Just a basic question. For certain games, games that don't run as well normally, I tend to set in the Nvidia Control Panel to prefer maximum performance in the power management setting as opposed to the default adaptive so that it runs a bit better (the performance is definitely noticeable)

Can this be bad? Can this lead to my GPU dying out QUICKER than normal?

I have a Nvidia GT 650MSimple answer is: No, it does not harm the Graphics Unlit.
Now the details.
Extreme settings MAYBE hard on some monitors.
High swings HEAT cycling may shorten the life of the GPU.  That is not established, but generally accepted. Setting power management to maximum performance won't harm anything, it will however consume more power and lead to shorter battery life so I'd recommend switching it off of maximum performance when you need to run the laptop on battery for an extended period of time.It shouldn't have any effect on your GPU.Biggest concern with life of anything computer related is keeping it cool. If your always operating it within its normal temperature range for the temp of the GPU itself, ADEQUATELY cooled, then it should last many years.

However if your like me and make the mistake of running a graphics intensive game on a brand new corporate laptop such as a Toshiba Tecra which wasn't a gaming GRADE laptop and it has a cooling issue with the GPU that your not aware of because you dont even think about checking the operating temp of the GPU core while gaming with speedfan etc, and you roast and kill the integrated GPU, that is when you can run into problems.  Fortunately I was able to send the laptop back under the warranty for replacement, and the replacement I got of the same model, I made sure that the only games were simple games that wouldn't roast the GPU.He hasn't been here since November... Quote from: patio on April 18, 2015, 07:41:57 AM

He hasn't been here since November...