Many people probably don't know what overclocking is but have possibly heard the term used before. To put it in its simplest terms, overclocking is taking a PC component such as a CPU and running at a specification higher than rated by the manufacturer.

Every part produced by companies such as Intel and AMD are rated for a specific speeds. They have tested the capabilities of the part and certified it for that given speed. Of course, most parts are underrated for increased reliability. Overclocking a part simply takes advantage of the remaining potential out of a computer part that the manufacturer is unwilling to certify the part for but it is capable of.

Why Overclock my PC?

The primary benefit of overclocking is additional computer performance without the increased cost. Most individuals who overclock their system either want to try and produce the fastest desktop system possible or to extend their computer power on a limited budget.

In some cases, individuals are able to boost their system performance 25% or more! For example, a person may buy something like an Intel Core Duo and through careful overclocking end up with a PC that runs at the equivalent processing power as a Core Duo worth hundreds more!

There are drawbacks to overclocking your PC. The biggest drawback to overclocking a PC part is that you are voiding any warranty provided by the manufacturer because it is not running within its rated speed. Overclocked components that are pushed to their limits also tend to have a reduced lifespan or even worse, if improperly done, can be destroyed completely

Everyday I get frequently asked the same question by beginners when it comes to overclocking. and that question is...

"How do I overclock my CPU?"

Well I've decided to write up a nice and simple guide to overclocking your CPU. This guide will cover the following...

"Can I overclock my CPU?"

"Should I overclock my CPU"?

And of course that question every beginner asks...

How do I overclock my CPU

So here I we will try to lay a foundation, try to give you a fundamental understanding of what's going on when it comes to overclocking. Because this is a basic guide, it is also a general guide. It's not the be all and the end all but hopefully you should be on your way to your first overclock.

So on that note, let's begin.

I suppose one of the most confusing things to a beginner is this thing about MULTIPLIERS. Most first-time overclockers enter their BIOS (Which most of the time you simply hit delete to enter ) and try to overclock their CPU by changing their CPU SPEED (pre-set to Auto).

While this would make sense to most, this setting will not allow you to overclock your processor. So, Set "CPU SPEED" to the actual speed of your CPU. In other words, to 500 or 650 or 800 MHz - whatever your CPU actually is.

The Multiplier all CPUs barring the top of the range ones like AMD's FX and Intel's Extreme range are locked. The multipliers cannot be changed in the BIOS, or anywhere else for that matter.

On that note I should probably tell you that AMD and Intel are not particularly fond of overclocker trying to overclock their CPUs. AMD and Intel does nothing to help and much to hinder the overclocker. It's kinda looking grim ain't it.

"So how do you guys overclock your CPUs?"

While AMD and Intel detest overclockers, motherboard manufacturers on the other hand adore us. They shower us with features and options of real use only to overclockers. They give us a back door into overclocking. So we go through the back door, then overclock the CPU through something called the FRONT SIDE BUS, or "FSB" for short and this is where all the magic happens basically.

Just so you know, AMD's equivalent to the FSB is called Hypertransport. But they work exactly the same to each other.

But there is draw backs to overclocking your CPU through the FSB

There is a drawback in having to overclock your CPU through the FSB though. The "PCI BUS" (your sound cards, network cards, hard drives and your graphics card) all go through the FSB as well. When you overclock your CPU, you overclock everything. Even your PCI PORT for your PCI card is set to operate at a fixed fraction, (2/3 or 1/2), of the FSB.

Here's the first place where your motherboard will come through for you: It allows you to set the PCI clock frequency to a different and lower frequency than your CPU. This is most often done automatically for you; usually between 31 and 41 MHz - depending upon the FRONT SIDE BUS speed you select (hereafter referred to as the FSB).

"Cool! So how do I overclock my CPU then?"

Even your RAM runs out of spec when you overclock the FSB. The newer motherboards show their true love for the overclocker by allowing you to separately set the clock speed of your RAM. The settings are +/-33 MHz added to the PCI BUS speed. This allows you to clock your memory up or down in relation to your FSB speed.

For example, if you're using PC 100 memory with a CPU running at a FSB speed of 133MHz, you will want to set your RAM to -33MHz. The opposite is true as well: If your using PC133 RAM with a 100MHz FSB setting you'll want a +33 setting for your RAM. Setting RAM properly will greatly add to the speed and stability of any system. If not done properly it can prevent a system from booting.

"Wow that's great, so how do I overclock my CPU?"

Read your motherboard's manual.

"Oh"

Then set your CPU SPEED (The FSB) setting to "MANUAL".

Then look (usually just below your CPU SPEED setting) for a setting that says, "System/PCI FREQUENCY (MHz)" or, "CPU HOST/PCI CLOCK" or something related to one or both of these titles for this setting. The exact title varies from motherboard to motherboard.

But they all do the same thing: OVERCLOCK your computer!

Adjust this setting upwards very conservatively.

The exact numbers will vary quite a bit depending on whether your using a 66MHz, a 100MHz, or a 133MHz processor. Please heed my words: Adjust this setting only a few notches upwards, then Save and reboot. Once your at your desktop in Windows, check your temperatures.

"Errr...How do I do that?"

Good question.

You should have already downloaded and installed MBM (Mother Board Monitor) If not, you can download it here

Set this program up BEFORE you try overclocking your CPU.

You SHOULD also get and USE ShutDown NOW! ShutDown Now! will turn off your computer if it overheats once you set that up. Be sure to set it up and test it before you overclock. These two programs can save your CPU's life! You're taking it into a danger zone. Give it a safety net or start digging it's grave.

I've tried to give you a fair idea of the elements involved in a simple, BASIC overclock.

