Question For The List

[Jules Richardson]

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)