CPU questions

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kenny1999

Member
It is said that there are thousands of transistors inside a CPU processor, and it is said that a few of those transistors could go south physically after the CPU has been used for some time.

If that's the case, how come CPU is said to be the most reliable hardware and unlikely to go wrong even after several builds with the same CPU?

If that's the case (some transistors will "die" during the life-span of a working CPU), then could a CPU have ''partial'' error such that it could still work, but couldn't work as perfectly as a newly bought CPU that average user couldn't notice, but problems arise at the back? or if there is only Yes and No? 1 and 0? A perfect CPU and a CPU that doesn't work at all.

Thanks
 
transistors are unlikely to go 'bad' if they are used within spec, if you do heavy voltages or overclocking that will reduce the life significantly but not before its useful life has already passed in all likelihood. This is because there is far more fragile and unreliable components coming into play such as the harddrive, dvd drive, and ram, the last of which being my least favorite as it tends to give me the most problems. however building around the same cpu between builds isnt very common as usually when you are upgrading the cpu/board/ram are changed out as performance generally increases significantly between years.
 
kenny1999 said:
It is said that there are thousands of transistors inside a CPU processor, and it is said that a few of those transistors could go south physically after the CPU has been used for some time.
Click to expand...

Like said, try millions and billions on a 6/8 core. Thats true of any transistor.

kenny1999 said:
If that's the case, how come CPU is said to be the most reliable hardware and unlikely to go wrong even after several builds with the same CPU?
Click to expand...

Because over the years of computers its been a proven fact. My guess is with processor makers there is a higher quality control of defects. I know from my experience I've had way more video cards/motherboards and so on be DOA or go defective compared to CPUs.


kenny1999 said:
If that's the case (some transistors will "die" during the life-span of a working CPU), then could a CPU have ''partial'' error such that it could still work, but couldn't work as perfectly as a newly bought CPU that average user couldn't notice, but problems arise at the back? or if there is only Yes and No? 1 and 0? A perfect CPU and a CPU that doesn't work at all.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Both and everywhere inbetween.
 
We have different capabilities and speeds of CPUs from the same wafer. They are tested for functions and speed thus giving us various grades.

Those with defects have them disabled and become lower grade CPUs like Celerons and Pentiums. The less defects there are the better they become.
 
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