24/7 Overclocks & Silicon Degradation By Heat

[-Jackson]

Hey guys, just a question I've been pondering for some time; How long would an overclocked card typically last for if in 24/7 use?
To elaborate: GTX 580 running at 1.063V with 850Mhz/2050Mhz core/memory clocks at 78-85C depending on load (F@H to be exact) - Without taking into account the chance of spontaneous failure not caused by said overclocks.
Also, I may or may not have heard around here a year-ish back something along the lines that silicon in ICs degrade at a rate of twofold for every 10C increase in temperature, is this true?

A reply would be much appreciated. Thanks!

-Jackson

 

[-Jackson]

Bump.
Oh come on, there has to be SOMEONE who can help me out with this. 😛

 

[4Ryan6]

Hey guys, just a question I've been pondering for some time; How long would an overclocked card typically last for if in 24/7 use?
To elaborate: GTX 580 running at 1.063V with 850Mhz/2050Mhz core/memory clocks at 78-85C depending on load (F@H to be exact) - Without taking into account the chance of spontaneous failure not caused by said overclocks.
Also, I may or may not have heard around here a year-ish back something along the lines that silicon in ICs degrade at a rate of twofold for every 10C increase in temperature, is this true?

A reply would be much appreciated. Thanks!

-Jackson

Silicon degradation of the electrical pathways depends more on voltage past specs especially regarding GPUs that are designed to run hotter anyway, heat wise it will become a faster killer with a CPU than a GPU.

Giving you an exact time to failure at certain voltage levels or a safe 24/7 time line, is just an assumption because some silicon batches are just better quality and can take more than others, no two are the same!

If you want to extend overclocked hardware time get a better cooling solution than the stock cooling provides I am water cooling my 2 580GTX and their combined load temperature is 40c, that's 35c below your worst.

So which cards will last longer yours or mine?

The answer is there is no way to know, all hardware is different!

Logically it would seem mine would last longer running at cooler temperatures, but you may have better batched quality silicon and yours out last mine at the higher temperatures.

Even though there are no set rules only assumptions, the cooler you keep it, the longer it will last!

And that is definitely holding true over time!

There are no guarantees! Ryan

 

[-Jackson]

Yeah, I was aware of the fact that cooler = longer probable lifetime.
Just wanted to know how long my card would actually survive running 78-85C 24/7 - Well rather, get a good idea on how long it would theoretically last.
Since I kind of want to have my cards in working condition before and after I have my upcoming loop up and running, not to mention I have a feeling if I RMA'd these I'd get a 660 back or something - so no thanks! Would kill my planned build. 😛