Yes, but it is usually unlikely. Generally speaking, once computer hardware is pushed beyond its limits, it will lock up, crash, or show other noticeable errors long before they fall to the point where the processor or memory may be corrupted. The exception is the case of extreme tension when trying to use the clock, but since most motherboards do not support the extremely high voltage, and neither this book, it can not be an issue.

For older processors, heat is also a factor that is closely monitored. Modern processors have thermal sensors that will slow down or turn off the computer, but older processors are not necessarily a function of these safety devices. Knows superior example of this is AMD AthlonXP (Socket A/462), which was known to mainly burning less than 5 seconds, if the heat sink was not installed correctly (or at all).