| Overclocking has been found to be the best way to | | | | paramount to a successful overclock. Some of the |
| get significant boost in the speed of your system at | | | | cooling agents used are forced convection (a fan |
| no cost at all. | | | | blowing across a surface), Liquid Cooling (liquid coolant |
| But what really is this thing known as 'overclocking'? | | | | carrying waste heat to a radiator, similar to an |
| It is the process of forcing the processor to run at a | | | | automobile engine), liquid nitrogen, dry ice, phase |
| higher clock rate than its specification. Processor is | | | | change cooling (as used in refrigerators), and |
| made to run at certain frequencies (clock rates). The | | | | submersion (placing the entire computer in an inert |
| higher this frequency, the more calculations it can | | | | fluid). |
| compute. Instead of buying a 3GHz processor, you | | | | To overclock the processor, there are two settings |
| can now make a 2GHz processor runs at 3GHz. In | | | | that you must be aware of: the multiplier and the |
| this case, you can save the time, effort and money | | | | Front Side Bus (FSB). These two settings, when |
| to upgrade your system. | | | | multiplied together, produce the frequency at which |
| PC enthusiasts usually overclock their computer to | | | | the CPU operates - for example, with a multiplier of |
| increase the performance. Some of these enthusiasts | | | | 11 and a FSB of 200MHz, the CPU is running at |
| purchase low-end computer components so they can | | | | 2.2GHz. By adjusting the multiplier value (usually an |
| overclock to achieve performance of a high-end | | | | integer), higher speed can be achieved. It is advisable |
| system. However, if all you do on your computer is | | | | to do this with small increment at a time. Sudden |
| only word processing, email and simple tasks, | | | | huge increment will cause the system to be unstable |
| overclocking will not give you noticeable performance | | | | and might lead to its destruction. Bit by bit, you can |
| boost. For gamers and those who are doing | | | | push the system to its extreme. Remember to |
| computationally heavy tasks, overclocking is the best | | | | increase its voltage as you do this. To test the |
| way to transform your system from Daihatsu to | | | | performance of the overclocked processor, you can |
| Ferrari. | | | | use free software such as Super-PI, Prime95, |
| There are some risks involved in overclocking. Firstly, | | | | SiSoftware Sandra and Memtest86 |
| you will be voiding your warranty. This is logical as | | | | For gaming purpose, overclocking the video card |
| you are making the chips to run at a higher speed | | | | usually shows a better result than overclocking a |
| than its specification and there is this possibility that it | | | | processor. The largest performance boost usually |
| could break. Though the risk of the chip breaking is | | | | came from overclocking the video card memory |
| small, the manufacturer will not want to bear this risk. | | | | chips, so if you're trying to keep the heat down and |
| In addition, the manufacturer disapprove of any | | | | only want to overclock the essentials, this is what |
| overclocking act as it means there is a lesser demand | | | | you'll want to look at. |
| for the higher speed processor which could earn | | | | One application you can used to overclock the video |
| them much more profit. Just in case the processor | | | | card is PowerStrip (available from After installation, |
| breaks, the whole system might be destroyed. | | | | you can select 'Performance Profiles' and then |
| Therefore, overclock at your own risk. | | | | 'Configure' from the menu. This is where you can see |
| The main components used for overclocking are the | | | | the Engine clock and Memory clock. Slowly increase |
| processor and video card. The two things to consider | | | | the Engine clock in 5MHz increments and run the |
| when overclocking a component are the power | | | | benchmark application. When you start to see |
| supplied to the component and its cooling ability. | | | | peculiar shape, this is its fastest possible speed. Move |
| Overclocking is to ensure that it is supplied with the | | | | the slider back to its previous successful overclock |
| proper amount of power for its new speed. Providing | | | | and that is the core frequency. Repeat the same |
| too much power could permanently damage a | | | | step with the memory clock. When this is done, your |
| component. You have to find a balance. | | | | video card will be overclocked to its maximum. |
| It is necessary to supply the proper amount of | | | | Before you run the application, remember to provide |
| power to the component for its new speed. | | | | enough cooling agent to the video card as the |
| However, providing too much power could | | | | overclocking process will bring up its temperature a |
| permanently damage the component. You have to | | | | few notches. |
| find the balance. | | | | With the extra speed boosts, surely you can do |
| With the increase in speed, the heat generated will | | | | much more things with your system. Hopefully this |
| surely increase. If too much heat is introduced to the | | | | article has provided you with an insight to the |
| system, it might destroy the functionality of the | | | | overclocking world. Welcome to the overclocking |
| components, and in extreme cases, even causing | | | | community and all the best to your overclocking |
| them to catch fire. Therefore, sufficient cooling is | | | | endeavor. |