The Effects of Overclocking

Guest · May 30, 2013

Hello again everyone

I'm curious - assuming both my CPU and GPU are at safe temperatures and are stable (after Prime95 and FurMark tests) how significantly will overclocking shorten their lifespan?

i5-2500k
3.3GHz > 4.5GHz

Vapor-X HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB
Core: 1050MHz > 1200MHz
Memory: 1500MHz > 1600MHz

silverliquicity · May 30, 2013

well its mostly the heat which shortens the lifespan, and that depends on how hot they become, theres no way to really tell how long they will last for until they have actually died.

silverliquicity · May 30, 2013

just so you know, i have an 1 year old i7 920 overclocked to as high as i can get it, i very rarely turn the pc off and its still going like a trooper.

CompuTronix · May 30, 2013

Depending upon how conservatively or aggressively you manage your CPU / GPU overclock with respect to observing the manufacturer's voltage and thermal specifications, overclocking will accelerate a process known as Electromigration - http://www.google.com/#gs_rn=15&gs_ri=psy-ab&suggest=p&cp=10&gs_id=15&xhr=t&q=Electromigration&es_nrs=true&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Electromig&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.eWU&fp=be74c21bbe46c749&biw=1040&bih=546

If you overclock very aggressively with voltage and temperatures outside specifications 24/7/365, then in perhaps a year or two you will begin to experience instabilities in the form of BSOD's (Blue Screen Of Death), which is a direct result of electromigration. In order to regain stability, the temporary solution is to increase voltage, which will further accelerate electromigration, or simply decrease your overclock ... and live with it ... for a while.

Regardless, once electromigration becomes evident, if voltage and temperatures continue to be maintained outside specifications, then the time intervals at which BSOD's occur will become more frequent until the CPU / GPU suddenly fails completely, or is no longer stable at the manufacturer's default settings. Additionally, as architecture has decrease from 65 nanometers to 22 nanometers in recent years, CPU's / GPU's have become even more susceptible to the effects of electromigration.

However, to put electromigration into perspective, myself, as well as most other conscientious overclockers manage our overclocking so that OEM specifications are respected and observed. As a result, CPU's / GPU's which were nicely overclocked are still functioning perfectly when they are finally retired years later due to obsolescence.

So what's the bottom line? Overclocking longevity is dependent upon understanding and observing the manufacturer's specifications.

Hope this helps,

Comp :sol:

Guest · May 30, 2013

CompuTronix :

Depending upon how conservatively or aggressively you manage your CPU / GPU overclock with respect to observing the manufacturer's voltage and thermal specifications, overclocking will accelerate a process known as Electromigration - http://www.google.com/#gs_rn=15&gs_ri=psy-ab&suggest=p&cp=10&gs_id=15&xhr=t&q=Electromigration&es_nrs=true&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Electromig&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.eWU&fp=be74c21bbe46c749&biw=1040&bih=546

If you overclock very aggressively with voltage and temperatures outside specifications 24/7/365, then in perhaps a year or two you will begin to experience instabilities in the form of BSOD's (Blue Screen Of Death), which is a direct result of electromigration. In order to regain stability, the temporary solution is to increase voltage, which will further accelerate electromigration, or simply decrease your overclock ... and live with it ... for a while.

Regardless, once electromigration becomes evident, if voltage and temperatures continue to be maintained outside specifications, then the time intervals at which BSOD's occur will become more frequent until the CPU / GPU suddenly fails completely, or is no longer stable at the manufacturer's default settings. Additionally, as architecture has decrease from 65 nanometers to 22 nanometers in recent years, CPU's / GPU's have become even more susceptible to the effects of electromigration.

However, to put electromigration into perspective, myself, as well as most other conscientious overclockers manage our overclocking so that OEM specifications are respected and observed. As a result, CPU's / GPU's which were nicely overclocked are still functioning perfectly when they are finally retired years later due to obsolescence.

So what's the bottom line? Overclocking longevity is dependent upon understanding and observing the manufacturer's specifications.

Hope this helps,

Comp :sol:

Thanks mate!
That was a really detailed insight

CompuTronix · May 30, 2013

You're very welcome! :sol:

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The Effects of Overclocking

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