This is also true when it comes to graphics cards. They can fail at any time, whether it's 1 year or 10 years, without notice, just like any other electrical component.
They are designed to endure a long time; they are engineered to provide the highest possible performance with the least amount of power usage, to run as cool as possible, and to last for years without breaking or falling apart. If properly maintained, a GPU can endure up to ten years and continue to function if it so desires.
There are a few reasons why they can die sooner than planned, and the majority of them have to do with pushing it to its limits. It can get so bad that a unit can die even before its warranty expires (which is probably a good thing because you can just RMA it?).
A graphics processor can last for at least 5 years if used properly, and there's a good possibility it'll become antiquated and outdated before it dies. So, let's have a look at how long graphics cards last in real life.
What Causes Graphics Cards To Fail?
Apart from failing for no apparent cause, heat appears to be the kryptonite of graphics cards, as it severely deteriorates their lives and drastically diminishes their lifespans. Bad thermals are bad enough, but there are a few more factors that might lead to premature failure.
Overclocking The Card Too Much.
You may overclock your PC to get even more performance out of it. When it comes to overclocking, we usually think of the CPU, but in this case, it's the GPU. You can overclock it to boost its frequency and speed, which will result in improved overall performance, such as faster FPS in games and better benchmark results.
But, like with anything else, too much of a good thing may be harmful. Manufacturers give you the option of OCing or not OCing for a reason. When it's done in a factory, it's a very gradual escalation because they don't want to be responsible for your card suddenly frying.Everything has a limit, so make sure you stay inside it.
Because you're putting more strain on the card by overclocking it, it produces more heat. It's pushing more performance than its manufacturer intended for it, so it produces more heat.
Heat may harm your GPU in so many ways that it's frightening; your fans could practically melt if temperatures rise too high, solder points can melt, and VRAM chips on your PCB can fry.
Every GPU has fans put on top of it to offer constant cooling, and when that cooling, or the overall cooling of your case, falls short, your graphics card begins to suffer.
So, if you see any thermal throttling in your system, know that your PC has had enough, and that pushing it further beyond its limitations is not a smart idea.
Poor Airflow.
To sustain positive airflow, it's best to have an intake and an exhaust, with the intake pressure being higher than the exhaust pressure.
Similarly, it's preferable to have positive airflow rather than negative airflow, although it all depends on the situation and system.
Poor ventilation can cause the fans to spin at full RPM yet still be ineffective, and more dust can accumulate within the system, surrounding the GPU, clogging the fans and causing the GPU to fail.
If you don't want your PC to go through hell, make sure it has enough airflow to keep the temperature within the case as low as feasible. If your PC doesn't have enough airflow or has bad airflow where the air doesn't get where it needs to go, it won't be able to offer effective natural and artificial cooling to the components within, such as the GPU.
Used Too Much In Cryptocurrency Mining.
There was a period not long ago when Bitcoin (cryptocurrency) became quite popular, resulting in a sudden rush, however the downside to this craze was that mining Bitcoins required a significant amount of graphical processing power.
As a result of mining, GPU prices skyrocketed, with some selling for more than twice the MSRP and supply becoming extremely limited.
So, if you're one of the people that utilised their GPU to mine cryptocurrency, you've already screwed things up.
Many individuals, however, are sporting used graphic units, and the used market is full of mined units that people want to sell for cheap, so keep an eye out for those and avoid buying a mined card at all costs.
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This is because graphic chips are severely abused in mining, to the point where you may have seen mining rigs that are virtually half-melted due to the incredible amount of heat they emit.
You don't need me to tell you how bad this is for the card's longevity, so be aware that a mined GPU is much more likely to fail than one that hasn't been mined.
Fans Not Spinning Up.
The fans on your video card would perish in around two years if you ran it at full 100 percent load 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without stopping. Unless you're a mining rig, you'll never be able to run at maximum capacity for 730 days in a row. However, keep in mind that regular gaming sessions of 8+ hours might be highly taxing on your graphics card.
Under typical settings, fans can live up to 5 years, but they can perish in as little as 2 years. As you can see, fans are in charge of cooling your card, and if they fail, temperatures may rise to dangerously high levels, potentially causing damage to the unit.
