a physical property that you want to have a longer life span. I would suggest not keeping it inside the gaming console once you are done with playing. Keeping them inside for a long time can increase the chances of getting scratches on the discs.
How long does a console generation last
The console generation is a span between the upgrades of a gaming console. The average gaming console generation lasts about 5 to 6 years and you get the new console with better hardware with improved speed and the power to your games. Many old gaming console games can be played in newer versions as backward compatibility provided by the console company.
Your gaming console lifespan can be much higher than the console generation span if you follow the instructions provided well. I hope this article will help you to answer the question of how to make your console last longer for years. Please share your feedback and suggestion in the comment box below. If you recently upgraded the console, what was the lifespan of your old console?
