Microprocessors: Thermal Noise

All microprocessors are subject to external noises. These noises can interfere with input signals and can cause microprocessors to read input values incorrectly.

Temperature is one huge factor which can serve to create noise.

The higher the temperature, the more mobile the electrons, the greater the random voltages and the more electrical noise is present.

The solution:

High temperature= high noise

so

Low temperature= low noise

If the whole microprocessor electronic system were placed in a very cold environment such as in liquid nitrogen (which is about -200°C) or taking it into space where the temperature is about -269°C. The cold of space has created very pleasant low noise conditions for circuits there such as the Hubble telescope.

However, on earth, most microprocessors operate at room temperature. It would be inconvenient and also very expensive to place on microprocessors in liquid nitrogen. Therefore, to solve this problem, many microprocessors are surrounded by fans, such as in laptops, and heat sinks, to dissipate heat, so that noise can be kept to a minimum.