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Ryzen processors are relatively new in the market – typically three years of services. These processors were announced in December 2016 and consequently launching the Ryzen 1000 processors in March of 2017. Therefore, it isn’t easy to have an accurate assessment of their longevity.
Nonetheless, experts claim that this chip can last between 5 and 40 years. However, it depends on how you use the processors. With poor usage, it might not last even five years. However, with sensible and normal usage, you might enjoy the chip until it becomes obsolete.
But then again, the longevity of the Ryzen chip varies from one chip to another.


Your Ryzen chip has various dimensions.
First, the longevity of the silicon chip,
Second, how long the silicon chip remains as part of a functional system before it demands upgrading. This occurs when you need to run the newest games as well as the latest apps.
Lastly, does AMD plan to replace or upgrade the Ryzen version you have? If so, how long will that take?
If you can accurately answer these questions, you might have a clue of how long Ryzen can last.
There isn’t any data that accurately points out how long a CPU can last. People embrace upgrades.
But some factors like heat build-up might cause CPU failure.
According to experts, keeping the heat below 60 degrees Celsius might give them a long lease of life. Usually, while overclocking or in high-performance gaming, your CPU can hit 90 degrees Celsius. If you have a proper cooling mechanism, your CPU will last longer.
Besides, lousy cache memory bit and capacitor failure are other causes of shorter CPU life. However, AMD has upgraded these features ensuring great processors.
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What is long-lasting?
Long-lasting means it endures for longer periods while giving exemplary services. Each personal computer or smartphone features processors that power all the functions. A processor doesn’t have moving parts; therefore, there is no wear and tear. For this reason, a processor is termed as being long-lasting.
Ideally, it will give you decades of service before failing. However, you must note that most computer processors become obsolete even before they stop functioning. Processors utilize silicone as the primary material. The silicone has traces of many elements, including arsenic and boron.
Improving technology alongside decades of manufacturing experience makes it possible to create precise processors and understand the causes of chip failures. You can measure the reliability of your Ryzen chip as well as the predicted lifetime by determining its Mean Time to Failure. Simply put, determining the average time a single processor is deemed to last from a huge batch of chips manufactured. According to manufacturers, most chips can reliably last longer than the warranty periods, which makes them reliably long-lasting.
Most processors can clock over ten years; however, half of all processors last 20+ years. Sadly, a good number of the processors may not make it to the 10-year mark.
If your processor encounters one of the following factors, it may not last long:
- If there is the migration of metal atoms and silicon in the many layers of the chip, which when in high amounts contaminate the parts of the chip
- Static electricity and excessive heat cause high voltage, which can instantly destroy the processor’s intricate components. While too high temperatures cause a quick processor failure, even moderate heat can immensely shorten the chip’s lifetime.
- Manufacturer defects, however tiny they are can cause the chip to fail in days.
- Obsolescence – older generation processors will struggle to handle new and advanced software
10 Reasons Why Ryzen Is Long Lasting?
AMD is always on the move to bring new power and speed to its users. Its latest processors – Ryzen 3 – 7 and Threadripper are one of the best – says the manufacturer. However, third party reviewers also agree with the company.
Now, here are 10 convincing reasons why Ryzen is long-lasting:
- Fully scalable: with Ryzen, you don’t need to buy another motherboard because you can fully scale its AM4 Socket from 2 cores to an eight-core, 16-thread processor. Apart from being a simple design, it’s also easy to use.
- Low thermal design power (TDP): this shows that the Ryzen dissipates less power. Keep in mind; the Ryzen processor is built on a 7mm chip, which performs better.
- Unlocked CPUs: each Ryzen CPU is unlocked. This allows users to push hardware further. This freedom makes it possible to tailor your CPU to your specific use.
- A raft of technologies: Ryzen CPUs pack a lot of technologies which ensures that it lasts longer. For instance, the automated overclocking technology – Extended Frequency Range, which dynamically pushes Ryzen, chips beyond SenseMI Precision Boost specification.
- PCI-E 4.0: Ryzen Chips currently have PCI-E 4.0. This means two-fold bandwidth to store data and additional PCIe lanes for external connectivity and add-in boards. With PCIe 4.0, you can read and write at higher speeds.
