Life-span of a CPU cooler?

[liquidsnake718]

I dont overclock my CPU, but I do change the fan speed and settings at times. I oc my GPU though. So if I am to use the same cooler for my next build, would that be wise or would it be easier and more efficient if I buy a new one?

I am currently using a Gigabyte G-PowerLite cooler. How many years does this typically last?

 

[gracefully]

The cooler, technically, can last for a very long time. It's the fan which is more likely to fail.

 

[rsmith13]

You can replace fans on a cpu cooler. I've done it more than once.

 

[AMW1011]

A good fan should last 5-6 years without incident, the cooler should last hundreds.

 

[snurp85]

Heatsinks will last forever, however... it needs to be compatible with your new build. Also need to make sure that it can dissipate enough heat. Tower heatsinks tend to be better than ones that push the hot air towards the processor like yours does.

 

[shubham1401]

My intel stock fan(Pentium 4 1.7Ghz) is still strong...even after 7-8 years of use...
Doesn't even makes noise

 

[gracefully]

My intel stock fan(Pentium 4 1.7Ghz) is still strong...even after 7-8 years of use...
Doesn't even makes noise

No noise? Maybe your fan is broken. 😛

 

[shubham1401]

No noise? Maybe your fan is broken. 😛

You wanna test whether its running or not by putting your finger?

 

[blackhawk1928]

A CPU cooler is a bunch of metal assembled in a certain way for efficient heat dissipation.....if you dont spill water into your computer or play baseball with it, your actual cooler itself i'd say has a longer lifespan than you, but its the fan that can fail after some years, but most coolers allow for easy replacement of fans

 

[TheDuke]

has anyone ever actually had the heatsink actually break?

 

[megamanx00]

^ I've seen the retention clips on older socket A and socket 7 boards break after alot of use on different systems. Of course, it's much more likely for those darn little plastic notches on the sides of the socket to break 😀.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The biggest question is whether your old cooler will mount correctly on your new socket / CPU.

HS's used to be just a hunk of metal but nowadays with Pelletier cooling and phase exchange you do run the risk of a system failure.

Of course dust is any "heat radiator's" enemy.

 

[JDFan]

Cooler master says their fans have a life expectancy of 40,000 hours which would be 4.5 years of 24\7 use !

 

[liquidsnake718]

No noise? Maybe your fan is broken. 😛

lol, in terms of decibel it is probably minimal,if not the cpu fan perhaps your CPU or HDD or GPU makes a louder noise?

 

[liquidsnake718]

Can it rust? If you live right near a beach or on a beach, would the saltwater affect the aluminium? I know the copper would not..... but in time perhaps someone should test this, lol.

 

[gracefully]

Good CPU coolers are engineered to prevent rust corrosion. Even in "normal" (ie. city) conditions, the air still has enough water content to initiate rusting in unprotected surfaces, like aluminum and even copper.

 

[liquidsnake718]

Best answer selected by liquidsnake718.