Decades have passed since the release of the first microprocessor and since then thousands of models and hundreds of architectures have appeared. We continually see the continuous renewal of products in the CPU market. But, What is the lifespan of a processor and what factors can shorten or lengthen it? Do the first models that arrived on the market still work?
We are seeing a resurgence of retro lately, with 8-bit and 16-bit microcomputers being completely restored. However, in many cases, replacements have to be found for the various chips, as these have broken over time. They can be found as replicas, FPGAs, and even replacement chips. All this brings us to the next question, can our PC’s processor last forever or does it have a limited lifespan?
How long can my CPU life last?
Well, it depends on how you use it, since there are a series of elements that can shorten its lifespan and make it completely useless. Specifically, those that have to do with the increase in temperature of the processor, due to the fact that when it reaches a certain level of heat, it happens that the internal structures can be physically affected and stop working. That is, as long as certain conditions are maintained, a processor can last a lifetime unless there is an external accident such as a sudden voltage change.
For what if you don’t do any extreme overclocking exercises, your CPU will last you a lifetime, because it will not degrade. The proof is the amount of hardware from 30 years ago that still works after a long time. Also, if something breaks and prevents them from working, it’s because things like a condenser broke and all the acid spilled out or because of poor storage and cleaning conditions.
Too bad many systems, especially newer laptops, have all the components soldered to the board. Therefore, if one of them fails, the other chips cannot be used, even if they work perfectly. So there are a lot of processors that ended up in the trash and are fully functional because of it.
Take care of your computer’s processor
It may sound silly, but it is very important to give it an ideal environment so that the life of your processor is as high as possible. The fact that a computer lasts for years is a way to save money and its main component is the processor. If you pay, for example, 1,000 dollars for a PC and it lasts three years, you will have paid more than if the same PC lasted five years. That is, watch out for weird overclocking experiences if you don’t have the know-how.
By the way, what we say always keep your PC clean, make sure you give it optimal cooling with the right heatsink and occasionally clean the thermal paste and renew it. In the end you will have a computer for life and we already know that the material is upgraded over time. Otherwise, look at how all the retro has resurfaced and the value of a well-maintained computer.
