[Hardware] If my processor gets too hot, can it break?

[FNX Magokiler]

Choosing computer components based on a budget is not easy. Many users often choose to prioritize a great processor and a powerful graphics card, cutting back on other components. Something that is usually cut is the processor heatsink, which can be a mistake. The CPU overheating is bad and could break.

The components that make up an electronic circuit heat up, that is inevitable. This is because all materials, to a greater or lesser extent, present resistance to the passage of current.

This resistance causes a part of the current to be "lost" in the form of heat. It also happens with the processor, but in this case the "loss" depends to a greater extent on the use or load it suffers. The greater or more intensive its use, the more current it consumes and, consequently, the hotter it gets.

Problems caused by excess temperature in the processor
As you well know, heat affects people in a negative way. Surely this past summer you have noticed sleeping problems, increased tiredness or lack of appetite. Just as it affects us, temperature affects the CPU significantly, implying a worsening of performance and stability.

 

 

First of all, you should know that the processor cores are made of silicon, which is a semiconductor material. The transistors that make up the processor cores are "recorded" in this material. At high temperatures, these lose performance and efficiency drops. A high temperature sustained over time can even break the CPU.

All modern processors include different protections to prevent damage. A limit temperature is established that, if reached, the computer restarts to protect itself. Normally, this limit in desktop and laptop processors is around 95-100 ºC.

Ok, we must explain that the silicon will not be damaged, as it can withstand temperatures above 200ºC. The problem is in the junction between the silicon and the PCB where it is mounted. To explain it simply, the cores are "glued" on a surface where the connection pins are.

The union between both parts is made using tiny balls of tin (normally combined with other metals). The problem is that this material does not withstand high temperatures well, and can lose stability above 120ºC.

 

https://hardzone.es/noticias/procesadores/procesador-calienta-demasiado-roto/