How Often Do You Buy a New DAW?

I have a two year old system.  I usually keep them about 5 years then replace.  However, I'm going to build a new one, probably after the 1st of the year.  But, its because the system I have I'll be giving to my daughter for her home business.  The system she has is an old system that was originally a Vista system and on its "last leg".
 
 

Software-wise, I've been with Cakewalk since the mid 90's upgrading at least every 2 versions, but I've upgraded every version since Sonar 8.
 
But for PC hardware, I've tended to hang on to my system as long as is possible - up to 10 years if I can - although I might upgrade my processor after 5 years or so (from middle of the range to top of the range) once the prices plummet.
 
I'm currently maxed out processor-wise on my current motherboard, but it's not struggling in any way.
 
The last time I upgraded my PC was when X2 stopped supporting Windows XP, but even then I was still running 32 bit on Windows 7.
 
It was only when I wanted to use some 64 bit only plugins that I moved to Windows 10, and then as a result had to retire my 2 x Yamaha DS2416 PCI cards which I'd used in all my PC's since 1997.
 
In fact, it wasn't until I moved to Windows 10 that I started using VST's & VSTi's in anger. My 2 x DS2416's had EQ & dynamics on every channel, and 4 x effects; and all my synths were hardware.
 
Prior to X2 I was using an Athlon 4000 (2Ghz dual core) with 4GB memory running XP 32 bit. I used that since around Sonar 5.
 
Before that it was a Athlon 800Mhz machine (later upgraded the processor to 1.2GHz) with 750MB RAM. I'd had that since Sonar XL.
 
I think CWPA 7 through CWPA 9 I had running on an old Cirrus P166 (64 MB RAM), but still with the Yamaha DS2416.
 
And before that... 10 years of using an Amiga 500 with Music-X, using a Yamaha MT1X 4 track and later a MT8X 8 track.
 

mettelus
5 years is pretty standard, but there has been a shift in that the older system can be kept in service a lot longer (in the old days it was truly obsolete, but these days is just "slower"). If Win 10 stays its current course, that will remain true (and fewer programs will obsolesce themselves because there won't be a newer OS to take them out).

I agree with that.  I'm at about the 4+ year point now, and some of the software I have gotten in the last year has me thinking it would be nice to move from a dual core to a 4 or 6 core setup.
 
What I have now has served me well since jumping into the 64-bit arena with Win 10 from a 32-bit Win 7 rig.  I wouldn't say what I have is obsolete, but certain operations with virtual instruments can challenge my CPU  at times.

I started in 2007 and I'm now on my third DAW PC. The second one, based on an i7-950, lasted nearly 7 years and replacing it was never a priority as it always coped easily with large projects. The only real reason for replacing it was when the old family computer started to die last year. I began building a new DAW PC so that the existing one could be put to general use in the lounge room. As it turned out this was timely, as suddenly out of the blue I was asked to edit some complex video. The old DAW PC would not cope with it, so I had to quickly finish building the new one before dealing with the video.

BenMMusTech
With all respect to Jim Roseberry - who I believe is in the business of building desktops for audio...I've been in this game for almost 20 years, I have 3 degrees in audio and music production and I also have an M.Phil - so a research degree. I'm not trying to sell anyone anything, I'm trying to help culture get over the hump...western culture is stuck in the post postpost blues...and without abandoning knowledge on The Digital from 20 years ago, culture will stay stuck in the post postpost blues.

I've been in this "game" for 30 years.  
As an individual, few (if any) have more experience building/configuring/using Digital Audio Workstations.
We sell both custom laptops and desktops.  That has nothing to do with my comments.
Numerous of our clients are college music professors. 
I could lecture at Ohio State University if I chose to do so.
Many of our clients have won Emmy's, Grammy's, and performed in front of hundreds of thousands.
 
The reality is that, due to the laws of physics (thermodynamics), a laptop is not the equal of a fast desktop.
Mobile CPUs were created specifically to keep heat in-check in tight enclosures.
There's no arguing that Performance Throttling is a positive thing in a high-performance application (Digital Audio Workstation, Video NLE, etc).
Case-in-point, the new i9-9900k was just released.
It'll happily run all 8 cores (16 processing threads) locked at 5GHz... and do so running near dead-silent.
Prerequisites:

• proper cooling (won't fit within the confines of a laptop shell)
• access to all necessary BIOS parameters

You absolutely can not do this with ANY current laptop (including the best custom built models using Clevo shells).
There's simply too much heat for the small space.
 
Most off-the-shelf machines do not expose all BIOS parameters necessary to fully optimize a machine for maximum DAW performance.  This is done to prevent less tech-savvy users from fouling up their machine.
This isn't my opinion, it's the reality of what Dell, HP, etc release... and the reality of those companies trying to keep their tech-support load under control.  The machines are "dumbed-down".  Apple has been moving this direction the past decade (no user-serviceable upgrades/expansion).
 
The general-purpose user (Facebook, Office apps, Email, Photos - to which most laptops are marketed) is much more concerned with long battery-life than absolute maximum performance. 
Extended battery-life means performance throttling/compromise.
 
If you need the ability to go mobile, the performance compromise may well be worth it to you/your scenario.
But... a machine that uses a Mobil CPU, C-States, Enhanced Intel Speed Step, etc... is a performance compromise.
 
For those wanting to push the limits at the smallest ASIO buffer sizes, performance/speed are important.
ie: With an audio interface like the Presonus Quantum, you can now do things like run Helix Native (software plugin version of Helix guitar processor) at 96k with 1ms total round-trip latency.  
Using a 32-sample ASIO buffer size at 96k, the machine has ~0.3ms to process/fill the next ASIO buffer... or you'll hear a drop-out/glitch.  This type of thing isn't possible with an off-the-shelf laptop; that's not what they were designed to do.  With a custom desktop, you have complete control over the parts/configuration... which allows pushing performance boundaries much further.