So, you’ve had a processor for a while, and you’d like to overclock that.
You’ll meet one of those folks who claim that overclocking is OK, it’s safe, and they haven’t had any problems. Then you’ll run into other folks who tell you it’s not true; it would destroy your gear and leaves you with a staffing shortage.So here is the million-dollar question “Will Overclocking Impact your CPU Lifespan.” So I will give you my opinion and the facts on Overclocking the processor.
I’ve worked in computers for a long time, building many computers and overclocking many processors. So in this article, you get your answers.
Overview of Overclocking
Overclocking a CPU means changing the default processor setting to a higher one. So you push your CPU beyond the optimal setting by overclocking.
But is this all?
In most cases, yes.
Overclocking is very common among gaming communities. Because it immediately improves the performance and speed. You can quickly boost your CPU speed by 20% by doing a slight overclock.
There is a different measurement of overclocking the CPU. But in general, The overclocking is divided into three parts based on Measurement. They are :
- Light overclock: It is just a minimum of twists of the setting. It’s considered light overclocking when you speed up your CPU without increasing the base voltage.
- Mediocre Overclock: It’s a balanced profile maintaining the ratio of voltage, speed, and heat. Going to the mid-range of the processor speed and increasing the voltage accordingly to make it stable.
- Extreme Overclock: Extreme overclocking is pushing the boundary of the processor. It’s like squeezing the processor to its max speed limit and making it stable by pouring lots of voltage into it.
Will Overclocking Impact your CPU Lifespan?
The basic answer is yes.
However, there is a Big But.!
What’s the primary purpose of overclocking a processor? When you overclock your processor, you put a higher voltage through that hardware. And when there is a higher voltage, the temperature will rise. And the higher temperature will shorten your CPU lifespan in general.
But the light overclocking doesn’t increase the temperature much. So the light boost of your CPU won’t affect your lifespan.
Although If you run your CPU constantly in Extreme overclock, that will shorten the life span considerably.
That’s why it’s a good idea to check if your CPU is overclocked properly and in case it is, run some CPU-intensive tools to ensure overclock is stable.
Now you can ask how long it is going to last? In most cases, it lasts straight for 3 to 4 years.
After that, you may say that if it’s giving you 3/4 years, it’s good value for the money because you may update your hardware anyway. But the users who intend to use it for ten years are a different case.
So the Big But that I said before is if you have more oversized pockets and cope with the new technology, the lifespan is different from that who use the same CPU for ten years.
How does Overclocking Benefit the CPU?
Honestly, overclocking your CPU gives a significant performance boost. You can increase the fps up to 50% by overclocking in some cases. In General, It depends on the system specification. Overclocking your CPU will provide a considerable performance gain if you have a PC with a faster GPU than the CPU’s base speed and a lot of RAM.
For instance, overclocking will increase FPS in games, and you’ll be able to render videos much faster.
Having a quad q6600 with GTX 970card and 8 Gb of ram, You can overclock your CPU up to 3GHz, without raising the system’s temperature or increasing the voltage.
You can see on the company’s website to know whether your CPU is overclockable. And if yes, how much you will get from that?
What is a SIlicon Lottery?
When people get different performances in the same chip model, that is called silicon lottery. Basically, you have the same chip as someone but won’t run the same turbo or overclocking speed.
Every single chip is different. Some of them overclock better than the other chip in the same model. You and your neighbor can buy the same chip together on the same day, though you may get a different overclock than what he gained by a considerable amount.
Another thing to take into account is that one of you has to put more voltage to stable your CPU after overclocking.
This is Silicon Lottery.
You don’t know what you will get in your processor and how the lifespan will matter because it may take a different voltage to get the same boost in the same CPU model.
What are the Factors that Affect CPU Lifespan?
Heat is the leading cause of reducing CPU lifespan. So as long as the temperature remains the same, there will be no effect on the life span.
Here are the factors that cause heat and affect CPU lifespan:
- The type of workload that is given to the CPU
- The number of Cores that are currently active
- The Voltage consumption of the system
- The Capacity of the Cooler installed in the System.
- How much the CPU is overclocked
And also, some non-technical factors affect the CPU lifespan.
- Where are you living?
- What is the room temperature?
- How long has your pc been running?
- When Did you last clean the dust on your PC?
Is it Risky to Overclock the Processors?
Yes, It involves some risks. These risks can affect not only the processor but also the whole system. In severe cases, Overclocking can cause an explosion where the entire system boom like fireworks.
Here are the risks regarding overclocking the processor :
- It may terminate your factory warranty.
- It can permanently damage the motherboard socket where the CPU is loaded. Because
- it increases the heat of the processor
- Overclocking increases the voltage of the CPU, and in some cases, it can create an electrical short-circuit.
- If You don’t use an excellent cooling system, overclocking may fry the whole system.
After considering all these, if you are still interested to use your processor to its peak performance, check out the complete CPU overclocking process without BIOS. It’ll guide you through each and every step safely.
Should you Overclock the CPU?
There is no definite answer to this. The decision depends on several factors. If you don’t need more FPS or your system is running pretty smooth, then don’t overclock the system.
Overclocking is a much cheaper choice than upgrading to a new machine. So if you are low on budget and the CPU is your main thing, then overclocking would be a good choice. But I would recommend you first try increasing the RAM of your computer.
And when overclocking, I will recommend you increase the clock speed by a small amount and then see the impact on your Fps, then re-do the process again.
FAQ
How Long Will An Overclocked CPU Last?
If you do it correctly, the Overclocked CPU can last around 3-5 years using a high-quality cooler.
Does Overclocking Increase CPU Temperature?
Yes, It increases. The temperature will depend on the cooler you use and how much voltage you are pouring.
Can you Overclock Your RAM and your GPU?
Yes. As a CPU or processor, you can overclock your ram and your GPU.
How much does Overclocking shorten the lifespan of your device?
We cant determine The Exact number because it depends on the SIlicon Lottery and the colling system you are using.
Conclusion
Long story short, overclocking does reduce the lifespan of Cpu. However, an overclocked CPU can lasts for 3-5 years easily. So the pros&corns ratio solely depends on the user choice.
So after reading this article, I’m sure you now have the expertise and knowledge regarding your question, “Does Overclocking Reduce CPU Lifespan?” and you can determine the answer yourself.
And If you want to try overclocking your CPU, then May Silicon Lottery favors you!
