Throughout the history of microcomputers there has been a motivation to increase the performance of microprocessors. However, with the constant increase in microprocessor performance, there is typically an increase in the magnitude of power consumed by the microprocessor. Due to the increase in power consumption, the run time temperature of the die of a microprocessor may exceed a safe threshold value.
Currently, thermal sensors are being added to microprocessors to monitor temperature. The temperature sensor transmits a signal in response to detecting a temperature that exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In response, the voltage on a processor bus coupled to the microprocessor is changed.
A chipset coupled to the microprocessor via the processor bus typically includes an impedance compensation circuit to compensate for process/voltage/temperature effects. However, current compensation circuits are incapable of compensating for effects attributed to the voltage change on the processor bus in response to the detection of an excessive temperature at a microprocessor.