What does overclocking your CPU mean?

Answer 1

Overclocking is a process by which internal components on a computer's motherboard are "tweaked" in order to improve the manufactures specifications and overall performance of the machine. Components that are overclocked are the CPU and the system bus. Information supplied by wisegeek.com/what-is-overclocking.htm explains the overclocking process. Overclocking the CPU - In general CPU chips are tested by the manufacturer to see at what speed they fail. They are then rated at a speed one step lower than this. Since the tests are quite stringent the idea is that it may be possible to push the CPU somewhat faster than its rating while maintaining stability in the system. Sometimes, when manufacturers are short on stock, they package faster GHz chips as slower ones; overclockers perceive this as a windfall. Results from overclocking the CPU alone must be balanced against the rest of the system's specifications, namely the bus speed of the motherboard, memory, et cetera. For example, a 20% increase in processor speed does not usually translate to a 20% overall improvement. The CPU might be running faster than the rest of the system, operating in a "hurry up and wait" environment. Therefore the increase might deliver a nice benchmark improvement but little real-world difference. Unsuccessful overclocking can result in an unstable system at best, and in the worst case scenario can damage the CPU. Though the latter is less common, it happens. Pushing also reduces the lifetime of the processor an indeterminable amount, as it forces the chip to work harder and hotter. Cooling fans and a good heatsink become even more important in this case. Overclocking the System Bus - Changing the motherboard bus speed successfully can create a noticeable improvement on the entire system because all components will run faster. Since the processor's effectiveness is helped by the bus speed, an improvement here can also utilize the full benefit of the CPU. However, overclocking the system bus is risky because it means pushing every component on the motherboard. Some people mistakenly believe that if a motherboard offers varying bus speed options they must be supported and therefore safe to use. The problem is that the components you install may not be tested at, or rated for the higher bus speed. Changing this setting affects the CPU (unless you adjust the clock multiplier), the chipset, memory bus, system cache, system memory, built-in IDE hard disk controllers, PCI I/O bus slots, and all peripherals. All components must be able to handle the change for the system to successfully perform without hardware failures. Manufacturer warranties do not cover problems created by overclocking. While pushing a system might start out problem-free, several months down the road when components have aged due to use and temperature changes, instability can crop up. This is more likely to occur when the overclocking was already at the brink of what the system could withstand. When problems do arise - even a program crash - it can no longer be taken for granted that the crash is due to a software glitch. Troubleshooting a system that is overclocked can be an exercise in frustration. The variables increase exponentially and the ability to rule out potentials is made more difficult as hardware might be acting in unpredictable ways.

K.Davis

AnswerOverclocking is running a processor at a higher frequency than its recommended by the manufacturer which can result in an unstable system but its is a popular thing to do when a computer is used for gaming.

cduarte305

AnswerOverClocking is a process in which you tweak the CPU and other components on your motherboard (such as northbridge , vdimm etc) What you are doing is over speccing.. or raising the voltage and frequency of your CPU and certain chipset components to obtain a frequency that is above manufacturers spec... resulting in a higher speed and or fronts side bus... dangerous for novice users just remember that COOLING is your biggest worry so if you overclock be sure to have your cooling laid out and that it will regulate at the new temps you will get... it goes alot deeper than this but these are the basics...

By |-|3x@|_o7

AnswerFor newer motherboards and processor, you can override the default frequencies by changing a setting in CMOS setup. Running a motherboard or processor at a higher speed than the manufacturer suggests is called over clocking and is not recommended because the speed is not guaranteed to be stable. Also, know that running a processor at a higher-than-recommended speed can result in overheating, which can damage the processor.

Answer 2

Overclocking - in computing terms means... running components faster than the speed their specification states they're capable of. Overclocking not only produces more heat in the circuitry - but also shortens the life of the components.

Answer 3

To overclock a CPU means to increase its performance (cycles per second). However, when doing so, you increase the possibility of overheating and destroying the CPU.

Answer 4

Overclocking a CPU is to speed up a CPU's speed beyond the manufacturer's settings in order to make the computer run faster.