Computers do not work at reduced efficiency if starved for
power. This made so painfully obvious even from a data sheet
for any simple logic IC. Either the computer works 100% fine
or it crashes: 0% performance. Either it crashes / freezes or
it keeps working. There is no inbetween. CPU does not
change speed and efficiency like an eletric motor. Basic
computer knowledge makes that woefully obvious.

Either the PSU is insufficient and computer crashes - also
called a complete and total failure. Or the computer works
at 100% performance.

This discussion is not about laptops - that have properly
sized power supplies. Discussion limited to a system that
somehow will run faster by increasing power supply.

For that matter, take off the heatsink on an Intel CPU. It
too will run slower - and not destroy itself like an AMD. But
that is well beyond the context of this discussion - and
should not be discussed in this thread.

Will cooling a CPU that runs at the constant master clock
frequency work more efficiently or faster when cooled more?
No. But even worse, not one good technical reason is provided
to justify these erroneous speculations. Even the reasons for
cooling an overclocked CPU is not valid. Neither more cooling
nor more power in a supply is going to make a CPU run faster.
Either it works at full speed or it crashes.

Most every desktop system works just fine on a 250 watt
power supply. Not obvious from the so many technical experts
who never even learned basic electrical principles; then
advocated "More Power" as a solution. Far more damning are so
many clone computers missing essential power supply
functions. So instead of buying a supply with essential and
necessary functions, those computer assemblers recommed "More
Power". Just another reason for 500 watt power supplies that
often cannot even output 500 watts.

Bigger PSU is often a solution to failure by the computer
assembler - who failed to learn basic facts. Bigger PSU does
not make a CPU work more efficient or faster. Even concepts
in overclocking are being misrepresented.

"William R. Walsh" wrote:
Perhaps not. For the basic concept of a bigger PSU not making
the computer work any faster I agree with you. Obviously it
cannot do so. However, for a system starved for power, a crash
may not be the immediate result. The CPU may operate with
reduced efficiency and/or speed if the power supply is
insufficient as a protection measure.

Therefore the addition of a bigger PSU that can handle the
load better than the original can create the illusion of the
PSU somehow making for a faster computer.

Same applies to CPU heat. Again, either CPU runs as crystal
oscillator speed or it crashes. Cooling does not make a CPU
run faster.

Definitely not always. Some systems (especially laptops) are
able to downclock so as to protect themselves from heat damage.
Even some "smarter" desktop motherboards can monitor their
temperature and fan RPMs so as to shutdown or downclock in the
event of a thermal problem.

As for the statement about cooling not making a CPU run faster,
ask any overclocker about that. The more you cool the chip, the
harder you can push it, up until a point of failure occurs or
reliable operation can no longer be acheived.