A graphic card is solely responsible for rendering and computing graphical data in a system. Modern games require high graphical processing power, so many people prefer to buy powerful and latest graphic cards for more performance. How long does a graphic card last? Before we proceed any further, we should take several factors in the observation first. Let’s say a Graphic card lasts 4-5 years on average. Now, if you are a heavy user and you squeeze out every ounce of processing power from your Graphics unit, this could wear down the average lifetime of GPU from 4-5 to 3 or fewer years.
Does Overclocking Reduce The Life Of A GPU?
Overclocking is a process that allows you to push your specific component beyond its normal capabilities. Every latest GPU is released with some headroom for overclocking, that is how they are built. If you want more performance, you can manually increase its boost speed. Overclocking can be harmful to your GPU to some extent. You need good airflow to maintain cool temperatures because overclocking your GPU can generate a lot of heat. Like I said above, overheating is lethal to any component. And even if you can manage good airflow to avoid hot temperatures, high voltage intake can ruin your GPU capacitors. Every GPU has a limit of how much voltage it can use. Overclocking needs more power, and more power can lead to a higher intake of voltage. Any sensitive and delicate component inside your GPU can be impervious to damage. You need to own a high-grade PSU before attempting to overclock It’s harmful, but with care and basic knowledge of components, you can overclock your GPU and use it before you move on to a newer gen version without depleting the lifespan significantly. However, it is recommended that you discuss this with a professional before attempting to overclock your graphic card.
Buying A GPU from A Crypto Miner? The Bad
With cryptocurrency in high demand nowadays, most of these graphic cards are extensively used in the mining process. They are installed in mining rigs and operate 24/7 on full load during mining. The most prominent concern when buying a graphic card is whether GPU is mined or not. If the GPU is used in an extensive mining environment with no sufficient airflow, there can be some problems. An inexperienced crypto miner may not take care of the Graphic cards in use. If you are a gamer, you will expect a card to perform well, and in most cases, you will try to overclock your graphic cards. You don’t even know if you are paying for a faulty piece or something that is already on its last legs. The GPU may look nice and pristine from the outside and might even work great for a few weeks before dying. You don’t want to buy something that is not worth every penny. If you are paying for something, you will expect the performance you are paying for.
Is It Okay To Buy A Used Component?
It is not unusual to buy a slightly used graphic card. Many people do consider going for a used card instead of new box-packed units. They can get good deals on the used card with hefty discounts, which are fair, to be honest. You can save a lot of money if you opt for used graphic cards. Buying second-hand graphic cards is not a bad idea, especially if you see the situation of the market right now; many people will opt for used graphic cards. It saves you a lot of money without compromising anything major. It’s very budget-friendly, and with new graphic cards released every year, you can get the previous flagship graphic card at a very low cost which is better than buying a new one. However, you do need to be careful of miners, scammers, and other frauds. Always go for trusted sellers, and in the case of used graphic cards, make sure to get some kind of warranty so you can thoroughly test your GPU before buying.
Is It Possible To Repair A Dead GPU?
Probably the greatest nightmare of any gamer, GPU failure is something that rarely occurs. Many symptoms can show your GPU is about to die, and you will face frequent crashes, black screen, and dead pixels. However, some possible solutions can bring your dead friend back to life. Reinstalling drivers is the first step you should consider. Faulty drivers are the most common cause of crashes and black screen glitching. If you recently updated to a newer version of drivers, you should immediately roll back to the previous version, and if this fixes your issue, contact your manufacturer and report this issue so you can continue enjoying the latest driver updates without facing any inconvenience. One of the most unorthodox and unusual methods used is the baking method, it is as ridiculous as it sounds, but it works. Not all the time but most of the time. You undo all the screws at the back of your GPU and disassemble it. Then you lay down your graphic card on an aluminum sheet in preheated oven and cook it for 10 minutes before taking it down and cooling it down. Reapply the thermal paste and assemble it back. If everything goes the way it should go, you will see your monitor screen coming back to life, and you have your GPU back. And If for some reason, none of these methods worked, then it is time to face reality and accept the fate of your graphic card. Buy a new one.
Can A GPU Last For 10 Years?
Graphic cards have a life expectancy of 3-5 years with proper care and good airflow. If you are a gamer and you play AAA titles regularly, then you will probably replace your GPU before it wears out its lifespan. There is a chance that your GPU can last over 10 years if you don’t overclock or mine, clean out dust regularly and monitor its temperature over the years of usage. However, your card might become obsolete and may not hold its own against the GPUs that are released at that time. An exception could be made about powerful flagship GPUs that are designed to futureproof; for example, the latest RTX 3090 Ti is the most powerful card in the world right now, and it can deliver astonishing FPS at the highest resolution in every AAA title. There is no doubt that this card will be relevant and still kicking after 10 years. But this is not the case for every other GPU; not every GPU is a powerhouse, and not everyone can afford such, so it is advised that you upgrade to the latest GPU components so you can enjoy the latest and trending games at their recommended settings.
