Why Your Laptop Is Built to Fail (AI/ML Students Must Know)
Buying a new laptop feels like an investment, especially for AI/ML students, developers, and engineers who need high performance. But what if your laptop was never designed to last long?
In the video “Why Your Laptop is Built to Fail? (AI/ML Students Must Watch!)”, several hidden problems in modern laptops are explained. The video shows how some manufacturers design laptops in a way that reduces lifespan and forces users to replace them sooner.
Below are the main things the laptop industry does not clearly tell consumers.
1. Engineered Overheating: Thin Design Over Performance
Modern laptops are made thin and light, but this causes cooling problems.
To make laptops slimmer, manufacturers often use:
- Small heatsinks
- Weak cooling fans
- Low-quality or poorly applied thermal paste
When you run heavy tasks like model training, data processing, or video editing, the laptop heats up fast. To avoid damage, the CPU lowers its speed. This is called thermal throttling.
Result: You pay for powerful hardware, but you do not get full performance.
2. Hidden Power Limits: Same CPU, Different Performance
Two laptops with the same processor can give very different performance.
This happens because manufacturers lock CPU power limits in the system firmware:
- PL1, PL2, and PL4 limit how much power the CPU can use
- A 45W CPU may be limited to only 15W
These limits prevent overheating, but they also reduce performance.
For AI/ML students, this means slower training, lag during heavy work, and confusing benchmark results.
3. The Death of Upgradeability
Earlier, users could upgrade RAM or storage easily. This is becoming rare.
Many manufacturers now:
- Solder RAM directly onto the motherboard
- Solder SSDs permanently in place
If you need more memory later, you cannot upgrade. You must buy a new laptop.
Result: Higher cost and no flexibility for future needs.
4. Planned Obsolescence: Designed to Wear Out
The video claims some laptops are designed to fail over time.
Examples include:
- Batteries placed near hot parts, reducing battery life
- Weak hinges that break after a few years
- Proprietary parts that make repairs difficult or expensive
When a major part fails, repair costs are often close to the price of a new laptop.
End result: Users are forced to replace their laptops.
5. Bloatware: Slowness from the Start
Most new laptops come with unnecessary pre-installed software such as:
- Trial antivirus programs
- Manufacturer tools
- Background services running all the time
These programs use RAM, CPU, and storage, making even new laptops feel slow.
Users often need to remove this software manually to get better performance.
6. The Battery Performance Trap
When you unplug your laptop, performance can drop by 40–50% instantly.
This happens because:
- Power settings are locked by manufacturers
- Users cannot fully control performance modes
For students working on battery power, this means much lower performance.
Portable, but limited.
Final Thoughts: What Can You Do?
You cannot avoid all these problems, but you can make better choices.
- Choose laptops with good cooling, not just thin design
- Buy models with upgradable RAM and SSDs
- Check real power limits, not just brand names
- Consider business or workstation laptops
Knowing these issues can help you avoid bad purchases and save money in the long run.