Some GPU fans don't turn on until they reach a specified temperature (for example, 60 degrees), both to reduce noise and because extra cooling isn't required when the GPU is idle or under extremely light loads. So don't be alarmed if they aren't whirling when you're merely watching YouTube videos.
However, your fans might fail for a variety of reasons, including clogging from dirt or simply shorting out due to their electrical nature. Fortunately, they're rather simple to replace, and replacement fans are commonly available at a reasonable price.
Furthermore, it's possible that the fans aren't spinning up because there isn't enough power in the mix, indicating that your power source is malfunctioning. If you have another PSU on hand, you can use it to power your system and see if the GPU fans spin or not.
Furthermore, there's a potential that your power supply is perfectly OK and has simply depreciated with time. As a general rule, a 500W unit will lose roughly 5% of its wattage per year due to use, so a 500W unit purchased 5 years ago may only be outputting 375W now, which isn't enough to power all that electronics you're packed within (thus the idle fans).
Heating
This is a rather simple task. Processing generates heat, and your card does a lot of processing, which is why it's referred to as a graphics "processing unit."
The more intensive workloads you put it through, the more heat it will produce, and the higher the heat, the more the fans will ramp up to compensate, until the fans can no longer keep up, and your system will begin to thermal throttle.
All of this supposition is predicated on the assumption that you will push your PC to its extreme limitations and continue to do so; if you do not do so and utilise it properly, you will not encounter any of these issues.
Almost all of the other components in your computer emit heat as well. If you don't stop and give better cooling, your temperatures will rise to dangerous levels, your system will start to thermal throttle, and awful, bad things will happen until you stop and provide better cooling.
Overclocking generates a lot of heat, so be aware that you'll need additional cooling to compensate; else, you'll wind up with a fried chip.
Most GPUs these days have great hefty heatsinks and cooling mechanisms built into them that can take care of its own temperatures, so this shouldn't be a problem provided your system already had excellent enough cooling and positive airflow with many fans, assuming the situation isn't a complete claustrophobic, suffocating nightmare.
Thermal Paste Issues.
All GPUs come with thermal paste pre-applied from the factory, but the thermal paste can dry out after continuous use over lengthy periods of time and heat production, or simply due to the environmental conditions around it. Because the heat created by your card is not adequately drained, this can result in excessive temperatures.
So, if you see astronomically high temps or if you removed the cooler from your GPU for whatever reason, you'll need to re-apply the thermal paste. There are a plethora of excellent and economical alternatives available, like as the Arctic MX-4, and applying thermal paste is a simple procedure.
How Long Do Graphic Cards Last?
Typically, a graphics processing unit is built to survive a long time. It can last for more than a decade if properly stored, with little to no difficulties along the way. If nothing else, you can count on a card to work as intended within its warranty period.
Because it is an electrical product, there is always the possibility that it will die on you for no apparent reason. However, quality control has improved significantly in recent years, and spontaneous failures are now extremely rare.
If your GPU is continuously under full load for lengthy periods of time, the capacitors may go faulty and pop; the solders on the circuit board/PCB may erode or melt out of position during a high-temperature operation.
Other ICs that can fail include voltage regulators and VRAM chips. The GPU's gold contacts or semiconductors will diffuse if nothing else happens, leaving it worthless.
Don't worry; none of this will occur during the first few years of your purchase; these issues will only arise after years of intensive use, roughly 7 years; if you don't use it like a lunatic and store it properly, it can survive much longer. But that's not the only thing that can kill your card; there's also "obsolescence," which is a bigger threat.
The desire to innovate and create the next best thing is ever-growing since we are effectively in a new golden age of technology in which we are attempting to move past our oil-intensive and fossil fuel-dependent wasteful era.
This trend toward developing better, more useful technology is clearly visible in the world of computing, where major companies such as Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Samsung, and others are working on next-generation hardware and software that outperforms older technology and makes older chips look like a bunch of toys.
This quick adoption of newer technology, on the other hand, can easily lead to technological obsolescence, where a device, for example, a GPU that cost $1000 and was a top-of-the-line model just a few years ago will no longer be able to run modern games at acceptable settings today.
