WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Imagine buying a used car without knowing the odometer reading. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:09.000 You'd never do that, unless you're a fan of unexpected breakdowns in the middle of nowhere. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:16.000 It can make life more spicy. But we buy used computer parts all the time without knowing what the previous owner put them through, 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:21.000 physically or emotionally. So why the heck don't computer parts have odometers? 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:26.000 Would it really be that hard to put a counter on something telling us how many times that case fan has turned, 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:32.000 how many liters that AIO cooler is pumped, or how much current has coursed through that power supply? 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.000 To answer that question, we talked to our friends Aaron Neal and Justin Okbina at Corsair, 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:40.000 and we'd like to thank them for their contributions. We love both of you. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:47.000 So much. So our question actually has several different answers, depending on what component we're talking about. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:54.000 For example, hard drives and SSDs have the ability to estimate how much life they have left using SMART, 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:58.000 which stands for self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.000 But for other parts, the answer is a little bit murkier. 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:06.000 From a technical standpoint, putting an odometer on most parts wouldn't be complicated. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.000 Most parts in your PC already have a logic-enabled control unit, 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:14.000 and adding a couple of sensors to track usage wouldn't cost very much. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.000 In fact, there was at least one CPU cooler that had this kind of functionality. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:22.000 Corsair used to produce a refillable loop called the HydroCool 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:25.000 that had a fluid-level indicator and an audible alarm 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:29.000 for when enough liquid had evaporated that the user needed to refill it. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Not the best thing to hear when you're in the middle of diffusing the bomb on C, 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.000 but you can't ignore a thirsty loop. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:38.000 And thermoelectric coolers for PCs also exist. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:41.000 These can actually go below ambient temperatures, 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.000 so having a humidity sensor inside is critical, 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.000 because they were capable of getting cold enough to form condensation. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.000 The perfect relief for a thirsty gamer. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:54.000 And of course, simple thermometers inside our computers are common, 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:59.000 so that your CPU and GPU can throttle down if they're getting dangerously hot. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.000 So although computer parts can obviously die after you use them for a long time, 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:07.000 it's far more likely for most parts that you'll be ready to upgrade 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:14.000 before the component actually kicks the bucket. It's exceedingly rare for the core parts like CPUs, GPUs, and RAM 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:17.000 to die within the first few years of your system's life. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.000 This is even more true for the parts that enthusiasts buy, 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:25.000 which are typically higher quality than what you'd find in the average Walmart pre-built. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:28.000 And we all know that members of the PCMR tend to upgrade parts more frequently 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:34.000 than the general public, who probably don't even know they're still using USB 2.0. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.000 Those unfortunate souls. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:41.000 This is also reflected in the warranties that component manufacturers offer. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:48.000 Overall, they're getting longer, and the manufacturers wouldn't be making those guarantees unless they felt very confident 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.000 that their parts would last at least that long without any major problems. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:58.000 And with a significant number of users looking to upgrade during or not long after the warranty period, 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.000 there isn't much incentive to add some kind of odometer function to components. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:07.000 It might not cost much, but the cost is still more than zero. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:13.000 And just like with a car, any odometer reading would only be one aspect of the whole purchase. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Even if a car has relatively low mileage, 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 it might have been driven in demanding environments, have a busted air conditioner, 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.000 or come with a nice backseat vomit stain that was never fully cleaned up. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:30.000 Likewise, a used system could have a rusted out case, bent USB ports, or bad soldering, 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.000 none of which would show up on monitoring software that would run an odometer. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:36.000 Maybe you prefer your cars with a little character, 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:42.000 but when it comes to PCs, usually the less personality, the better. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:47.000 So it's a combination of factors that have led to an absence of little tickers on our computer parts, 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:51.000 but the bottom line is that if you're looking to buy used, be very careful, 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:55.000 and preferably purchase from a place that offers you some kind of return policy. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:04:00.000 You don't want to spend even more on a buggy graphics card than you would have on a lemon down at the used car lot, 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.000 even if it is rich in personality. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:07.000 That's the end of this video. 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