Can you "Fry" your CPU by just adjusting FSB and multiplier settings?

[Doggiedog]

Or is frying mainly relegated to messing with voltages?

 

[Shimmishim]

it's mostly a voltage thing... vcore thing...

ask soulkeeper

think he's burned 2 cpu's already

 

[Wind]

Adjusting the multiplier + FSB will not damage ur CPU. The worst u can get is no POST.

increase the voltage (vcore ) of ur CPU WILL DAMAGE UR CPU. Take note on this.

 

[MarkFahey]

I have heard that a P4 CPU with 'automatically throttle back' when it hits a certain point? So no damage will result. Maybe someone else can confirm and expound on this? Sorta like an androids anti-self destruct programming...

 

[MadTom]

Regarding the throttle back functionality:

P3 CPU's - when they overheat, they shut down the PC (P3 survives)
P4 CPU's - when they overheat they throttle down by reducing the speed till they come between 60-70 C

Modern Athlon's on modern motherboards (last few months) have a protect switch which shuts down the PC when the processor core reaches to high temps - but this is not implemented in the processor.

And, high voltage (10-15% over default voltage) without proper cooling (water...) probably will kill your proc in few months or earlier, since in the core a process called electron migration will happen and the transistors will loose their functionality.

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: MadTom
Modern Athlon's on modern motherboards (last few months) have a protect switch which shuts down the PC when the processor core reaches to high temps - but this is not implemented in the processor.

Actually, with Athlon based motherboards, the BIOS is detecting the on-chip diode and if it reaches critical temps the PC shuts down. It's an option than can be turned on and off and the temp control setting can be changed. I have it on my Epox 8K5A2+ motherboard at home. Fortunately I've never experienced it!

techfuzz