Every year, developers strive to create the best-looking game imaginable, complete with ultra-high-resolution textures, shadows, and photorealistic effects.
Every year, new graphics cards join the market to accommodate this rise in game visual fidelity, giving more performance and efficiency at a lower cost.
They provide higher FPS, run cooler, generate less noise, and are overall superior products.
Game developers can now produce even more graphically demanding games that weren't possible before, such as games with improved detail, higher resolutions, better lighting, higher polygon count, and so on, thanks to these improved units.
And this cycle continues with each new game release, as the games become more complicated and the GPUs used to execute them become more advanced. The amount of power required to run a game at its highest settings grows in lockstep with the amount of power a new GPU can produce, but older hardware is left in the dust.
This is bad news for older hardware, because it depreciates rapidly in terms of its own capabilities. These older machines, which were formerly capable of running the latest games at maximum settings, are now unable to run newer titles at a playable resolution and FPS.
This deterioration will continue until the card is rendered obsolete because it will no longer be able to keep up with newer games and play them at even 720p at 30FPS. Frequently, driver support ceases as well, forcing these goods to run on legacy drivers that are incompatible with most recent games.
The "obsolescence lifetime" is the period of time between when a new graphics unit is released and when it becomes obsolete. This is why, as I stated at the outset of this essay, GPUs have a larger probability of becoming obsolete before they fail and die on you.
Furthermore, the obsolescence lifespan of these items are gradually shortening as a result of the manufacturer's objective to maximise profits, which it can only accomplish by making better cards, which we then have to upgrade to more frequently than before.
How To Increase Your Graphic Card’s Lifespan.
Fortunately, the obsolescence time we just discussed can be lengthened, allowing you to get longer use out of your card. You may significantly extend its length and lifespan by following a few easy instructions.
#1- Run At A Lower Frame Rate.
Many people don't even have a compatible monitor that can display high frame counts because their display panel is only 60Hz; in reality, many people don't even have a compatible monitor that can display high frame counts since their display panel is only 60Hz.
Simulation and strategy games, for example, do not require a high frame rate to be enjoyable, and you can get by with as little as 30FPS.
Learn to enjoy the beauty of a reduced frame rate by finding your personal sweet spot of graphical detail and frame rate.
Playing at a lower frame rate puts less load on the GPU and causes it to produce less heat, which can extend its life and prevent it from overheating. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 are already taxing, thus lowering the FPS cap may benefit you not only in terms of thermals and card longevity, but also in terms of a more stable gameplay experience.
#2- Don’t Use It In Cryptocurrency Mining The wrong way.
Cryptocurrency mining effectively may negatively damage or harm it if you keep your card running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What counts is not how mining utilises it, but how long it uses it, because the longer you leave it running and mining, the more heat it produces, and it may start to thermal throttle.
Mining does not always destroy it, but the risk of buying or utilising a mined graphics unit in your regular setup is too great to take because you never know how it was treated.
Here's a full article answering " does mining hurry my GPU?"
#3- Do Not Overclock The Graphics Card.
Overclocking it can increase its performance, but it will also generate more heat, which might potentially harm it. But even before that, overclocking places a greater strain on the machine because it is working harder than the manufacturer anticipated.
Overclocking isn't necessarily a bad thing; in fact, all manufacturers support it. It's just that doing so pushes it beyond its safe operating range, which can cause wear and tear to solidify sooner than you might expect.
If you want to extend the life of your computer, don't overclock it or experiment with sophisticated settings like overvolting or undervolting.
#4- By Giving Proper Air Cooling.
Yes, heat, we've met before. You've probably figured out that graphics units generate heat when they're under load, and that heat must be dissipated or your PC will start to thermal throttle, and if you don't cool it down, it will be able to do major damage or harm to your system.
Your graphics unit also need proper cooling, which is occasionally insufficient due to natural airflow. Adding more fans that exhaust hot air in front of the card or deliver fresh air can significantly improve temperatures and, as a result, card longevity.
#5- PSU Is Good Enough.
