How does GPU overclocking affect its lifespan

[Hans Power]

Hello,

I just overclocked my MSI GTX 960 4G and it does give me a really nice performance boost (it boosts to 1468Mhz GPU and 1951Mhz memory clock - although there is still some headroom for the latter).

The card is still nice and chilli with these settings - I get 64°C in the Witcher 3 and 67°C in MSI Kombustor

 

Nevertheless I wonder how this'll affect the lifespan of the card. I know that if you overclock a CPU to its absolute limit, you'll run into CPU degredation unless you leave some headroom for the overclocks. I heard that this is different with GPUs - Linus and other techtubers mentioned that a few times - but I never heard any reasoning why it's different to CPUs.

 

So some input on the topic would be nice.

 

 

[Kyuubixchidori]

Hello,

I just overclocked my MSI GTX 960 4G and it does give me a really nice performance boost (it boosts to 1468Mhz GPU and 1951Mhz memory clock - although there is still some headroom for the latter).

The card is still nice and chilli with these settings - I get 64°C in the Witcher 3 and 67°C in MSI Kombustor

 

Nevertheless I wonder how this'll affect the lifespan of the card. I know that if you overclock a CPU to its absolute limit, you'll run into CPU degredation unless you leave some headroom for the overclocks. I heard that this is different with GPUs - Linus and other techtubers mentioned that a few times - but I never heard any reasoning why it's different to CPUs.

 

So some input on the topic would be nice.

for almost any processing chip of any kind, as long as temps and voltages are within tolerance your okay. 

 

basically as long as your not running a stupid amount of voltage though your card, your more then fine and the lifespan should be in theory exactly the same

[hiyayhi]

It won't have a significant affect on the card. Realistically you will upgrade the card before it will die. Or it will die from another cause before it dies from being overclocked. (e.g dust build up or old thermal paste)

[hiyayhi]

for almost any processing chip of any kind, as long as temps and voltages are within tolerance your okay. 

 

basically as long as your not running a stupid amount of voltage though your card, your more then fine and the lifespan should be in theory exactly the same

It's not actually possible to run today's cards at stupid voltages because they have restrictions on them.

[arronleeds]

agree with these guys, if your oc is running without voltage tweaks, you will never see a lifespan decrease or it will be that minimal you will never get to the stage of it dying.

[Kyuubixchidori]

It's not actually possible to run today's cards at stupid voltages because they have restrictions on them.

my 7970 I could throw 1.5 volts at it

 

depends on the card. im mad i cant throw anything at my 750ti, it's so power efficient it has a stupid amount of cooling headroom, I can't overclock it much because it wont let me change hte voltage.

 

but most high end cards have a second bios, which is for extreme overclocking LN2, and those, if you crank it may kill your card prematurely. 

[brokencross]

It's not actually possible to run today's cards at stupid voltages because they have restrictions on them.

Unless you flash a custom bios, that is.

[hiyayhi]

my 7970 I could throw 1.5 volts at it

 

depends on the card. im mad i cant throw anything at my 750ti, it's so power efficient it has a stupid amount of cooling headroom, I can't overclock it much because it wont let me change hte voltage.

 

but most high end cards have a second bios, which is for extreme overclocking LN2, and those, if you crank it may kill your card prematurely. 

That card is not what I consider new. It was released before AMD started to make their cards restrict voltage.

[Kyuubixchidori]

That card is not what I consider new. It was released before AMD started to make their cards restrict voltage.

that was just a personal example, new cards that are high end still have dual bios that let you crank voltage