What Causes Graphic Cards To Fail?
A Graphics card is a critical and sensitive component of your computer system and is prone to damage if not handled with care. There are a lot of factors that come into play that can provide any harm to graphic cards.
#1- Poor Airflow
Good ventilation is a crucial part of keeping your graphic cards working at low temperatures. Overheating is lethal to these cards as it can potentially damage inner components. With more AAA titles released every year, graphic cards are becoming advanced and more powerful than before. High performance leads to high heat generation, which can be avoided with proper airflow. Your pc case plays an important role in providing clean airflow. You can control your casing fan speed through software like MSI afterburner and SpeedFan. Maintaining positive airflow is the key to reduce to overheating and maintaining the longevity of your graphic card.
#2- Overclocking
Overclocking is a common practice among gamers who want to squeeze out every inch of performance from their GPU. Most cards are underclocked by default from their manufacturers, so they have moderate headroom for overclocking in the future. However, this has its risks, overclocking can push cards beyond their original limit. High intake of voltage can cause damage to sensitive components inside your GPU if your system is working on poor grade PSU. Heat generation will be significantly increased during this process, and your card will work on 100% load. This could potentially wear off the card’s average lifespan, and in some cases, if your card is already old, it could crash and stop working.
#3- Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency mining is at an all-time high nowadays. Miners are using GPUs extensively in their mining rigs. They run GPUs 24/7 at 100% load, squeezing out every performance they can for high possible hash rates. Mining is harmful to your GPU because excessive and continuous usage causes a tremendous amount of heat to produce. Anything above 80C is dangerous for these components. An inexperienced miner may not think of undervolting the GPU or maintaining good air ventilation in the mining rig. Operating GPUs in these conditions tanks overall health and reduces GPU lifespan significantly.
#4- Thermal Paste
Thermal paste is a cooling adhesive that is applied on CPU or GPU heatsinks. Thermal paste works as a bridge between your chipset and heatsink, allowing efficient transfer of heat. Without thermal paste, your GPU will overheat as soon as you boot something graphics-oriented. GPU or CPU both need continuous cooling during heavy workload. If you buy a new GPU, it comes with thermal applied by its manufacturer. The average lifespan of thermal paste is around 3-5 years, depending upon usage. If you are a heavy user, chances are your thermal paste will dry before its expected lifespan. Old or dried thermal paste is dangerous for your components. The dry thermal paste on your chipset can cause air bubbles to develop, and without taking care of this issue, your component may catch fire. Most people replace their GPUs before they even feel the need to reapply thermal paste, but if you are buying a used graphics card, you should consider applying thermal paste before booting up the graphics card on your PC
#5- Malware/Virus
Malware is code that infects your whole system and does exactly what the attacker wants. It can breach your private data, steal files or just corrupt windows. Malware can be entered through various methods, usually unknown to the User. Graphic cards can be affected by malware or any other kind of virus. Your GPU driver will get corrupted and stop giving display. At the advanced level, the virus could rewrite your GPU firmware or flash its bios, making your GPU completely useless as your PC won’t recognize your GPU identity.
#6- GPU Fans Not Spinning Up
GPU lifespan is usually expected at 4-5 years, considering all factors. The rest of the components of GPU can give up working before the GPU itself. Many GPUs are designed to give high performance to the consumer, and for that, they have to implement advanced cooling systems to prevent overheating. They usually come with high-quality cooling fans that are designed to run under heavy load keeping your GPU warm. If you are using a heavy workload most of the time every day, your GPU fan will work constantly, wearing out the bearings. Once it stops working, it is a sign that your GPU is dying, and you will notice frequent crashes, reboots, and glitch screens, leading to your GPU death.
6 Ways To Extend GPU Lifespan
Most people don’t buy GPU every time something new arrives on the market. They are content with what they have, and if we look at the current situation of the GPU market right, you might wanna hold onto your precious graphic card until the storm calms down. You may want to extend your GPU lifespan long enough to survive the GPU market crisis happening right now. There are several methods that you can use safely and keep your GPU in pristine condition so that you can sell it in the future.
#1- Avoid Cryptomining
As I have discussed above, the crypto mining craze is at an all-time high right now, and people are investing in expensive rigs to farm bitcoins. GPU plays a major role in this process as it produces hash rates. These cards are used 24/7 at high loads, which can cause major overheating if proper ventilation is not available. Overheating wears off the lifespan of a GPU, and it could potentially damage sensitive transistors. Cryptocurrency mining should be avoided at all costs if you want to enjoy your GPU for a long time.
