Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 BX80562QX9300 User Manual

Datasheet

69

NOTES:
1.

Intel does not support or recommend operation of the thermal diode under reverse bias. 

2.

Characterized across a temperature range of 50-100°C.

3.

Not 100% tested. Specified by design characterization.

4.

The ideality factor, nQ, represents the deviation from ideal transistor model behavior as 
exemplified by the equation for the collector current:

I

C

 = I

S

 * (e 

qV

BE

/n

Q

kT

 –1)

where I

S

 = saturation current, q = electronic charge, V

BE

 = voltage across the transistor 

base emitter junction (same nodes as VD), k = Boltzmann Constant, and T = absolute 

temperature (Kelvin).

The Intel® Thermal Monitor helps control the processor temperature by activating the 

TCC (Thermal Control Circuit) when the processor silicon reaches its maximum 

operating temperature. The temperature at which the Intel Thermal Monitor activates 

the TCC is not user configurable. Bus traffic is snooped in the normal manner and 

interrupt requests are latched (and serviced during the time that the clocks are on) 

while the TCC is active.

With a properly designed and characterized thermal solution, it is anticipated that the 

TCC would only be activated for very short periods of time when running the most 

power-intensive applications. The processor performance impact due to these brief 

periods of TCC activation is expected to be minor and hence not detectable. An under-

designed thermal solution that is not able to prevent excessive activation of the TCC in 

the anticipated ambient environment may cause a noticeable performance loss and 

may affect the long-term reliability of the processor. In addition, a thermal solution that 

is significantly under designed may not be capable of cooling the processor even when 

the TCC is active continuously.

The Intel Thermal Monitor controls the processor temperature by modulating (starting 

and stopping) the processor core clocks or by initiating an Enhanced Intel SpeedStep 

Technology transition when the processor silicon reaches its maximum operating 

THERMDA

A24

Thermal diode anode

THERMDC

B25

Thermal diode cathode

THERMDA_2

T2

Thermal diode anode of the second die

THERMDC_2

V3

Thermal diode cathode of the second die

I

FW

Forward Bias Current

5

—

200

μA

1

I

E

Emitter Current

5

—

200

μA

1

n

Q

Transistor Ideality

0.997

1.001

1.008

2, 3, 4

Beta

0.1

0.4

0.5

2, 3

R

T

Series Resistance

3.0

4.5

7.0

Ω

2