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Can playing hi-res 3D games on a laptop (meets system requirements) reduce its performance in the long run?

I'm just curious since I got a new laptop that has good specs (including video card), but it is not marketed as a gaming laptop. So would playing games on it cause the computer to slow down or get worse over time? This is not to be confused with running games and other programs simultaneously nor any issues related to the battery. I'm more concerned about how the playing of games would shorten the overall life of the laptop itself.

Public Comments

1. To keep the answer short and simple: no.
2. Not really. Anything you use a lot will eventually break down. But if it's a gaming laptop or is able to run games without a problem then you'll be OK.
3. in theory. no. in practice? yes. the more intense stuff you do, processor wise, will move more electrons creating more heat. heat kills computers. the more games you download the more chances of crapware, bloatware, spyware, etc... gunking up your great computer. but why did you get a laptop in the first place? if you're not going to have fun with it and USE IT! that would be like buying a couch and never sitting on it because you were afraid of flattening the cusions. USE IT! HAVE FUN!
4. Everything has a life span. But, your laptop won't break down in the true sense. My laptop broke down in the 13th month even when I was using another laptop. It was just lying around but it decided to bid adieu prematurely. Manufacturers provide extended warranty. Its always wise decision to get it because other than the manufacturer, laptops are not readily repairable.
5. the main thing that kills laptops is heat. a lot of people play with their laptops on their bed, where the blankets block all of the fans, this creates a LOT heat because the laptop can not blow out the hot air or suck in fresh air. to GREATLY increase the lifespan of your laptop, get a laptop cooler, i like the metal one from Antec. this will keep anything from blocking your air holes as well as creating extra circulation with it's own fans (its still good if you don't plug in the thing anyway. my wife lost the USB cord to the cooler i got her but she still uses it because it still keeps her laptop from getting hot. you'll know your laptop is getting hot when you can hear the fans kicking into high gear. it will change from a low hum to more of a WHIRRR!!! I noticed even on clean flat table when i'd play Halo on my laptop the fan would still kick up, thats normal because the CPU/RAM/video card were all working hard on the game. But when i got my antec cooler, i noticed all through the game that the laptop fans never went into high gear, presumably because the Antec cooler is doing such a good job. i still have that laptop, it's like 5 years old and running strong!