Abstract： Creep tests were conducted on CMSX-4 samples with variable crosssections at different temperatures for a comparative study of the rafting of microstructures at different stresses. The results show that the rafting of CMSX-4 is extremely slow at low temperatures and stresses and is fast at high temperatures and stresses; the width of the γ-phase channel is significantly correlated to the degree of material damage within the appropriate temperature and stress range. Based on relevant results, an effective method for predicting the residual creep life of nickelbased singlecrystal superalloy CMSX4 from the width of the γ-phase channel is proposed. Compared with other relevant reports, the dispersity of the prediction results of this method is small and within ±1.5 times the dispersion band.