What Decides Processor's Maximum Frequency?

[maniskandan]

Hi, I am a newbie. I have some silly questions sorry for that.

what decides the processor's maximum operating frequency? why the ARM based processors run on higher frequencies but 8085 can not?

can 8085 run on higher frequencies as ARM? how does the architecture of the processor influence the maximum operating frequency?

Thanks,
Mani

 

[btbass]

Mostly temperature rise.
Maximum power is dissipated while switching, the higher the frequency, the more power used. Called switching loses.
High speed processors like the Arm have low core voltages to reduce the power dissipated while switching.

 

[amraldo]

Technology used has an effect as well as the logic design.
--
Amr Ali

 

[maniskandan]

Thanks friends. But what will happen if 8085 happen to run at higher frequencies? will it burn? Any other factors decides the maximum frequency of the core? how exactly it differes 8085 and ARM architectures in frequency prespective?

Cheers,
Mani

 

[AdvaRes]

Of course if you increase the frequency you will violate some timing constrains like hold setup time etc

 

[amraldo]

Logic wont operate correctly.
--
Amr Ali

 

[btbass]

It's called over clocking! A popular pastime with PC's.
Just keep increasing the frequency and run a test program to find the highest stable speed of the micro.