How Do They Work? Overclocking

Overclocking is the action of increasing a component’s clock rate, running it at a higher speed than it was designed to run.

This is usually applies to the CPU or GPU, but other components can also be overclocked.

Increasing a component’s clock rate causes it to perform more operations per second, but it also produces additional heat. Overclocking can help squeeze more performance out of your components, but they’ll often need additional cooling and care.

Overclocking boosts the performance of a system without extra cost.

That statement is a bit of a simplification because there are likely some costs involved either in buying parts that can be overclocked or dealing with the effects of overclocking components.

For some, this means creating a system with the highest performance possible because they are pushing the fastest available processors, memory and graphics as far as they can go.

For many others, it could mean extending the life of their current computer components without the need of upgrading them.

Finally, it is a way for some people to get a higher performance system without having to spend the money it would cost to put together an equivalent level of performance without overclocking. 

However, you’re often not limited to that CPU speed. You can increase the CPU’s speed by setting a higher clock rate or multiplier in the computer’s BIOS, forcing it to perform more operations per second.

How to Overclock Your CPU??

Every CPU is different, and every motherboard has different BIOS options. It’s not possible to provide a guide for overclocking that will work for everyone. 

1. Ensure Your System Has Proper Cooling: Your CPU comes with a heat sink and fan from the factory, which are designed to handle the amount of heat produced at the CPU’s standard speed. Speed it up and it will produce more heat.

2. This means that you’ll probably need additional cooling.

3. This can be in the form of an aftermarket heat sink that can dissipate more heat and/or a more powerful CPU fan that can blow the hot air away.

4. You’ll want to have a good amount of free space inside your computer’s case so the air can move around and eventually be blown out by the fan in your computer’s case, which may also need to be upgraded. Air flow is very important for handling heat, as just having a heat sink or CPU fan won’t help if all that hot air stays trapped inside your case.

5. Consider Water Cooling: Hardcore overclockers may want to use a water-cooling system, which is more expensive. Water-based coolant is pumped through tubes inside of the case, where it absorbs the heat.

6. It’s then pumped out, where the radiator expels the heat into the air outside of the case. Water-cooling is much more efficient than air-cooling.

7. Overclock in the BIOS: You’ll need to go into your computer’s BIOS and increase the CPU clock rate and/or voltage. Increase it by a small amount, then boot your computer. 

8. Overclocking can apply to phones, too. There are apps that can overclock a rooted Android smartphone.

9. However, between the additional heat and battery life hit, using these apps is generally not a smart idea.

10. Warning- Any Warranties will Expire the second you Overclock or Modify your System.

In general, overclocking of computer components will generally void any warranties provided by the vendor or manufacturer.

This isn’t really a concern if your computer is older and past any warranties but if you are attempting to overclock a PC that is brand new, voiding that warranty can mean a huge loss if something goes wrong and there is a failure.

Now there are some vendors that offer warranties that will protect you in the event of overclocking failure.