Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Overclocking
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Before you start overclocking your computer, you’ll want to make sure that you understand the good and the bad that can come out of this process. This information shouldn’t be viewed as a deterrent, but rather a clarification of the pros and cons associated with overclocking your computer.
Cons of Overclocking:
- You’ll most likely void your warranty:
By tinkering around with your systems components in a fashion other than what it was meant to do, chances are you’ve voided the warranty. While this may not be that serious to some, fact is that you won’t be able to return that product or even get support on it anymore.
- Added stress on your components:
Your components where tested to operate at their defaults for an extended period of time. By pushing their limits, you’re increasing the stress that is being applied to it. This will result and a shorter life span of the component when compared to an unmodified version.
- High temperature environment:
Overclocking your components involves increasing the voltage that is sent through them. The more current, the higher the heat output, and the greater the risk of heat related damage. Heat issues will also cost you as you’ll have to purchase various cooling devices to obtain your goal.
- Overclocking does not increase efficiency:
Just because you’ve managed to overclock your CPU, doesn’t mean that it’s as efficient as a more expensive chip that operates by default at that speed. No matter what you do overclocking wise, the instruction set for the CPU will still remain at what it was mean to, limiting your efficiency gain.
- Overclocking will frustrate you, big time:
You’ve installed all your fancy new cooling devices and set up everything perfectly, but for some reason your system won’t turn on. Looks like your back to the drawing board unless you want to admit defeat and call a friend over or buy new parts because chances are, your warrant is void.
Benefits of Overclocking:
- Raised clockspeed:
Your overclocked component won’t run identical to the more expensive version operating at its new speed, but it will be a huge jump in performance.
- More dough in your pocket:
New hardware costs big money, and while overclocking won’t get you neck and neck with that new hardware, it will keep you close enough to not spend your vacation money on a new component.
- You’ll know your system like the back of your hand:
Delving into the depths of your system is a great way to learn more about it. Hands on learning is the best way to understand your system and control all aspects of it directly.
- Geek Pride:
Unless you’re reading up on this site to understand what you’re friend or someone you paid will be doing to your computer, you’ll have full bragging rights. While you may not be able to convince your boss that you deserve employee of the month for overclocking, you’ll be able to proudly display your rig at the next LAN party.
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