IntroductionIntroduction Overclocking essentially is taking your Overclocking essentially is taking your

computer and making it work harder than it computer and making it work harder than it was shipped to work, to squeeze out better was shipped to work, to squeeze out better performance. performance.

Sounds all good? Sounds all good? Well, there are plenty of drawbacksWell, there are plenty of drawbacks

You immediately and irrevocably void your You immediately and irrevocably void your warranty on the overclocked hardware, and warranty on the overclocked hardware, and possibly other hardware.possibly other hardware.

Overclocking your hardware poorly could very Overclocking your hardware poorly could very easily result in said hardware becoming unusable. easily result in said hardware becoming unusable.

In extreme cases, if you don’t cool your system In extreme cases, if you don’t cool your system properly, the hardware could even catch on fire properly, the hardware could even catch on fire and damage other hardware nearby. and damage other hardware nearby.

Despite these drawbacks, many custom Despite these drawbacks, many custom built computers are overclocked. Why?built computers are overclocked. Why?

It’s often cheaper to over clock a piece of It’s often cheaper to over clock a piece of hardware and add proper coolants to it, hardware and add proper coolants to it, than to upgrade the hardware to a more than to upgrade the hardware to a more powerful model. powerful model.

This holds true for your memory, video This holds true for your memory, video card, and even processor. These are all card, and even processor. These are all overclockable.overclockable.

Overclocked hardware, when supported by Overclocked hardware, when supported by proper cooling systems, can perform many proper cooling systems, can perform many times better than they were built to.times better than they were built to.

PreperationPreperation Before you begin the preliminary Before you begin the preliminary

steps to over clock your system, steps to over clock your system, be sure to back up any be sure to back up any important files onto an external important files onto an external source. source.

Acquire a few pieces of software Acquire a few pieces of software that will facilitate your over that will facilitate your over clocking –clocking – Motherboard Monitor, which you Motherboard Monitor, which you

can get from can get from http://mbm.livewiredev.com/http://mbm.livewiredev.com/, will , will allow you to monitor your CPU allow you to monitor your CPU temperature.temperature.

SiSoft Sandra Lite, obtainable SiSoft Sandra Lite, obtainable from from http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/, will , will allow you to stress-test your allow you to stress-test your system after overclockingsystem after overclocking

Basics of OverclockingBasics of Overclocking Your memory, video card, and processor all Your memory, video card, and processor all

run at a speed governed by their internal run at a speed governed by their internal clock. clock.

This speed is usually set at a stable and This speed is usually set at a stable and generally inferior level in order to guarantee generally inferior level in order to guarantee that it performs as advertised. that it performs as advertised.

Not all hardware is overclockable. Most pre-Not all hardware is overclockable. Most pre-assembled computers from popular companies assembled computers from popular companies such as Dell and IBM cannot be overclocked.such as Dell and IBM cannot be overclocked.

To overclock your hardware, you simply tell it To overclock your hardware, you simply tell it to operate at a higher clock speed than it is to operate at a higher clock speed than it is currently set to, and it goes ahead and currently set to, and it goes ahead and operates at that higher clock speed.operates at that higher clock speed.

OverclockingOverclocking Over clocking your system is Over clocking your system is

best done from your BIOS best done from your BIOS settings. The screenshot shows settings. The screenshot shows the BIOS screen along with the the BIOS screen along with the settings to overclock. settings to overclock.

The full procedure to overclock The full procedure to overclock would take too long to explain.would take too long to explain.

The basics are that you change The basics are that you change the value of the CPU Clock Ratio, the value of the CPU Clock Ratio, and then reboot and see if it and then reboot and see if it works. works.

If it does, you run a stress testing If it does, you run a stress testing program and test its stability.program and test its stability.

Then you repeat until you’ve Then you repeat until you’ve reached the limit.reached the limit.

Recovering from problemsRecovering from problems If your system becomes unstable If your system becomes unstable

as a result of overclocking it, you as a result of overclocking it, you should clear your CMOS. should clear your CMOS.

Your CMOS is a small blue chip Your CMOS is a small blue chip located on your motherboard, as located on your motherboard, as shown in the image. shown in the image.

This can be done by changing the This can be done by changing the position of the clear jumper on position of the clear jumper on your CMOS and then setting it your CMOS and then setting it back after a few minutes.back after a few minutes.

Unplugging your computer, Unplugging your computer, removing the CMOS battery, removing the CMOS battery, powering the computer back up, powering the computer back up, waiting a few minutes, and then waiting a few minutes, and then powering it off again and replacing powering it off again and replacing the battery is another option.the battery is another option.

These procedures will reset your These procedures will reset your BIOS settings to factory defaults. BIOS settings to factory defaults.

ConclusionConclusion

Why overclock? To get more performance Why overclock? To get more performance without spending too much more money.without spending too much more money.

Drawbacks? Void your warranty and risk Drawbacks? Void your warranty and risk damaging your hardware.damaging your hardware.

Much more information available online at Much more information available online at various websites.various websites.

Make sure to back up your files before Make sure to back up your files before trying anything at hometrying anything at home!!