Overclocking's Effects on Hardware Life

[SpeedFreak03]

I would like some insight on this. Do you guys have any older rigs that have been overclocked for like 3 years or so and still going strong? Because I wanna figure out how bad overclocking is for your CPU if it runs at nice temps and it is stable. I figure that by the time the CPU wears out, it will be really cheap anyway to replace.

 

[bw2314]

Yeah I'd like to know also.

 

[ArcticChill]

my Pentium 3 was overclocked for a year from 800mhz to a gigahert. And it finally died on me. Since PEntium 4 has better heat protection, i doubt it will die within a year becuase my brothers is overclocked from 2.26 to 3 ghz. However it eventually began freezing and he had to underclock to 2.9 ghz, so it does destroy the chip very slowly.

 

[JasonandBecky]

I had a P3 333 running at 416 (83mhz fsb)when that CPU was just out. That system is still running strong for a friend.

Have a P3 700 running at 868 (124fsb) as a third system in my house.

Have a P3 1gig running at 1120mhz since the day we got the CPU also. The motherboard for this one died after many years of wonderfull service. A MSI BX Master that was AWESOME. This board died from a powersurge not from overclocking though.

My P4 1.7 Williamette has been running flawless at 2.1 for me. This CPU has also been overclocked for me since day one. Though only to 1.9 on the old Abit board until i somehow killed that board off (thanks so a loose screw in the case). The Asus board let me crank up the CPU even more.

Oh yea forgot to mention that the last two systems are on 24/7.

 

[GreatDaleness]

have had a celeron 300 running for 24 hours a day for 5 or 6 years at 450, never a problem. Have had an XP1700 OCed to Xp2400 speeds for a year and another for 9 months. Had a p3 750 at 1 gig on a 440 board, but there was no AGP lock, so when I changed cards I put it back to normal, still runs fine after 4 years or so. THat one was OCed for a year year and a half then back to normal.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

intresting...keep it coming lol!

 

[Amorphus]

http://forum.oc-forums.com/

this is a much better place to ask, and the topic has been covered there, too. I think http://forums.bit-tech.net/ has covered it also. Do a search.

 

[flood]

I've worked with a handful of celeron 300a's @450 that are up 24/7, still going strong.

 

[Ionizer86]

XP 1700+ at 2600+ and PC2100 ram at 2700. Only been around for a few months, but after I found the sweet spot and needed voltages, it's been very stable and reliable. Even if the CPU does die, it was only $63

 

[1966]

What you have to take into account too is that overclocking alone doesnt harm the chip.

If you have to add extra voltage to the chip to overclock it & then by doing so make it run hotter then for sure you're going to cut it's lifespam short.

If you overclock but keep the chip at default vcore & make sure it runs cool then it really doesnt affect it's longevity all that much.

 

[bw2314]

thanks alot 1966...i will still probably wait till warantees are just about over to oc

 

[bw2314]

woah speedfreak your from bear, DE? Awesome Im from new castle Ive never even met anyone else online that was from DE!

 

[pcguru78]

I had a Celeron 300a OC'd to 464 for ~4 years and it finally got flaky on me after being on 24/7 for all the time that I had it.

 

[Arcanedeath]

I've got a P3 550E @ 733 @ only .05 over stock voltage still going strong it's on a Tyan S1854 mobo w/ a slocket =P it's been going since the P3 E was released (eg first coppermine based P3's), the motherboard in this system has died 3 times and been replaced under warrenty twice, but otherwise never a hickup and as a note the first 2 boards were Rev 1's that had some issues

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: bw2314
woah speedfreak your from bear, DE? Awesome Im from new castle Ive never even met anyone else online that was from DE!

i am from DE

dover here

and am at univ of DE right now

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Studies have shown that switching parts off and on reduces life more than just leaving it on all the time.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Its like a car engine (analogy origionally by notfred), you won't switch it on and off every 10 seconds, that would be bad for the engine, heating and cooling constantly. Not the same, but similar for a computer.

 

[JasonandBecky]

AgaBooga at normal speeds that applies yes. Now how about at overclocked speeds. Apply the same sample to a car running at 7k RPM. Same with the overclocked CPU. Esp if its at high temp or voltage.

 

[txxxx]

Originally posted by: JasonandBecky
AgaBooga at normal speeds that applies yes. Now how about at overclocked speeds. Apply the same sample to a car running at 7k RPM. Same with the overclocked CPU. Esp if its at high temp or voltage.

If its still within die specification (e.g. T-bred B max 2.17ghz), and without a significant voltage increase, id imagine the core die would survive for plenty of time.

 

[GreatDaleness]

in most cases, turning off the computer turns off the active cooling, thus everything gets ALOT hotter for a short time.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: GreatDaleness
in most cases, turning off the computer turns off the active cooling, thus everything gets ALOT hotter for a short time.

not for me hehe, my water cooler is always running weather pc is on or off, and to answer the question, as long as the temps are fine, and voltage are not too much higher, it should last just as long as normal. Typically, the cooler running the cpu, longer it lasts. so if you got awesome cooling and it is running cold overclocked your fine.

 

[Acanthus]

Been Running a P3 700e Slot1 @ 933mhz for god knows how long (when the 700e came out i bought it) but its still going strong today.

 

[Mitzi]

How about an Athlon 750@1Ghz since day one...still running strong (my friend has it at the moment).

 

[Maddscientist]

Studies have shown that switching parts off and on reduces life more than just leaving it on all the time.

Other Studies have shown that People who often leave their computers on oddly enough have much higher Electric Bills


I have had a computer for the last 5 years and "always" Turn my computer off when Im done with it and never once had a hardware failure.....Also those studies where funded by the Local Power commision company near you me thinks

 

[maluckey]

I've been OC'ed for a year and a half, no issues. I've got an old K62-450+ running at 577 mhz for three and a half years, 24/7, in the garage! No air-con, and summer temps approach 70 C. on the die. Never a hiccup. I did lose a case fan from the heat.

Heat and electromigration kill a CPU, or any other electronic item. Keep the voltages reasonable, and the temps low, and it will last till it's of no use for modern programs.