Overclocking a processor can lead to significant performance gains.
The processor in your computer may be capable of running at higher than its current speed. When a company manufactures a line of processors with different speed ratings, it often gives some processors speed ratings lower than what they are capable of. This way, the company is able to produce enough processors to satisfy demand for the lower-end processors in the line. Configuring your computer's processor to run at higher than its rated speed is called overclocking, and many computer enthusiasts use this technique to increase the performance of their computers.
Background
A processor's clock rate is determined by the front-size bus speed -- the rate of communication between the processor and memory controller -- of the motherboard and the processor's multiplier, which is the processor's internal timing between itself and the front-side bus. For example, a processor with a rated speed of 1 GHz might have a multiplier of 7.5 and run on a motherboard with a bus speed of 133 MHz. Most processors have "locked" multipliers, meaning that the end user cannot modify them. However, many motherboards for desktop computers give the end user the ability to change the FSB speed. Changing the FSB speed of the motherboard in this example from 133 MHz to 140 MHz would give the processor a new clock rate of 1.05 GHz; a five-percent speed increase. Overclocking is the act of raising a motherboard's FSB speed to increase the speed of the processor.
Benefits
Overclocking increases the speed of a processor, thereby improving the performance of the computer in tasks that are limited by the processor's speed. After overclocking a processor, you may not see great performance gains while performing non-intensive tasks such as browsing the Web. However, processor-intensive tasks such as games and audio or video rendering generally show improvement. Some people use overclocking as a means of saving money when building a computer. If you purchase a processor with the intention of overclocking it, you may be able to buy a lower-cost processor than you otherwise would have, without sacrificing performance.
Drawbacks
A processor's heat increases when it runs at a higher clock speed, and if the heat that a processor generates is too high, the processor may fail sooner than it otherwise would have. It is even possible to make a processor fail immediately by attempting to overclock it to a speed that is too high. However, the risk of an immediate processor failure is low, and you can mitigate the risk of long-term damage by cooling the processor adequately. An additional drawback is that some processors have low overclocking potential; you might buy a processor with the intention of running it at a high speed, only to find that you are unable to achieve the clock speed you were hoping for. Even if other people have reported success with a particular processor model, this does not guarantee that a processor you purchase will have the same potential. The final potential drawback of overclocking is noise; you can achieve the highest clock rate possible for your processor by cooling it as much as possible, which may require loud cooling fans.
Overclocking Tips
When overclocking your processor, do not immediately attempt to achieve the highest speed possible; if the processor is unable to run at that speed, the computer may not start. Instead, increase the FSB speed of your motherboard in small increments, testing thoroughly after each speed increase. Lower the FSB speed if your computer shows any sign of instability. If you are disappointed with your overclocking results, consider purchasing a more efficient heat sink and fan for your processor.
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