#2- Reduce Graphics Features and Settings
With new features introduced in the latest GPUs like raytracing, everyone wants to play games in the highest setting possible as it makes the experience wonderful. RTX 3000 series allows you to play on 4K with all settings cranked up to max. However, higher settings will take a toll on your GPU. your GPU will be forced to run on 100% load at high settings. It can decrease the lifespan of your GPU, not dramatically but gradually. You can lower down some settings that don’t affect the overall experience of your gaming. It will help increase in fps along with cooler temperatures and a more efficient run.
#3- Keep The Inside Of Your Case Cool
Gaming cases usually come with pre-fitted fans inside if you purchase a brand new case. These fans help maintain positive airflow throughout the case so your other components inside run cool and more efficiently. Positive airflow means that you have more intake of air than an outtake. You have more fans that are pulling in the air. This causes air to stay inside your case for longer before blowing out. Positive airflow helps your GPU run around acceptable levels where overheating can be avoided.
#4- Keep Track Of The Temperatures
Temperatures tend to fluctuate up and down when you are using your PC. If you are doing just casual browsing and surfing on social media, your GPU won’t even start spinning its fans. But as soon as you turn to graphical heavy programs like video editing software or games, your graphic card will start operating at its full capacity. It is necessary to take check your temperatures during workload or lengthy gaming sessions. Softwares like MSI afterburner allow you to keep track of your GPU and CPU performance while you are playing the game. You want your GPU to last as long as it can, and for that, you have to make sure that your GPU doesn’t overheat. There are various methods to troubleshoot this problem if it occurs.
#5- Don’t Overclock Your GPU Too Much
Overclocking is a handy feature that can help you in dire situations. Let’s say you want to play a game, but your GPU is not up to the recommended requirements to play that game. You will consider overclocking your GPU to give yourself an fps boost. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but making this practice usual will be harmful to your GPU in the long run. During overclocking sessions, GPU is operating beyond its current limits. You may be enjoying more fps but at the cost of generating more heat which is very harmful to sensitive components inside your GPU. If you have good airflow inside your case, then maybe you can consider overclocking your GPU to some extent but for good measure, avoid going overboard with overclocking.
#6- Run At A Lower Frame Rate
Some games require you to play at high fps to have an advantage over your opponents. Mostly esports titles where high fps can give you low latency, which can increase decrease your input rate and make your actions more responsive. On the other hand, some games are purely made for cinematic value: just story, visuals, immersive world, and beautiful graphics. These games function as a movie, and you don’t need high fps to enjoy them. You can cap your framerate according to your monitor refresh rate by using the in-game feature V-sync and still enjoy the same experience without any huge difference. This also helps your GPU to run much cooler and more efficiently; as the framerates go down, your GPU operating power also decreases. Less stress on your GPU means you can play your game for a long time without worrying about overheating issues. This will help increase your GPU longevity. As I have mentioned above in this article, there are several ways to keep your GPU safe and sound. If you follow these tips you wouldn’t be needing a new GPU anytime soon. Unless you want to try out new AAA titles then I suggest you go for a new GPU instead of trying it on your old GPU so you can enjoy those games at higher graphical settings. Running a modern title on your old GPU will produce extensive load on your GPU and as a result, the card may overheat and soon die. Make sure to have proper airflow inside your case so you can enjoy your GPU for longer sessions without any worries of overheating. Follow these cautious measures and you will not feel the need to replace GPU anytime soon. At least, before its lifespan runs out.
#1 – Do graphic cards go bad?
Graphic cards, just like other components, have a limited lifespan. They usually work around 3-5 years before going outdated. If your graphic card is overheating, then there is a chance that your GPU will wear off soon than expected. With care, you can prevent any harm to your GPU, ensuring longevity and a smoother gaming experience.
#2 – How often do graphic cards need to be replaced?
It all depends on your usage and preference. Most people tend to keep on track with advanced technology and update their PC systems every year. A good graphic card can last 3-4 years on daily use. If you have a top-of-the-line card, then you don’t need to worry. Only replace your GPU whenever you feel like your GPU is going obsolete and not showing enough performance
#3 – How long do graphic cards last before dying?
Graphic cards last a long time before giving up. If used appropriately, a graphic card can last 6-7 years. The most common cause of GPU dying is overheating and dust. Doing proper maintenance, monitoring the temperatures, and cleaning it regularly will greatly enhance a GPU lifespan.
#4 – How long can a GPU run at 100?
Your GPU should have no problem running at max load as long as you are providing proper ventilation for your system and avoiding overclocking. That’s exactly what GPU is for, providing full utilization. It might wear off a little early, the GPU fans might need replacing, but in the long term, the GPU will have no problem giving you 100% as long as you avoid common issues.
#5 – Does bitcoin mining reduce GPU life?
Crypto mining doesn’t necessarily affect GPU lifespan; it’s the constant use that involves your GPU running at 100% load without any proper ventilation that will damage and ruin your card. Miners usually overclock their GPUs for more profitable hash rate farms, which is something that should be avoided if you want to increase your GPU lifespan. Mining is most likely to reduce the overall lifespan of GPU.