- Premium CPU coolers: these coolers provide near-silent operations and ensure that your CPU doesn’t heat up hence long-lasting. The Wraith Coolers ranging from the simple Wraith Stealth to the high-end Wraith Prism, all give the best thermal performance.
- Multi-tasking potential: Ryzen family offers excellent multi-tasking abilities, thanks to AMD’s design to multithread even on its processor with the lowest specs. You can add other tasks without freezing your computer.
- All generations of Ryzen are useful: the latest Ryzen versions are powerful, but they are costly. However, the first and second-generation Ryzen processors are long-standing budget-friendly as well as powerful.
- Overclocking Control: with its basic view, you get the ability to overclock your CPU automatically. Besides, you can manually control the rate of overclocking and check parameters like voltage, speed, and temperature.
- High memory cache: in each Ryzen class, there is a higher memory cache than what its competitors offer. So you can use this system for anything without fear of breaking down.
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10 Reasons Why Ryzen Is Not Long Lasting?
Ryzen is one of the best processors on the market currently. Nonetheless, it faces some issues that might affect its performance. With experience, however, the manufacturer has improved the most performance in the latest generations.
- Swapping the processors is a bit tricky: it’s possible to swap the processor in multiple motherboards, and Ryzen comes with full scalability. The chips of Ryzen have pins, which make it difficult to swap. Any careless swapping can cause failure. On the other hand, Intel’s pins are on the motherboard.
- Runs hot relatively faster: most users complain that Ryzen chips run hot despite having a low thermal design power (if you push them harder). But this only occurs in a selected few CPUs. If your processors heat up quickly, you should find a better cooler like the Hyper 212X/Evo/Turbo. But Ryzen promises Extended Frequency Range, which kicks in when there is more thermal headroom.
- Clock speed: Ryzen processors are low when it comes to clock speeds than their Intel counterparts. Besides, the Ryzen chips are poor at holding extremely high overclocks – they get really unstable compared to Intel. So if you expose them, these strenuous activities may breakdown quickly. However, the 3rd Ryzen generation promises a better base & boost clock speeds.
- Infinity fabric architecture works only for high clocked RAM. This design leads to the development of cheaper processors, which may not hold up for long.
- The float point performance is low: if you subject your CPU to editing tasks, e.g., music editing, they become problematic.
- Earlier versions of Ryzen – first-generation, consumed a large amount of power and used bigger power supply units to give the needed performance.
- Low single-core performance: the low per-thread performance of Ryzen makes the process very slow. This means the programmer needs extra work, i.e., running one thread at a time.
- RAM incompatibility: when Ryzen launched, it didn’t have memory problems. However, currently, they are facing a few of these issues. If you are building a PC, it’s better to check for Ryzen compatibility. Compatibility issues normally lead to freezing and lousy resolution. But DDR4 RAM work with Ryzen, and with some effort, you can overclock 2400MHz – 3000MHz
- Performs poorly with a slow RAM: for Ryzen to work better, it needs a faster memory. That means expanding your budget.
- Some motherboards may need updating the bios so that it can support a particular Ryzen generation.
How Long Will An AMD Ryzen 5 Last?
Ryzen is undoubtedly one of the most powerful chips around. It’s Zen 2 architecture brings with it the benefits of the 7nm process node. Thus, users witness higher clock speeds, excellent power efficiency, and robust memory compatibilities.
Most importantly, the Zen 2 architecture comes with an elevated IPC – instructions per clock, typically 15%.
But can this processor last?
As earlier stated, AMD Ryzen chips are long-lasting. With standard and reasonable use, they can serve you upwards of 30 years. For a user, there are three critical aspects to look at – upgrades, the durability of the silicon, and the length of time the chip remains functional.
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The longevity of the silicon within the AMD Ryzen 5
It’s true, the lifetime of a chip varies with a lot of factors include:
- The kind of use you subject it tp
- Time of coolers it comes with
- Reliability of the power supply unit
- Whether you are overvolting or overclocking
- The susceptibility of your mains power to power spikes
Put it this way; if you are not going overboard with your processors, then the silicon will last longer than the silicon chip itself. That means you can get a few years beyond the warranty. Going overboard means doing activities like:
- Power too much power into the processors
- Running the process without adequate cooling.
