Cache takes X number of cycles to return a result You can make X lower by reducing the frequency (= having each cycle be longer) But apart for that, the main

Cache takes X number of cycles to return a result You can make X lower by reducing the frequency (= having each cycle be longer) But apart for that, the main reason big chips would clock slower is power, not timing. If you have a lot of transistors all switching on a high voltage so that the frequency is high, you get molten metal and the magic smoke leaves. Big chips aren't one big stage where light travels from one side to the other. But they are giant weaves of heating elements that can't all run fast all of the time