How much longer will this cpu last?

[JIM2003]

I built my current computer back in 2009, and have been happy with the performance since, but im not sure how long my cpu will last me. What do you guys think? I play most current games.

System:
Intel Core i7 980 6 Core @ 4ghz 1.275v
12gb Corsair DDR3 1600 RAM
Asus P6T Mobo
BFG 1000W PSU (Too bad they went out of business 3 years ago )
Just got a AMD R9 290 Vid card.

 

[Brekyrself]

Similar system and have yet to find a reason to upgrade... Everything I do daily is simply fast enough. I will eventually add an SSD when I go to win 8.1.

 

[JIM2003]

Yea, I got an SSD a little over a year ago. It was probably the best upgrade I ever made.

 

[Centauri]

You've been using your system for 4 years. You, more than anybody else on the planet, should have a feel for how much longer it will work as your main rig.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

What do you mean by "last"? Are you asking about actual product failure, or obsoleteness? I have a Quad core i7 920 (not even as awesome as the 980 6 core) and I don't have any reason to upgrade my core system. I just keep dropping in new vid cards.

 

[JohnDC]

WOW,That is a really nice system.The only things newer hardware offers right now is a few more instructions on the CPU ,maybe 15 percent or so increase in single thread performance at the same clock speed,and Some newer bus interfaces.

That is still a very powerful system .I would hang on until the DDR4 systems start to roll out next year or in 2015 and then check to see how much better they perform.That system will probably be very usable until software starts taking advantage of newer instructions or starts requiring them.You should get at least another year or more out of it.

If you don't have an ssd yet,I would put one in.It will give a nice boost to the performance.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Before it dies, or how long it will last giving your happiness at your use with it?

 

[JIM2003]

I have been real happy with my computer, I just dont know how much longer I can go before my CPU starts bottlenecking the new GPU's I put in year after year.

 

[NTMBK]

Wait and see. The new consoles have lots of weak CPU cores, with powerful GPUs (which are good at GPGPU)... so I suspect that your CPU will be fine for gaming for a long time to come.

 

[Ajay]

I have been real happy with my computer, I just dont know how much longer I can go before my CPU starts bottlenecking the new GPU's I put in year after year.

Since you have a i7 980, you should be able to go with a closed loop H2O cooler and bump the clock up another 10% which will help. The limitation here for overclocking is probably the motherboard - my IOH gets too hot. (oh wait, it that a 980 or 980X? Seems the the 980Xs were binned better, IIRC).

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I have been real happy with my computer, I just dont know how much longer I can go before my CPU starts bottlenecking the new GPU's I put in year after year.

I just bought an i7 970, I feel pretty content with it just at stock speeds. It replaced a 4Ghz i7 920...

I'm going to keep this chip until something worth while comes out and affordable that is 6 or more cores. I'm hoping near the end of 2016

even love my little Xeon L5639 :wub:

 

[JIM2003]

I am using the Corsair H100 cooler, and was able to get it to 4.25ghz benchmark stable, but not 24/7, it would bsod infrequently.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Yeah, gaming wise, even as a heavy work-load chip, you (we) are set for a while until another nostalgic chip comes along.

 

[jhu]

It should last a long time. My 30+ year old 8088 machine still works.

 

[cytg111]

Intel Core i7 980 6 Core @ 4ghz 1.275v
- Plenty of juice left in that baby, should handle the next gen console ports (10 years?) just fine.. You dont have top notch single threaded performance, but have the cores.. much like the consoles. I'd say you're good. You could consider an 8-core haswell-e in a years time if you get the itch .. that rig could last a decade.

It should last a long time. My 30+ year old 8088 machine still works.

Does it? The 8088, still work? When is the last time you booted it? I still carry mine around when moving, but havent booted it in 25 years .. and really not expecting it to either.

 

[Berliner]

The system looks great and I would give it at least four more years, unless you will want to play the newest of the new in 4K resolution.

 

[tweakboy]

That is a great CPU. Wait til things settle down and holiday prices come to bay.

 

[JIM2003]

Well, I just followed a better overclocking guide (never botherd much with the QPI voltage, what a mistake) not I got it at 4.5ghz stable. I had to push the vcore to 1.4v, but it never goes above 65C under prime95 after 2 hours. Looks like ill get at least another 4 years out of it lol. This chip was totally worth the investment.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Mine will be 6 years old by the time I upgrade to Haswell-E.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Well, I just followed a better overclocking guide (never bothered much with the QPI voltage, what a mistake) not I got it at 4.5ghz stable. I had to push the vcore to 1.4v, but it never goes above 65C under prime95 after 2 hours. Looks like ill get at least another 4 years out of it lol. This chip was totally worth the investment.

Awesome, dude!!!

I'm waiting till I have another upgrade itch before I overclock this baby. It will scratch that itch and keep my wallet safe, hah! This 970 was used in a 3D modeling machine, and has never been abused.. I just hope this translate to a 4.5Ghz machine also.

Did you up the QPI PLL voltage??? Also which guide did you follow?

 

[RaistlinZ]

Mine will be 6 years old by the time I upgrade to Haswell-E.

Ditto.

 

[jhu]

Does it? The 8088, still work? When is the last time you booted it? I still carry mine around when moving, but havent booted it in 25 years .. and really not expecting it to either.

Every year. Still works.

 

[Ieat]

Well, I just followed a better overclocking guide (never botherd much with the QPI voltage, what a mistake) not I got it at 4.5ghz stable. I had to push the vcore to 1.4v, but it never goes above 65C under prime95 after 2 hours. Looks like ill get at least another 4 years out of it lol. This chip was totally worth the investment.

Bench some games. Let us know if there's any difference between 4 and 4.5ghz.

 

[cytg111]

Bench some games. Let us know if there's any difference between 4 and 4.5ghz.

- party pooper

 

[JIM2003]

Awesome, dude!!!

I'm waiting till I have another upgrade itch before I overclock this baby. It will scratch that itch and keep my wallet safe, hah! This 970 was used in a 3D modeling machine, and has never been abused.. I just hope this translate to a 4.5Ghz machine also.

Did you up the QPI PLL voltage??? Also which guide did you follow?

This is the Guide I used:
http://www.techreaction.net/2010/09/07/3-step-overclocking-guide-bloomfield-and-gulftown/
I did have to up my QPI voltage to 1.25v.
I'll test a few games and see if there is a big difference.