Mild overheating can shorten the life of CPU, MBO, and RAM.
Mild overheating can shorten the life of CPU, MBO, and RAM.
Running your i7-6700K at 4.5 GHz with minor voltage tweaks and XMP profiles on RAM might not harm component life if heat stays under control. Silicon quality naturally degrades over time, but this setup isn't extreme enough to trigger catastrophic failure from OC alone. However, as you age, occasional higher voltages could accelerate wear, so monitoring performance trends is wise.
You're aiming for a modest performance increase rather than a record breaker. A 4.5 GHz CPU falls within the typical range for sustained use, offering a noticeable boost without excessive power demands. It should provide stability and longevity if you're targeting reliable operation over time.