In 2008, when I did my internship at the Research Institute of the Botanical Garden (in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro), I am surprised to find old desktop PCs equipped with CPUs of 1.2 GHz Pentium III (Tualatin core), 128 MB of RAM (DIMM PC 133 MHz) and 10 GB hard disk. Although they were old and obsolete machinery, the addition of more memory made satisfactory to the needs of its users.

Of course they were very good equipment for the season (2002), but after all this time, believed that they could not take both, because simply were not designed for this (the use of an office, 3 bays with a general source and a motherboard that median throw me in the face)! Not long and he is more one of those ideas "mirabolantes" I usually have ...

If you can design a desktop PC to last for so long, why not plan a new equipment to last for over 7 years, in my next upgrade? There must be one of those PCs and devoured parrudos RAM (including the Pentium III is referred to a modest consumption for the current standards) but adequate for basic tasks such as office suite, Internet access and video editing. And why not, increase the shelf life of up to 10 years?

The most interesting thing is that nowadays there are a number of factors that makes it more likely mount a machine super-durable. For example, we can buy a good video-game console to share and make use of the desktop PC these activities. As we know, the games are heavier applications that "require" of users, the upgrade mandatory! Furthermore, with the use of games, no need to buy a VGA part, content themselves with only a good IGP. At least, there cheering for this!

Another activity that, in ancient times called a good capacity for processing, publishing was the graphics, more specifically to digital photography. But with the maturing of digital cameras and the arrival of its natural limit of 12 MP, I do not see why the worry about manipulating images larger and heavier than this. At least, not the medium and long term. Finally, there is the issue of environmental awareness: the growing need to preserve the environment, sustainable products, reaproveitáveis, recyclable and green are starting to make the cards on the market. And talking about it, let's see what the manufacturers offer us?

Unlike other manufacturers, Gigabyte has launched a series of motherboard with the seal Ultra Durable 3. As its name suggests, these cards are equipped with technology that makes possible a long life of its components, as the application of 2 ounces of copper and the use of solid state capacitors. Furthermore, we should be attentive to the technical specifications of its components in order to choose the most current technologies available. Already have imagined that endure the slow transfer rates of current implementations of USB and SATA? DVI and HDMI connections (or even a DisplayPort) then indispensable!

Cabinet and power supply, these are two other important factors to be considered! Since the office has a good ventilation design, will certainly not more a headache, so, I believe that my current Kemex CM-9287 will give the job. But its power source, with its mere 230 Watts (real power) and average quality, I worry! Fortunately, with the trend of miniaturization can certainly replace it by another source such as micro-ATX 250 Watts manufactured by sEvent. If ash cabinets, 3 stalls and generic sources of equipment to have on where I was training, what would be different with my current office?

Now, we define the line of processors: unwinking, a quad-core CPU with TDP between 45 and 65 Watts and higher speed possible! As you know, four heads "think" better than two (although only one is thinking is that most of the time) also consume as much as their equivalent dual-core. And the more cores the better ...

As the modules of memories, there is much to say in the case of components with moving parts, do not have to worry about its durability, since the ideal environmental conditions (ventilation and power) and sound are handled well monitored. 3 or 4 GB to be sure to handle it. However, these will be compulsory DDR3 modules, since that in 7 years will not be so hard to find them, if compared to current DDR2 modules.

Finally, comes the hard disks. Because the SSDs are not yet popularized (and had little storage space), have to opt for HD. 250 GB is a good size? I think so! In addition, we are dealing with basic tasks and general nature, where the space is not the determining factor (at most a few hundred photos will be stored). In addition, it will be interesting to arrive in the not too distant future where everyone will be using SSDs and I still be with the good old HD (if it resisted for more than 5 years)!

Well, I am stopping here. As you can see, the components listed above are what I consider "the backbone" of a desktop PC. Other elements, such as expansion cards, monitors, and miscellaneous accessories (even HD) will be fully replaceable without even requiring the compulsory upgrade. Even the components themselves can be exchanged without compromising the whole. A DVD will certainly be exchanged for a Blu-ray, a new card for digital TV reception could be included, and so on.

I confess that at first, will be "weird" to have a desktop PC with quad-core CPU, 3 or 4 GB of RAM and 250 GB of hard drive just to perform basic tasks where simple machines would handle it, will you give me a deep sense of "waste of resources." But at least, over the years, so soon I need worry about new upgrades ... &,-D