How long does a GPU last? (backed by real data)

A GPU is the most expensive part of a gaming PC rest assured this article will answer exactly how long the average GPU is expected to last with accurate info. Knowing how long a CPU will last is a smart question as a GPU can be a hefty investment.

As a general rule, a GPU will last around 5 years provided that it has been taken care of with proper handling and airflow. If you do not overclock the graphics card and its thermals are in check then you can expect it to last longer.

The fans are the only moving parts on the GPU so they have a higher chance of failing over time. they can last you 2-5 years can expect the GPU to last longer than that I have seen ancient GPUs that are no longer supported by modern games that work just fine.

Usually a GPU needs to be replaced to meet up with new AAA games than the hardware failing.

If you are interested in upgrading your GPU or wondering how long your current one is going to last you then you then please see reading.

See the latest pricing for the best GPUs on Amazon below.

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Do GPUs Wear out?

As a whole GPUs wear out due to failing circuits or capacitors which is made worse by overclocking but unlike hard drives, GPUs do not have any moving parts other than the fans so they suffer less damage from wear and tear. You need to replace your GPU every 5 years to keep up with AAA games.

Due to the lack of moving parts on a graphics card, it is not going to fail gradually; instead, you might find it to be working fine one day and not working the next. It is safe to say that a graphics card can last years provided that you have proper airflow in your case and are not pushing its limits by overclocking it to the max. 

Like any other product, the materials used in GPUs have a half-life that can degrade to the point where the GPU can no longer be used properly. How long it takes you to get to that point is going to depend on multiple factors such as heat, use, and overclocking.

GPUs can run very hot, and they need to be cooled down to keep operating properly; that is why graphics cards come with fans of their own, and PC builders recommend having a decent amount of airflow in your case this allows cool air to come into your PC and the hot air to escape. Keeping the temperature in check is going to keep the graphics card from wearing out faster.

If you are curious on how long other parts of a PC will last like the CPU please see my article.

How much you use the GPU will also have a role in wearing and tearing. The more you use the card, the more likely it is for it to fail at some point gaming on the graphics card for long periods will put a lot of stress on it.

Overclocking allows you to run your GPU at a higher clock speed than what it is set to out of the box this gives you a boost in performance but doing so is going to wear out your GPU much faster. Overclocking can lead to higher energy consumption and increased heat output which we have already mentioned is not good for the GPU.

The longevity of a GPU depends on what you want to get out of it If you want to run all the major AAA games at 60 FPS at 1080p with all the settings set to the max then something like a GTX 1660(amazon link) might work for you for 2 years or so.

But if you are only interested in playing competitive games like Overwatch or DOTA 2, then the same GPU is going to last you much longer, especially if you are fine with turning down the settings a bit. 

So your looking for a GPU are the expensive RTX cards even worth it? Learn the facts in my article.

Can A GPU Last 10 Years?

A GPU can last 10 years with proper cooling and no overclocking. However, a GPU will become obsolete in around 5 years due to more graphically intensive AAA games and a possible lack of driver support.

The fans are the only moving parts on the GPU so you might need to replace them if they fail but other than that the GPU itself is perfectly capable of running for 10 years. Fortunately, you can change the fans and have them replaced if you are interested in keeping the same GPU for such a long duration of time,click here for a YouTube video on how to change GPU fans.

If you are playing competitive games, then your graphics card might be able to perform well provided that you reduce the settings. but you certainly will not be able to run all the major AAA games at 60 FPS with all the settings cranked up to the max. 

Every game has a recommended and minimum requirement and once your GPU does not meet that requirement you will not have an ideal experience or might not be able to run the game at all. for example, ARK: Survival Evolved requires an Nvidia GTX 670(Amazon) or AMD HD 7870 as the bare minimum to run it.

GPUs from 10 years ago that do not support DirectX 11 cannot run games that have been released in the past couple of years and you might face a similar compatibility issue.

Curious on if a PC gaming mouse is worth it? Learn the facts from a true pro in my article.

How Do I Know If My GPU Is Dying?

As a general rule, if you’re screen stutters, games have random glitches, strange artifacts appear on the screen and the PC crashes and no monitor signal error these are all signs your GPU is dying.

Video stuttering means that you experience freezes on your display from time to time but these go away after a few seconds your PC might crash or go back to normal this is a sign that your GPU is dying but the damage might not be significant and you might be able to redeem it see this video on how to fix a faulty GPU.

You can encounter random glitches that might seem like dead pixels. If this is consistent with a certain part of the screen, then there could be an issue with the monitor that you are using, but if you experience this issue in different parts of the screen from time to time, this is a sign that your screen GPU is dying. 

If you see artifacts or lines on your screen this is a common issue when you have driver problems but if they are up to date then the GPU is the source of the problem see this article from Viewsonic on how to update your drivers.

If you get a black screen on your monitor which gives you the no signal error, then it is a sign that your GPU is dead or dying; this commonly happens when you have a PSU failure, but if your RAM is working fine and the fans and lights in your system are working as intended then it is most likely a GPU problem.

A gaming keyboard is a key piece of equipment to have the best PC gaming experience possible check my article to know the 4 ways they are better than conventional keyboards.