I've been discussing overclocking my cpu with my brother in law who is a "Computer guy" he's built plenty of computers and i trust his judgment. Having said that I planned on OC'ing my CPU to 4.1ghz instead of the regular 3.4ghz that the CPU offers. This being pointed out mainly because i spent the extra money to get the unlocked CPU. I also, to be safe, got the Z87 Sabertooth which, one of its main selling points being the Thermal Radar and the Aux fans on the actual motherboard can not only keep the CPU and GPU cooler, but if they get too hot there is a program that comes with the MoBo that tells you at what tempurature the Components are actually at. Our argument is that i say as long as i keep my CPU pretty cool. (50C and 65C) that i shouldn't have too many problems with the CPU life shortening. Whereas he says that OC'ing in general 'greatly' reduces CPU life. Now if the CPU lasts me 5-10 years that would be fine with me. but if the CPU is only going to only last 2 years because im OC'ing. Then is it really worth it? Please feel free to share stories or any answers you may have. Thanks
Life Span of CPU (4670k)
- Thread starter BroomzK
- Start date
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smeezekitty
Distinguished
- Sep 11, 2012
- 6,960
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Although overclocking will shorten the lifespan, I don't think "greatly" would be the right word.
An OC CPU should still last 5 years + although with the new CPUs with integrated VRMs nobody knows for sure.
An OC CPU should still last 5 years + although with the new CPUs with integrated VRMs nobody knows for sure.
aznricepuff
Honorable
- Oct 17, 2013
- 677
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- 11,360
Overclocking will reduce the lifespan of a CPU. However it is hard to say by how much. Many people run 1 GHz overclocks on their CPUs for years without issue. The primary factor in determining how much you shorten lifespan is in most cases heat. Of course if you overvolt by too much that can also significantly depreciate lifespan.
I would say that a moderately-overclocked CPU would have no problem lasting 3-5 years. However in 5 years any given CPU will be obsolete or obselescent anyway, and this is why many people are OK with overclocking. By the time they are staring at the end of their CPU's lifespan, they will have already upgraded or are going to upgrade soon, rendering the entire issue moot.
I would say that a moderately-overclocked CPU would have no problem lasting 3-5 years. However in 5 years any given CPU will be obsolete or obselescent anyway, and this is why many people are OK with overclocking. By the time they are staring at the end of their CPU's lifespan, they will have already upgraded or are going to upgrade soon, rendering the entire issue moot.
Heat usually is what damage the cpu as the heat could cause cpu core to melt.
Overclocking means you are increasing the clock rate, and as you may know, when you send signal through a wire or any connection, heat will be dissipate. Thus, increasing the clock rate will generate more heat as more data will be travelling through the connection. If this heat is high enough, it will melt one of the connection, which will create a leakage and thus frying the cpu.
In a nut shell, overclock will not destroy a cpu, but the consequence of overclock will lead to it.
Overclocking means you are increasing the clock rate, and as you may know, when you send signal through a wire or any connection, heat will be dissipate. Thus, increasing the clock rate will generate more heat as more data will be travelling through the connection. If this heat is high enough, it will melt one of the connection, which will create a leakage and thus frying the cpu.
In a nut shell, overclock will not destroy a cpu, but the consequence of overclock will lead to it.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
- 13
- 85,015
Hey,
1) 4.1GHz is a mild overclock; it's likely your CPU will be working well past 10 years. When you can overclock WITHOUT having to overvolt it's not too stressful.
2) That's actually the TURBO clock. The default Turbo is 3.8GHz. So you are overclocking by 7.9%.
3) Overclocking can be as EASY as this:
a) click "OC tuner"
b) wait for reboot and press DEL again
c) confirm settings
4) 4.2GHz:
This should also work without any other changes, however I had to manually change each core's multiplier to "42" and mess around a bit with XMP/Auto/Manual in some order that I can't remember now.
Stick with 4.1GHz for now anyway just to test to make sure it's stable.
5) VERIFY your memory frequency/timings are optimal (i.e. 1866MHz 9-8-9-24 or whatever). Clicking "XMP" should set these properly but make sure they're correct after applying OC tuner.
6) TESTING:
a) run MEMTEST before installing Windows ( www.memtest.org ). If errors exist (hardware or BIOS settings) then Windows would likely install corrupted.
b) run Prime95
OTHER:
1) use better than stock Intel cooler. Example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
- PWM fan
- variable fan
- supports socket 1150
2) Motherboard ASSISTANT fans are annoying. You can set up their profile in Thermal Radar to turn OFF until a suitable temperature like 50degC. Chances are you'll rarely hear them but if your system got hot enough to warrant them they'd turn on (will turn on during shut down. Recommend 1 minute.)
3) Liquid Cooling:
One issue is the lack of airflow over the CPU's voltage regulators. This is the reason experts recommend having the top fan REVERSED to suck air in. Just FYI in case you are considering this you may wish to do more reading.
1) 4.1GHz is a mild overclock; it's likely your CPU will be working well past 10 years. When you can overclock WITHOUT having to overvolt it's not too stressful.
2) That's actually the TURBO clock. The default Turbo is 3.8GHz. So you are overclocking by 7.9%.
3) Overclocking can be as EASY as this:
a) click "OC tuner"
b) wait for reboot and press DEL again
c) confirm settings
4) 4.2GHz:
This should also work without any other changes, however I had to manually change each core's multiplier to "42" and mess around a bit with XMP/Auto/Manual in some order that I can't remember now.
