General gpu and cooling question

[TollPhree]

let's say u got a graphics card I'll use mine for example I have a nvidia gtx260m (I know it's pretty old this card idles at 80c and games at 99c and these are good temps for this card running the way it was designed. ) nvidia's spec sheet says max gpu temp is 105c ok lets say u got another one identical in every way just cooled different. this card idles around 40c to 45c and games right at 92c right.. my question is even though this cards high is 8c cooler than stock do you think that huge 50c change in temp when it goes from idle to full would not be causing a lot of damage and this card would actually go out before the stock one? wouldn't that temp change be causing enough expansion and contraction to really do some damage and really shorten the life span or is it negligible? do u think this card would last longer if u could just somehow run it without an idle mode and it stayed at 92c all the time? (and let's say power isn't an issue) any thoughts on this? I know the general rule of thumb is heat = bad for electronics but what about huge swings in temp even if it doesn't swing really hot just swings?.....thank you for any responses

[Iceman0124]

I'm assuming thats a laptop card (this is a desktop forum)? Those temps are way higher than the desktop GTX 260's I've uses...still using one for physX....but even at stock fan settings it idled in the mid 50's and rarely topped 80 under normal gaming conditions if memory serves....increasing the fan speed it rarely topped 70 under high load.

Cooler is always better....removing idle states is just like you having your cars engine running full tilt all the time, even while stopped at a light or going very slowly...regardless of the task it will be running harder and parts will wear out faster.