As PC builders, we spend a lot of time worrying about CPU temps. Buying the right case, optimizing airflow, and setting custom fan curves are often focused on keeping the CPU temps low. That said, many of us might be unintentionally reducing the CPU lifespan because of certain beliefs and habits. Heat, dust, and misconfigured settings might not outright kill your CPU, but they can surely hurt its longevity. If you're guilty of any of the following mistakes, it might be time to look into remedies.

Putting off deep cleaning forever

A necessary evil

I know that cleaning the inside of your PC seems like a chore. It's one of the things I procrastinate the most, but I also know I have to get to it sooner or later. Letting dust settle on your fans and cooler heatsinks can impede airflow over time, and lead to higher CPU temps. Heat is never good for the CPU; prolonged exposure to raised temperatures will inevitably reduce your CPU's lifespan. You should do everything in your power to minimize heat as much as you can.

Deep cleaning your PC once every quarter or 6 months is a great way to make your PC feel brand new. Your case and cooler fans will have to spin slower to achieve the same degree of airflow, contributing to a quieter PC. Deep cleaning your PC takes time, as you have to disassemble most components for proper cleaning, but it's worth the time and effort. CPUs can last for a long time, but you also need to do your bit to maintain your PC to avoid an early demise of your chip.

Using the "set it and forget it" approach with thermal paste

It might have dried out

Most people seldom think about repasting their CPU, and it might be yet another mistake contributing to raised temps, and hence, reduced CPU lifespan. Sticking with the stock thermal paste pre-applied on your cooler's heatsink, and never changing it for the next 3 years, might be a gross miscalculation. Thermal paste can last for years, but it really depends on the quality of the paste used. The stock thermal paste might dry out in 2–3 years, needing replacement to ensure your CPU's IHS is in proper contact with the cooler's heatsink.

You can combine thermal paste reapplication with a deep clean, once 2 or 3 years have passed since the last application. Alternatively, you could make it a point to replace it every 3 years, provided you use a decent aftermarket thermal paste. Brands like Arctic and Thermal Grizzly offer quality thermal paste that's easy to apply, and isn't too expensive. Aftermarket thermal paste can sometimes be the difference between thermal throttling and normal operation — I've seen this firsthand on my brother's PC. So, ignore your CPU's thermal paste at your own peril.

Sticking with a stock cooler because the temps are "fine"

Get way better temps with a small investment

Although stock coolers might be passable for some entry-level and budget CPUs, the benefits of getting an aftermarket cooler clearly outweigh the investment. Even a cheap $35 air cooler can completely transform your CPU temps and fan speed. Where a stock cooler simply keeps your processor from thermal throttling, a budget air cooler will keep it comfortably cool, and run silently, as a bonus. This will ensure your CPU isn't on its way to an early grave due to prolonged high temperatures.

You don't need to spend $100 on an AIO liquid cooler to ensure cool and silent operation. Sure, go for an expensive AIO if you're rocking a high-end CPU, but most people don't need anything more than a quality air cooler. Sticking with your stock cooler simply because it came bundled with your CPU might be a bad decision, especially because replacing it is inexpensive. Many air coolers can even go toe-to-toe with some liquid coolers, and are way simpler to work with.

Running excessive workloads 24/7

Your CPU is resilient, but only so much

Although modern CPUs are meant to run hot, and often close to their limits, running the most intensive workloads all day long should still be avoided. If you can help it, don't stress your CPU with workloads like video rendering, simulations, and crypto mining 24/7. Relentless strain on your CPU will inevitably lead to a reduced lifespan, and you're likely to see that in the form of random crashes and system freezes.

Gaming and other day-to-day workloads aren't a concern, but other tasks that hammer your processor with 100% usage should be done in moderation, especially if you're only using your primary PC. Many people set up a secondary system for crypto mining or scientific simulations, thereby protecting their main build. Your CPU is often the last thing to develop faults, but it's possible to accelerate the process by running excessive workloads nonstop.

Ignoring BIOS updates

Be open to the idea

Adhering to the "don't fix it if it ain't broke" philosophy might sound sensible when it comes to BIOS updates, but it could also potentially harm your CPU. Motherboard manufacturers often release BIOS updates to address bugs, minor or critical, so swearing off BIOS updates can be detrimental to the long-term health of your CPU. Even if your CPU isn't experiencing a major issue like the one faced by the Intel 13th and 14th Gen CPUs, it's worth updating the BIOS if it addresses other issues.

Besides addressing bugs, BIOS updates can also provide performance and stability upgrades. Reading the update description for a new BIOS version before you go ahead with the update is the right thing to do. It informs you whether an update is worth it; new BIOS versions can sometimes introduce new problems, hence, make sure your CPU really needs that update.

Indiscriminate overclocking

Follow the precautions

Overclocking your CPU might improve performance and even keep your aging CPU relevant, but it demands caution. Carelessly messing with your CPU's voltage, power, and frequency settings is an invitation to disaster. If you're copying settings from the internet (even for the same model), you're unlikely to dial in the right overclock for your particular chip. And, more importantly, overclocking without the right cooling hardware can needlessly stress your CPU's temps, reducing its long-term health.

Overclocking will inevitably raise your CPU's temperature, and if you're running a 24/7 overclock without any appreciable gains to performance, all you're doing is reducing its lifespan for nothing. Although hurting CPU longevity with overclocking happens only in extreme cases, it's worth noting that overclocking isn't a free performance boost. You're making thermal and power trade-offs in exchange for a small performance boost. In most cases, your CPU is better off using automated boost algorithms instead of manual overclocking, which could hurt its lifespan.

Extending your CPU lifespan is in your hands

CPUs are resilient silicon, and can last for many years without faults. However, it's your responsibility to maintain your processor, so you aren't unintentionally reducing its lifespan. Keeping your PC dust-free, ensuring the thermal paste isn't dried out, and using a decent CPU cooler are simple ways to keep your CPU running problem-free. Installing a new BIOS version when necessary, and avoiding overclocking and other intensive workloads, if possible, can also prevent sustained high temperatures for your CPU.