Overclocking, how does one do it?

[Matty_P]

i wanna overclock my processor. tell me how. please.

also, if ram can be overclocked, i'd also like to know.

and vid cards.

[Invoker]

I don't know exactly how to do it, but some words of advice: know that it will void any warranty you have on the computer itself or the parts therein, and that overclocking can completely screw up everything if you aren't very careful. Also, it puts more stress on the system, so you want to ensure that you have more than adequate cooling systems. Overall I think it's more risk than it's worth, but others disagree. I just deal with whatever inadequacies my computer gives me in speed, and if it gets too bad I just buy better hardware or mess with it in other ways to optimize performance.

[Matty_P]

well, my warranty is already ka-put.

if it is indeed as difficult as you say, perhaps not.

[Shaun]

I don't know exactly how to do it, but some words of advice: know that it will void any warranty you have on the computer itself or the parts therein, and that overclocking can completely screw up everything if you aren't very careful. Also, it puts more stress on the system, so you want to ensure that you have more than adequate cooling systems. Overall I think it's more risk than it's worth, but others disagree. I just deal with whatever inadequacies my computer gives me in speed, and if it gets too bad I just buy better hardware or mess with it in other ways to optimize performance.

Actually, anyone with a bit of know how on OCing would disagree that its more hassle than worth. Its not. Sure, it voids your warranty, but if, and this is a big if, you fry something, just dont tell them. It is hugely unlikely that the manufactoros will do ultra expensive electro migration tests to see if it was OCed, then find out that it wasnt actually and still have to send a replacement, as there is a huge chance that it wasnt OCed. Now, it sure as hell makes your PC better, just ask Pent uP Rage or any other basement guy. Especially in TW engine where a few 100MHz can be the difference of about 700 men, my minute OC of 180MHz gave me 500 extra men before slowdown, just think what 500MHz would do!

thanks erik, quite informative. however, i think i'll skip out on the overclocking.

Here is another useful guide with plenty of links to other sites.
And OCing sure as hell is worth it.

Btw, what mobo and CPU do you have. Dell and most pre built systems dont allow OCing (they disable it in the BIOS), but if its an Athlon or Core 2 Duo or a pentium but no intel mobo you should be fine.

[Invoker]

Eh, to be honest, I would be tempted to try overclocking if I didn't have a laptop. My reasons for being so hesitant about it are due to several of my friends' unfortunate incidents related to overclocking, usually from their own error. Given I plan on my laptop to survive for a long time (and I bought the warranties to ensure that), by the time I buy another desktop I might be brave enough or knowledgeable enough to overclock it.

[Erik]

Overclocking isn't that risky at all.
And it won't void your warrently if your smart enough to keep your mouth shut about it. (they can't tell it was oc'ed).

And it is very simple too:
Just go into the BIOS (you need to press a certain key during the first seconds of startup, usually "delete", it says so on your screen).
In the BIOS you can play around with several settings.
But first: READ YOUR MOBO MANUAL....speciafically you want to know how to reset your BIOS to factory settings in case something goes wrong (this wil involve temporary removing a small battery, or switching a jumper around).
This is your safety in case you scewed up so much that you can't even enter the BIOS anymore.

The main setting you are looking for is the Front Side Bus speed.
This infuences both the CPU and RAM speed.
You wil probably be able to increase the FSB with 5-15%.

If you want to change the CPU speed seperate from your RAM speed, then you have to change the "multiplier" because:
FSB-speed x multiplier = CPU-speed.
But some processors or mobo's don't allow you to change the multiplier, greatly limiting your ability to overclock.

Since you don't know how far you can overclock your system until it becomes unstable you should take small steps (no more than 5 Mhz increases in FSB at a time), and check if your system is still stable.

And just because it boots up doesn't mean it's stable, you want to put your computer trough a stress test.
You can use benchmarking software, or you can play RTW for half an hour to test your system.

If your computer suddently crashes, or if you get errors/slowdowns then you know you have gone too far: let the computer cool down for a few minutes (switch it off), then reduce the setting a little.

You can also increase stability by increasing the voltages (again in the BIOS).
But higher volatges also means more heat, so this could also make things worst rather than better. (depending on your cooling systems), so I don't recommend screwing around with the voltages until you have some more experience.

[Matty_P]

thanks erik, quite informative. however, i think i'll skip out on the overclocking.

[Custor]

Your graphics card probably already comes with built in overclocking software built into the drivers. Check your 'display' options.