Electronic – “recommended that CLK begin toggling within 150 ms … to ensure long-term reliability of the device” — why

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In Intel's Pentium Processor Family Developer Manual, regarding the CPU clock, it says that "it is recommended that CLK begin toggling within 150 ms after VCC reaches its proper operating level. This recommendation is to ensure long-term reliability of the device."

From a circuit implementation perspective, how might holding the clock low or high damage the device?

Best Answer

The clock undoubtedly operates charge pumps within the chip that provide bias voltages for various functional areas. Without proper bias, leakage currents are probably higher than the transistors are really designed to handle long-term.