Question For The List

[Don Y]

Jules Richardson wrote:
> Don Y wrote:
>> Jules Richardson wrote:
>>> Jim Leonard wrote:
>>>> Computer parts without any moving parts should last forever, and in 
>>>> my experience, they usually do (if cared for properly).
>>>
>>> Natural chip decay will get 'em all in the end, but IMHO they should 
>>> last for a significant part of a person's lifetime, though.
>>
>> Has anyone any "real" data on EM effects?  Or is this effectively
>> urban legendry?
> 
> Good question, and no I haven't. I'd breathe a sigh of relief if it 
> weren't true I suppose - it's sad to think of the effort of keeping 
> these things running if they're going to naturally fail despite best 
> efforts a few years down the line.
> 
> Isn't chip death something to do with natural Brownian motion or 
> something? Eventually things just move around to the point that the chip 
> stops functioning - whether it's been powered or not. I'm not a 
> physicist - just dimly-remembered classes from years ago (and being told 
> the 50 year figure)
> 
> (I'm sure if it *is* true then the 50 years is something a guesstimate 
> or worst-case, and lots of things will last much longer than that)

For "natural decay" the timelines may be quite long.  But,
I was asking particularly about effects of *powered* systems
and contrasts between submicron geometries vs. some of the
older, "collectible" gear...