An electronic system (10). The system comprises circuitry (P.sub.1) for receiving a system voltage from a voltage supply. The system also comprises circuitry (14.sub.1), responsive to the system voltage, for providing data processing functionality. The circuitry for providing data processing functionality comprises a critical path (CP.sub.1) and the critical path comprises a plurality of transistors. At least some transistors in the plurality of transistors have a corresponding predetermined voltage operating limit corresponding to a predicted lifespan. The system also comprises circuitry (22.sub.1) for indicating a potential capability of operational speed of the critical path. The system also comprises circuitry (CB) for coupling the system voltage to the critical path. Lastly, the system also comprises circuitry (26) for adjusting the system voltage, as provided by the voltage supply, in response to the circuitry for indicating a potential capability. In selected instances, the circuitry for adjusting adjusts the voltage supplied by the voltage supply to be a voltage greater than the predetermined voltage operating limit while still complying with the predicted lifespan.