Stick with 4.1GHz for now anyway just to test to make sure it's stable.
5) VERIFY your memory frequency/timings are optimal (i.e. 1866MHz 9-8-9-24 or whatever). Clicking "XMP" should set these properly but make sure they're correct after applying OC tuner.
6) TESTING:
a) run MEMTEST before installing Windows ( www.memtest.org ). If errors exist (hardware or BIOS settings) then Windows would likely install corrupted.
b) run Prime95
OTHER:
1) use better than stock Intel cooler. Example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
- PWM fan
- variable fan
- supports socket 1150
2) Motherboard ASSISTANT fans are annoying. You can set up their profile in Thermal Radar to turn OFF until a suitable temperature like 50degC. Chances are you'll rarely hear them but if your system got hot enough to warrant them they'd turn on (will turn on during shut down. Recommend 1 minute.)
3) Liquid Cooling:
One issue is the lack of airflow over the CPU's voltage regulators. This is the reason experts recommend having the top fan REVERSED to suck air in. Just FYI in case you are considering this you may wish to do more reading.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
- 13
- 85,015
Update:
1) Your BIOS interface is slightly different from my Z77 Sabertooth BIOS. Even if the wording may have changed anywhere I don't think you'll have any issues.
2) You can disable certain USB settings for a faster boot (would disable USB booting).
3) Virtu MVP is useless, but I don't know if it's included.
4) Intel Rapid Start isn't needed, as far as I know, without a small SSD dedicated as a cache (not needed either if you buy a full SSD).
5) Disable the iGPU if you don't require it.
*In fact, I recommend only installing what you ABSOLUTELY need at first then add any features one at a time.
6) Windows 8 64-bit:
I recommend this strongly, however:
a) get Start8 from Stardock if you like the W7/Vista/XP style interface ($5)
b) Wait at least another month for the 8.1 update unless you get the 8.1 disc. A few minor issues have been reported which should be resolved soon.
7) Read your motherboard manual carefully.
8) Some motherboards have SATA controllers that don't support DVD/BD drives properly causing burn errors. Might say "only use hard drives with this SATA controller". I think my Z77 Sabertooth had this issue.
9) FANS:
If your motherboard is the same as mine:
a) CPU and CPU Optional can only control PWM fans
b) Case Fan controllers support BOTH Voltage and PWM fans
Of course you can only support fan speed for case fans if they are variable fans. Some fans have splitters so you can run both from the same controller (note the max power draw for fans and controller).
Example of fan profile:
- 50% speed at 40degC
- RAMP to 70% speed at 60degC
- RAMP to 100% speed at 70degC
This varies a lot, but basically I keep the MINIMUM speed so that anything I do in IDLE mode doesn't tend to ramp up the speed yet which gives a more consistent noise profile.
There's a huge difference in fan quality thus noise so 40% versus 60% on just one fan alone might make a big difference in noise so you need to play around with these settings.
Again, the Assist Fans are best left off until 50degC IMO.
1) Your BIOS interface is slightly different from my Z77 Sabertooth BIOS. Even if the wording may have changed anywhere I don't think you'll have any issues.
2) You can disable certain USB settings for a faster boot (would disable USB booting).
3) Virtu MVP is useless, but I don't know if it's included.
4) Intel Rapid Start isn't needed, as far as I know, without a small SSD dedicated as a cache (not needed either if you buy a full SSD).
5) Disable the iGPU if you don't require it.
*In fact, I recommend only installing what you ABSOLUTELY need at first then add any features one at a time.
6) Windows 8 64-bit:
I recommend this strongly, however:
a) get Start8 from Stardock if you like the W7/Vista/XP style interface ($5)
b) Wait at least another month for the 8.1 update unless you get the 8.1 disc. A few minor issues have been reported which should be resolved soon.
7) Read your motherboard manual carefully.
8) Some motherboards have SATA controllers that don't support DVD/BD drives properly causing burn errors. Might say "only use hard drives with this SATA controller". I think my Z77 Sabertooth had this issue.
9) FANS:
If your motherboard is the same as mine:
a) CPU and CPU Optional can only control PWM fans
b) Case Fan controllers support BOTH Voltage and PWM fans
Of course you can only support fan speed for case fans if they are variable fans. Some fans have splitters so you can run both from the same controller (note the max power draw for fans and controller).
Example of fan profile:
- 50% speed at 40degC
- RAMP to 70% speed at 60degC
- RAMP to 100% speed at 70degC
This varies a lot, but basically I keep the MINIMUM speed so that anything I do in IDLE mode doesn't tend to ramp up the speed yet which gives a more consistent noise profile.
There's a huge difference in fan quality thus noise so 40% versus 60% on just one fan alone might make a big difference in noise so you need to play around with these settings.
Again, the Assist Fans are best left off until 50degC IMO.
manofchalk
Glorious
- May 11, 2012
- 12,914
- 3
- 48,960
4.1Ghz is a fairly conservative overclock, I wouldn't be concerned about its lifespan unless you get a chip that overclocks like a pig and needs tons of voltage. Overclocking without doubt will lower a chips lifespan, though at that kind of clock, it will outlast its own usefulness, by the time it keels over you should have upgraded already.
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