new overclocker, 2 easy questions (i think)

[irsei]

hi,

i have 2 really basic questions that i am not sure about. please help if you can.

1. i want to know how long my cpu may last if i overclock.
i have a i7 920, and i overclocked it to about 3.3 GHz after turbo.
is this enough to have a meaningful impact on the life of the cpu?
how long would you say i would probably have before i am going to have to replace it?

2. i have my cpu vcore set to 1.05, which seems to be stable after prime95 pounding, and if i go higher (1.2v and up), i start getting unacceptable heat.
if 1.05v seems stable, is there any harm in leaving that voltage fixed in the bios? can undervolting my cpu be bad for it? (like how an underpowered psu can damage your stuff)

thanks for checking this out... ;/

 

[jtisgeek]

I say that since that a pretty low overclock compared to most so your be fine.

Cooling is the number one thing that is going to keep your cpu in good shape before you want to mess with to much voltage make sure you got your cooling locked down.

 

[betasub]

1. i want to know how long my cpu may last if i overclock.
i have a i7 920, and i overclocked it to about 3.3 GHz after turbo.
is this enough to have a meaningful impact on the life of the cpu?
how long would you say i would probably have before i am going to have to replace it?

I don't see this as an easy or basic question. What are you trying to ask? How long before the CPU dies (oh noes)? Or how long before my i7 920 will need upgrading (soon if you are an ATer)?

If the former, I don't think your CPU will die on you, short of you deliberately going out of your way to harm it. If the latter, impossible to say without knowing your current and future app usage.

 

[Axon]

1. No one can really say how long a particular OCed chip may last. Most likely that chip will last far beyond the time it becomes obsolete.

2. Under volting will not have much of a negative effect, if any, as long as your system runs stable.

 

[SunnyD]

I'd say that given your settings, you're CPU is going to last until your ready to upgrade again - and likely then a good while after that.

Funny too, because those are just about my exact settings too - 3.33GHz (no Turbo) @ 1.056v.

 

[irsei]

@betasub sorry, not so clear about the question... i use video encoding and audio encoding software for several days straight once a month, but that's the most i ever stress my sytem.

@axon thanks for the info, and your opinion. that was the sort of answer i was looking for.

@everybody else... thanks for your input. i am glad to hear that i will probably not have to replace sooner than i want a new cpu. (just because it's faster)

1 more Q... Is my power consumption unusual?

My cpu is pulling 40 watts at idle,
or at least i think it is. i am using cpuid hw monitor, and looking at the cpu power draw section. it's maxing out at 148 watts, but never drops below 40.
also, there is an onboard current sensor on my asus mobo called a "Analog Device ASP0800" and cpuid gives me that value too, but it's like around 4-10 watts. I can't figure out exactly what that value is. i did a search for it, and i know that it is asus, and exists on the board, but i can't seem to find an exact reference to what power draw it is measuring.
anybody know,　or feel like guessing?