Does CPU 50% Long Term Usage Matter?

[paramind22]

I know everyone says to keep the CPU processing long term at 100% does damage, but what about 50%?
Anyone have an explanation based on facts about electronics?

[xxcsu]

"Electromigration":
http://www.geek.com/glossary/electromigration/

If you run the CPU within the specifications the lifespan in theory would not be reduced. It is not possible to estimate when a CPU will stop working.

[GenTarkin]

I know everyone says to keep the CPU processing long term at 100% does damage, but what about 50%?
Anyone have an explanation based on facts about electronics?

Im 99% no, based off my experience w/ countless computer systems ... the CPU is often times the longest lasting component in a system.
2 things you can do to make sure it lasts its designed lifetime:
1. Make sure heat is under control(temperatures are within spec).
2. More importantly, make sure the voltages are within spec.

Even overclocking will not diminish a CPU's lifespan if its done properly.
Example would be undervolting & overclocking.

Furthermore, running a CPU @ 100% usage 24/7 ... make sure its temps are definitely within spec during that time ... most CPU's dont run 24/7 so its easy to not pay attention to their 100% usage temperature.

While 100% usage will not wear on a CPU ... the power delivery section on the motherboard will be under substantial stress the entire time and this is what sees the most wear. Proper cooling is usually an afterthought on these areas on many budget/mainstream consumer motherboards.

[Amph]

yeah usually when something is wrong with your system cpu is the last thing you check, first are psu ssd and motherboard

more than the usage is the temp that matter, 100% usage at 50° is more than healthy, vs 50% at 70-80° because of bad cooling

[Gatotare]

yeah usually when something is wrong with your system cpu is the last thing you check, first are psu ssd and motherboard

more than the usage is the temp that matter, 100% usage at 50° is more than healthy, vs 50% at 70-80° because of bad cooling

That is right. The CPU are the most reliable part of the PC is the temperature is less than 70 degree most of the time.

[Goms]

I guess the most important thing about prolonging CPU lifespan is to keep the computer's temperature under control.

[niksdt101]

use the best cooling method and you can run your cpu @100% 24*7*365...

[philipma1957]

Not so true with Intel 14 nm CPUs

I never killed a CPU ever until the 14 nm came out.

  I killed a i7 6700k and I have some damage on a i5 6400t


The theory would be it is smaller and can not carry power loads as well.

The experience I have with Intel CPUs covers hundreds of builds back to 2000.

[bathrobehero]

As long as you don't overvolt it and you cool it properly it should endure 100% usage non-stop.

I don't CPU mine but I always disable every power management feature on all my CPUs so they're at maximum frequency 24/7 without issues and never had a CPU die on me.

[philipma1957]

As long as you don't overvolt it and you cool it properly it should endure 100% usage non-stop.

I don't CPU mine but I always disable every power management feature on all my CPUs so they're at maximum frequency 24/7 without issues and never had a CPU die on me.

I was able to say that for 200 CPUs and about 16 years of builds no longer true for me.

The CPU never was pushed  for any long times. And never exceeded mid 70's.

But since the i7 6700k is smaller in size my guess is the cooling was not consistent and maybe the chip had a hotter spot then the 73 or 74 c it read.

[paramind22]

yeah usually when something is wrong with your system cpu is the last thing you check, first are psu ssd and motherboard

more than the usage is the temp that matter, 100% usage at 50° is more than healthy, vs 50% at 70-80° because of bad cooling

Thanks for all the replies.

My question after reading these posts is that is running it at around 50% for long periods of time with good cooling going to put the psu, ssd
and motherboard at more risk?  It seems that the processing of a computer when not directly being used by most people has maybe
5% CPU usage?

[bathrobehero]

@philipma1957
I have a 6800k and I was surprised how cool this is. Even at 1.3Vcore only one core goes a bit over 75°C during prime95 and the rest are about 62-68°C on air.

yeah usually when something is wrong with your system cpu is the last thing you check, first are psu ssd and motherboard

more than the usage is the temp that matter, 100% usage at 50° is more than healthy, vs 50% at 70-80° because of bad cooling

Thanks for all the replies.

My question after reading these posts is that is running it at around 50% for long periods of time with good cooling going to put the psu, ssd
and motherboard at more risk?  It seems that the processing of a computer when not directly being used by most people has maybe
5% CPU usage?

It won't affect anything other than the speed of other software.

Even the smallest power supplies can easily feed even the biggest 140 watt CPUs - if you're not also uging GPUs to mine.