When or if you want to do MORE than this, you will need to:

Invest in way better cooling than you have now.

Really understand your motherboard by studying (not just reading) your manual.

I've spent a lot of time here just to tell you how to change two settings. If you set your CPU SPEED to MANUAL and adjust your PCI FREQUENCY upward a bump or two, you will achieve you first overclock! If that's all you ever do you will be extremely unlikely to ever have any troubles due to this minor change in your system.

However, the very ease of your accomplishment can lead you into a world of pain! When you read articles or go into the forum and see 25 to 50% overclocks (sometimes more!) you will be tempted to mosey on back into your BIOS and try for more.

But if all you know about overclocking is what we have discussed here today....

DON'T DO IT. YOU ARE NOT READY.

I can help you prepare, but you must make the preparations. I can tell what precautions to take, but YOU must take these precautions. Remember this: Just by making these two changes I've given you, YOU HAVE VOIDED MOST OF YOUR WARRANTIES!!

So don't - I'm asking you, please - Don't presume upon your success.

Every step beyond where I've taken you today requires forethought and understanding. It requires specialized knowledge and careful planning

I've shown you the easy and the safe way to start to start overclocking your CPU. But from here on, it's less easy and far less safe. From here you will need to protect your gear, add cooling and modify the relationship between your CPU, RAM and motherboard settings. You will need detailed and specific advice to take your overclocking to the next step.

If your still not sure how you overclock or your ready to take it to the next step, be sure to check out the overclocking resourse section. They come very recommended.

When overclocking, there is something you should always do. It dosen't matter what your overclocking. Be it your CPU, graphics card or your ram.

You must always benchmark when overclocking!

And there's two types of overclockers who benchmark. There's the average joe who tests for stablities for new overclocks. Then there the other half who take it to the next step. The ones who are racing their PCs....

that's right kids, people are racing there PC's and this is called benchmarking. And like any other race, you will need the best equipment around to be the best. Trust me, if you want to stay on top, you'll need a bank balance to match. This is because you need to be on the bleeding edge of technology to compete and even then if you break the PC mark record, it'll only be a matter of hours before somebody puts you into second place

For the real rich kids out there, you can buy a pre build custom made PC. Specialists like Alienware and Voodoo will build it to your EXACT specification. You want your name laser cut into the side of the case? Or maybe you fancy extreme water cooling? All this and much more besides, I've heard of people spending 10`s of thousand of pounds on a pre build PC. So go on then, click on one of the above links and ask yourself could you see one of there rigs sat on your desktop?

For a more down to earth approach for people who have a life to live and bills to pay (i.e. me and you) can use it to measure the performance difference of a new upgrade, testing how stable your computer is under load, gauge how powerful your PC is, and for the very reason your reading this book...to overclock.

There all sorts benchmark programs on the internet which will test all your computers components. To name but a few.

Si Software Sandra:

this is good to give a general diagnostic for the PC and fires back information such as the CPU, chipset, video adapter, memory, sound card, ports, printers, network, Windows internals, AGP, USB2, ODBC Connections, Firewire etc. this is the preferred weapon of choice for overclocking the memory.

Fraps:

This one's more for the gamers, it works on the principle of FPS (Frames Per Seconds) which allows you to record a section of a game and then gives you a score of minimum, average and maximum in FPS. This one particular useful for benchmarking your graphics's card

3DMark:

Remember earlier when I mentioned about racing PC's? well this is the race course where it all takes place! If your planning to build a MONSTER of a PC and willing to compete with people who spend thousands of pounds alone on heavily modded cooling equipment and plan to be the top of your game? Well this is where you come.

Basically 3DMark will measure your PC's 3D performance using next generation technology similar to game engines used to day.

CPU Burn:

CPU Burn is designed solely for the (ye you've guessed it) CPU and basically test's it for any instabilities.

CINEBENCH

CineBench is the free benchmarking tool for Windows and Mac OS based on the powerful 3D software CINEMA 4D R8. The tool is set to deliver accurate benchmarks by testing not only a computer's raw processing speed but also all other areas that affect system performance such as OpenGL, multi threading, multiprocessors and Intel's new HT Technology.

So go then, download one of the above today and trust me, it can be very addictive. Trying to squeeze every Ounce of power out of your PC, attempting to beat your personal best on PCMark and if like me, making small purchases like a new fan and heat sink just to push your PC that little bit further. And over time, those add ons add up. Now because of benchmarking, I'm sat here with a monster PC, and it doesn't end there ether.

Constantly tweaking and modifying it like a boy racer preparing for a race. Fans set to the highest speed, grawling away. Water cooler optimised to take on a seriously overvolted CPU head on. Graphic cards in SLI formation, tuned to perfection for maximum output. The list is endless.

Here is a few links to other sites that are fantastic reources for overclocking and I think you'll find them really useful for your overclocking crusade.

So without further a do, here they are....

Overclocking your CPU to the EXTREME!

This is more of book than a site but if you want a detailed step by step guide that'll take you from start to finish, you'll want to check this out first.

How to overclock your graphics card and more revealed

Once again this comes from the same guy but if you want a one stop guide to show you how to maximize your graphics cards full potential, then this is the book for you.

Overclockers.com

Helpful forums and great articles. If you ever need a hand just stop by and ask

Overclocker uk

If you need any hardware for your overclocking crusade this is the place to be. They throw weekly sales on their hardware so your sure to find what you want here providing your willing to wait until whatever your looking for lands in the bargain bucket.

Overclockers Uk also have their own forum that's worth checking out.

Extreme overclocking

Similar to Overclockers.com. Extreme overclockers supply reviews, articles and of course forums.

toms hardware

Useful hardware reviews and forums.

There's tons more out there on the net but these are more than enough to get you started.