Power supplies are undoubtedly the PC's breadwinner, as they literally run the computer and provide sufficient power to all of its components. You don't have a nice build in your room if you have a crappy Chinese PSU that you got off AliExpress for $20. Instead, you have a nice-looking bomb.
Furthermore, there's a potential that your power supply is perfectly OK and has simply depreciated with time.
As a general rule, a 500W unit will lose roughly 5% of its wattage per year due to use, so a 500W unit purchased 5 years ago may only be outputting 375W now, which isn't enough to power all that electronics you're packed within (thus the idle fans).
If your power supply fails, it might cause other components (such as your GPU) or possibly your entire system to fail. Bad power supplies do not regulate or control the current and voltage that they deliver to the system appropriately, which can cause the unit to overheat or provide insufficient power. To avoid these problems, choose a high-quality (at least) 80+ rated power supply.
#6- Reduce Graphics Features And Settings.
Your video card will have to work harder to generate all those frames if your graphics settings are higher. This also puts a lot of strain on your GPU, which can quickly wear it down. To have a decent entertaining experience, you don't need to play at the highest resolution with maxed-out shadow reflections.
Find a happy medium and strive to reduce the visual fidelity as much as possible. If you lower some of the settings, I'm sure you won't notice much of a difference, and even if you do, it'll be so minor that it won't interfere with your immersion or gameplay.
Playing at lower resolutions and presets can help your video card run more smoothly, extending its life.
#7- By Using An SSD.
Hard drives were never prepared for what was about to happen to them. Physical mechanical drives with spinning discs are far slower than flash storage. This aids with the processing of large volumes of data quickly in games, reducing loading times.
There are several types of SSDs, including SATA, M.2 NvME, and PCIe, all of which have various speeds and prices, as well as compatibility with motherboard hardware, so do your homework before purchasing one.
Because the SSD allows the game files and assets to be transferred around so quickly, the graphics unit is instantly put under less pressure and may breathe more easily if the game takes less time to load. And the less stress placed on the GPU, the higher its prospects of a longer lifespan.
FAQ
Can GPU last 20 years?
Can a dead GPU be fixed?
Can a PC run without a graphics card?
Is it easy to install a graphics card?
How long do graphic cards last before dying?
They live for a long time before dying, often up to 7-10 years or even more than a decade. However, due to their electrical nature, they can die on you at any time for no apparent reason within weeks. If not overused, a good new graphics unit may play games for about 5 years before becoming obsolete.
How often should you replace your graphics card?
Not very often! If you have a top-of-the-line model, it should last you for years. Even if you have a midrange or budget card, you should only upgrade it if you require a more powerful GPU or if it dies or becomes obsolete.
What is the average lifespan of a graphics card?
Approximately 7-10 years. They will become obsolete before they expire, which could happen in as little as 3-5 years. A decent quality video unit, regardless of the model or manufacturer, should last at least 5 years if used properly.
How long will a GTX 1080Ti last?
Because it's a flagship model built to industry-leading standards, it can survive up to ten years if you don't operate it under full load 24 hours a day, seven days a week (of its time). But, as I previously stated, because it is an electrical component, it can fail in a matter of weeks or years.
Here's a full article about GTX 1080.
Final Thoughts On It!
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Obsolescence can kill a card before it genuinely dies (if it's planned). Banksy has a popular quote that goes, "You die twice. One time when you stop breathing, and another time when someone shouts your name for the last time."
This philosophy can also be applied to GPUs. They will first die when they become outmoded, and then they will die a second time when they cease to function.
Aside from existential musings, a video card is designed with great care and accuracy, and it will last you years and years if you take care of it and don't use it 24/7 under full load.
Even after that, some cards continue to function normally, while others perish due to a short circuit; it's the price of being an electrical component.
You can enhance its longevity and squeeze more life out of it by following a few broad guidelines, and you can also avoid things that can injure the card and lessen its life expectancy by avoiding them.
Whatever you do, remember that it, like everything else in the universe, will die one day, whether due to obsolescence or a short circuit.
Further reading:
Does GPU mining shorten lifespan?
The Truth Is You Are Not The Only Person Concerned About SSD Mining? And If It Does Help?3