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

[envoy.livejournal.com]

You could still do it with just a thermometer. Just use a more advanced logic. Make the speed of the fan be in some part or whole based on the delta of the temperature over the last 30 seconds-minute. That way if the temperature starts to rise OR fall very quickly the fan can change to compensate, tapering off as the delta of the temperature does.

I *think* delta is the right word there, but I might be wrong.