Is it safe to let my CPU get fairly hot for extended periods of time on a regular basis?

[Akagi]

I have recently started to get a little more involved with folding, and I now leave my main PC (specs in sig) on all night folding on the GPU and CPU, as well as having my second system folding 24/7.

The CPU temperatures peak at about 74°C which I know for my CPU with the OC I have on it is perfectly fine when stress/stability testing, but would you say its OK to let it run at that temperature for 12 to 15 hours a night?

I sometimes have it folding for up to 36 hours because the system is still perfectly usable for tasks like web browsing and light use, so if I don't plan on gaming, I leave it folding while I use it in the day time too.

I may leave it folding on just the GPU at night because I feel a little more comfortable with that as it peaks at 57°C, and leave the CPU idling.

Thanks all

 

[Akagi]

CPUs tend to pound on for years even when abused. 74 is a little high but if the noise isn't going to bother you I doubt it will significantly shorten it's useful life. I'd be more worried (wrong word perhaps) about having a Kuhler running flat out for 12 to 15 hours a day but that's just me

The Kuhler is fine From what I understand it uses the same parts as some Corsair water-cooling kits, and the issues relating to pump's failing or becoming faulty/noisy can be remedied by plugging the fan and pump into separate headers. Which is what I have done.

I believe that I have the Kuhler set-up in the BIOS to run flat out at all times anyway, so the longest stint with it running flat out was probably about 90 - 100 hours. No noises developing, no temperature increases or weird temperature spikes, all seems OK

It will get replaced once I have the funds to make a few adjustments to my PC though. I was thinking maybe an H80i.

But thanks Taken your thoughts on-board. I will wait to see what other people think as well, and maybe leave just the GPU on at night.

 

[Akagi]

No I do not pay my own bills

 

[Akagi]

Perhaps you shoud ask permission of the person who does then before adding £40/month to the cost of their electricity.

Naa, its 'ite.

 

[Akagi]

I ran a lot of PC's 100% 24/7 for years on end.
F@H GIMPS and many Boinc projects.

The CPU's didn't fail, they ran on at elevated temps just fine.

The things that did fail on me the most were Motherboards.
Either the VRM's would blow or the 12v CPU power connectors would burn out.

I found that using the GPU's would cause the most problems.
Even though GPU's have there own power connectors a significant amount of
extra current gets pulled through the CPU 12v connector.
This then burns and the pins turn to ash.
This also burns the PSU connector so you have to repair that as well,

If you are considering getting involved in F@H be warned it gets addictive.
You will buy extra hardware and run every PC you can get your hands on 24/7

This uses a lot of power and ithat has to be paid for.
Your house will constantly be at tropical temps.

I used £15,000 of electricity in a 3 year period, if you are not paying the bill be prepared to get reamed out when who ever is notices.

I have an 8800GTS in the secondary folding machine which I abuse the hell out of with no issues. I bought it for £3.24 completely broken, re-flowed and repaired it, and it has been running at 100% load for 8 months or so at about 80°C.

They probably won't notice too much difference in the bill as before I started I would game on the main PC, with the TV on as well as a second machine hosting game servers etc.

They will probably kill me when I move out and the electricity bill halves though, but that said, they know i'm doing it, and they know what it is for. They are fully supportive of it. And I assume they realise that there will be additional electricity costs.

It wouldnt add a catastrophic amount I dont think, all I have folding is an 8800GTS (soon to be replaced with something newer and more power efficient) and an E8200 24/7, and a GTX660 12/7.