Power spikes and power surges commonly occur in cases you don’t have surge protectors. These events contribute to quicker deterioration of the silicon than the silicon chip.
Time frame in which the processor remains a functional system before demanding to upgrade
The tricky part is, each year, there are newer chip designs in the market. However, you don’t expect to have a doubling of the clock speed, an increase in the core & thread counts, and a huge leap in the IPC.
The primary reason for this is that there have been massive improvements in the longevity and power of the CPUs over the years.
Improving the gaming experience is one reason for upgrading a chip. However, most AAA titles work well with third and fourth-generation processors – as recommended but not as a minimum requirement. Therefore, Ryzen 5 is most likely a Hexa-core and hyperthreaded. With your Ryzen 5, you won’t be left behind unless you just want to upgrade by taking on the new version.
Is Ryzen Bad? Why Do People Always Go With Intel?
Technology comes with its shares of downs. Ryzen is a pretty good processor, and the launching of its high end, three Ryzen 7 processors aim to terminate Intel’s dominance. Mind you, AMD has been absent in this area – it is their first time.
While this is promising, Ryzen has one huge problem – coming short of its promises. Nonetheless, the company’s Ryzen has delivered incredible results to gamers & content and productivity users.
And this was the turning point. Ryzen wins hands down in applications that can utilize all its eight cores.
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AMD underperformance
By now, you know that Zen architecture was a significant breakthrough for AMD. Before this – the beginning of the multi-core era, AMD was quite a let-down, and what kept them in the market were their friendly prices and their better performance in this low price bracket.
So any budget PC builder found this to be appealing. However, performance-oriented PC users and business people didn’t like this, and therefore, opted for Intel. FX chips performed poorly – no doubt about it.
The Leap Forward
The announcement came in 2016 – the unveiling of the Zen generation. These processors seemed appealing – competitive prices and powerful technical specifications. Now, this was and is still a headache to Intel.
They promised to break the 10 Nano-meter chip barriers within three years. They performed even better than expected – they delivered a 7 nm Zen 2 architecture. Intel has been struggling in this area for a long time, courtesy of their lazy innovativeness.
Still, with these powerful specs, Ryzen has maintained its prices. For example, Ryzen 9 3950K/3900X and Intel i9–9900K has prices almost if not similar. But i9 comes with 8C/16T, while the 3900X packs 12C/24T, and the 3950X features 16C/32T.
Why Go For Intel And Not Ryzen?
Ryzen is a mixed bag. The manufacturer intended to offer everything at the same place, which definitely doesn’t yield great results. Here is why:
First, there is little reason to use Ryzen for gaming. Eight cores should give a beefy performance when fully used. The problem is; Ryzen is poor at executing single-threaded performances. So Intel is the best option.
Second, the latest Intel generations support Thunderbolt 3 ports much better than Ryzen. However, the latest AMD 500 series support PCIe 4.0, meaning better graphics performance in particular niches.
AMD CPUs are great for multi-threaded tasks, e.g., transcoding at a lower price than Intel. Nonetheless, if your tasks are ordinary – browsing, answering emails, watching, etc., both processors are worth it.
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Are AMD CPUs Less Durable Than Intel CPUs?
Both AMD and Intel CPUs are very stable. However, when abused, the AMD CPU tends to last less long than its Intel counterparts. Most people owning AMD CPUs tend to overclock mostly because AMD allows it without restrictions. On the other hand, Intel limits CPU overclocking.
Note this: overclocking is one significant way to abuse your CPU. Some CPUs come with an unlocked multiplier, and that means you can overclock it to its maximum. This might cause RAM failure also.
The rating so far is five years for AMD and ten years for Intel. But these two processors are similar. However, you’ll realize that there are many more AMD returns that Intel returns. The reason for this is probably misuse but not the quality of the CPU.
As indicated earlier, proper and normal usage, including proper cooling, gives both these processors a life above 20 years.
Something to note
CPU is one of the most durable parts of the personal computer. Rarely will you see a computer with a blown CPU. Typically, another component goes off first, usually RAM, GPU, power supply units, or the motherboard.
