Geek idea

[ciphergoth]

may be unoriginal or wrong.

Processors can be damaged by getting too hot, so they have processor fans. Modern fan assemblies include a thermometer so they can adjust the fan speed to keep the processor at a constant temperature.

However, another thing that can damage processors is sudden changes in temperature. Suppose a processor is working flat out and the fan is going full whack. If the processor suddenly stops doing work and so generates much less heat, the fan won't slow down until after the sudden drop in temperature.

So really, motherboards should monitor the power consumption of processors as well as their temperature, so that sudden changes in workload can be responded to quickly to prevent sudden changes in temperature and so prolong the life of the processor.

Comments

[princealbert.livejournal.com]

on AMD AthlonXP compatible boards theres a thermometer directly under the CPU if it reaches a preset temp (set in BIOS) the machine shutsdown.

Some fan/cooler solutions come with their own thermometer which is placed in the heat conductive gel between the cpu and the cooler base to achieve the fan control you mention.

The three wires going from the motherboard to the fan supply on a fixed voltage and return a strobe signal to obtain the rpm.

A CPU going full whack, then returning to idle does not suffer thermal shock. Due to the conductive gel going to the base of the cooler, (under the fan), the CPU gradually loses heat as the fan does its job, it takes minutes compared to the speed a CPU can obtain idle.

So as long as you have a big bit of copper, (other materials are used on cheaper solutions), between your CPU and your fan your CPU wont suffer thermal shock.

Alternative cooling systems like water still have the copper base.

-Roy