Hardware Does cold make your computer faster?

[tblaxland]

With all due respect, that is ridiculous. CPUs run just fine at -190 degrees C on liquid nitrogen cooling, as Tom's Hardware did here when they were able to overlock a P4 to 5.25 GHz at -196 degrees C: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/5-ghz-project,731.html

RF is correct. The resistance of a semi-conductor will increase as temperature reduces. If you reduce the temperature far enough, it will stop working because there is no longer sufficient thermal energy to excite electrons into the conduction band.

The important thing here is to be clear about where you are measuring the temperature. In the Tom's Hardware test, the -190°C was measured on the outside of the CPU case. The temperature inside will be much higher (by my rough calcs, for the junction temperature to be at about 30°C, the thermal conduction of the CPU would have to be in the order of about 2-7 W/m.K, which is probable, IMHO). If you poured liquid nitrogen onto the chip before turning it on, the junction temperature would get too cold and you would not be able to get it working. In the Tom's Hardware test, they had the CPU up and running before adding the cooling, IIRC.

 

[TSPenguin]

With all due respect, that is ridiculous. CPUs run just fine at -190 degrees C on liquid nitrogen cooling, as Tom's Hardware did here when they were able to overlock a P4 to 5.25 GHz at -196 degrees C: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/5-ghz-project,731.html

As I understand it, those OC achievements are only possible because the conductor is less conducting allowing the the voltages that are needed for this to remain in the paths and not leak all over the die. At least this makes great sense.

 

[agentgonzo]

The optimum temperature for a motherboard is about -138C. At that temperature electrical resistance is lowered meaning the electrical pulses can move around the motherboard that much quicker.

Um, no it won't. The electrical resistance won't affect the speed of the electrical impulse at all. The impulse still travels along the wire at the speed of light, regardless of temperature/resistance. The current flowing is affected by resistance, but again that won't affect the time taken for the impulse to reach the end of the wire in an electrical circuit.