For the RAM and the GPU, you can just buy another one if it blows up. It is quite a pain for the motherboard because you’ll have to buy a new motherboard plus a new processor. Reason? The socket will have changed. But it might be advisable just to buy another PC.
A CPU can survive many years, and you might not realize any durability differences between Intel and AMD’s CPU. Ideally, CPU longevity isn’t a big issue.
CPU has durability factors like OC damage or resistance to heat. The CPU’s durability has nothing to do with these factors. Look, a motherboard has an expected 4-year lifespan while a graphics card should last between 3 and four years in a cooler and six years in the chip. These are just statistics; so, longevity significantly varies with several factors, including usage.
With stable power, power supplies (PSU) should last at least longer than their warranty. Essentially, this is more than two years, but in most cases, it goes up to 10 years, depending on models and manufacturers.
Ardent PC users would ask; why do you want to stay with a computer for more than five years, given that CPUs may be outdated every five years? If you like upgrading stuff, then try to find a new CPU every five years.
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What’s the typical lifetime of an AMD processor vs. an Intel processor?
AMD vs. Intel rivalry is something that won’t end soon. There are several aspects to compare and make judgments. These two manufacturers are continually fighting to bring out the best computers for gaming and personal use – content creation and productivity.
While you might need performance, you also want to know how long your computer will last. Well, there is some sad news – there is no single criteria that determine the life of a computer CPU, whether Intel or AMD.
How long your CPU lasts depends on usage. CPU is just metal – no moving parts. Additionally, it has a heat sink and shielding. With the wrong usage, a CPU won’t last long. The good thing is; even with continuous use, a CPU will give you over ten years of service – both AMD and Intel.
But three things are essential:
First, sufficient cooling,
Second, avoid running the CPU over the maximum voltages they require (overvolting the chip), and
Third, do overclock as often as you want (overclocking leads to overvolting)
If these three things happen to the CPU, the processor will soon die out. So ensure that you keep your CPU within average operating temperatures.
Transistors eventually will degrade, but the process takes many decades. Actually, by the time the transistors fail, other components such as motherboard, more so surface mount caps, power supply, and hard disk will have already failed if you keep them under a constant load or power them 24/7.
Understand that a problem with the electrical supply or a lousy Power supply is most likely to fry the motherboard and the CPU instead of the CPU breaking down on its own.
AMD processor vs. an Intel processor: which one will give you longer services?
Intel processors are taunted to serve longer than their AMD counterparts. But it doesn’t mean AMD processors are inferior – instead, it is the advantageous features that they possess, which usually leads to abuse, hence a shorter lifespan.
Most users don’t worry about the life span because CPUs get obsolete many years before they die out. Unless you want to stick with a single CPU, checking its lifetime shouldn’t be your priority.
For example, there is this 1982 Intel 8088. It still works but at a snail pace. Using such a process for current day duties can prove annoying or close to impossible. There are other versions of microprocessors manicured in the 1990s and early 2000s. They still function, but they lack something that a modern CPU has.
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Bottom Line
AMD has registered massive successes in the last four years, thanks to the Ryzen and Threadripper series of CPUs’ unveiling. These CPUs boast of two times core and thread counts than their counterparts. This has made them a more reliable choice for many PC owners than Intel CPUs.
While Intel CPUs are equally powerful, they boast of their ability to maintain cool and hence longevity. That doesn’t mean Ryzen isn’t long-lasting. Ryzen will last longer if you use it within the rules – keep it cool, do not overclock frequently, and avoid overvolting.

Luis Gillman
Hi, I Am Luis Gillman CA (SA), ACMA
I am a Chartered Accountant (SA) and CIMA (SA) and author of Due Diligence: A strategic and Financial Approach.
The book was published by Lexis Nexis on 2001. In 2010, I wrote the second edition. Much of this website is derived from these two books.
In addition I have published an article entitled the Link Between Due Diligence and Valautions.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information published on this website is accurate, the author and owners of this website take no responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of relience upon the information contained therein. Furthermore the bulk of the information is derived from information in 2018 and use therefore is at your on risk. In addition you should consult professional advice if required.