Eli5, Why does heat slow down a computer?

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Eli5, Why does heat slow down a computer?

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The max frequency a CMOS chip can operate at decreases slightly with increasing temperature, but that is not why computers slow down.

The explanation is that there is a max temperature the chip can operate at if it gets to warm it can physically get damaged by the heat. There is a temperature sensor that measures the temperature and reduces the chip power usage if it gets too warm. If the clock frequency is reduced the chip do less per unit of time and less heat is produced. That is how power usage is reduced. That the chip does less per unit of time also mean the computer is slower.

It is not that different that if your work hard and yet to warm you need to slow down the work so you do not get overheated

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