Method and apparatus for limiting processor clock frequency
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsJames A. Wilson, Robert F. Netting, Peter Des Rosier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for limiting a processor clock frequency includes an overclocking prevention circuit. The overclocking prevention circuit includes a frequency limiting circuit having programmable fusible elements. The frequency limiting circuit outputs a signal identifying a maximum processor clock frequency based on the state of each of the fusible elements. A comparator circuit compares a selected processor clock frequency to the maximum processor clock frequency to determine if the selected processor clock frequency is permitted. If the selected processor clock frequency is not permitted, then the processor is not allowed to operate at the selected clock frequency.
Claims6
A system for limiting a processor clock frequency comprising:
- a processor, the processor containing overclocking prevention logic, the overclocking prevention logic preventing the processor from operating at a frequency greater than a programmable maximum frequency;
- a memory unit;
- an Input/Output (I/O) unit;
- and
- a bus, the processor, memory unit and the I/O unit being interconnected via the bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.