Why do you overclock your CPU?
 

Why do you guys try to overclock your CPUs?

Is it kind of like hot-rodding thing?

Would there really be noticable perfomance gain worth the extra expense invested in cooling.

Reason I ask is that I was warned that if I try to overclock it will void my warranty on CPU and could destroy it. Is it just manufacturer trying to scare me?

Though I'm not an expert at the subject, I don't really agree with some "overclocking fans", spending a lot more in cooling than if they simply invested more in their CPU or Memory.

The possibility to burn exists, so unless you really know what you are doing, I strongly advice to stay out of this kind of things.

It's there to be done and so it shall be done, kinda deal. I haven't done it to this processor yet, but after a year or so more when it's not really worth anything, i'll give it a run for it's money before i install a new one. I've done it before and if done carefully and properly it can save you quite a bit of money. I've had up to a 30% speed increase completely stable, tho... the processor did only last 5-6months like that, lol

Hehe... That is the impression I get. Sometimes the amount of effort people put in to get just minor performance improvements with significant risk and expenditure is mind-boggling. I think overclocking is a hobby of itself though and the extra performance is simply a measuring stick of pushing the envelope. I don't think a lot of people do it solely to have a faster pc or video card, I think they do it to see how far they can push the limits of the technology and how they can tweak it.

CPUs used to be built with much more reserve built into them.

Now manufacturers (yes that means both AMD and Intel) are so very well aware of overclocking that they themselves push their CPUs to the limit in the testing. That is they mark the CPUs as high as possible.

relatively old thread but anyways

enigma to answer your 1st question.....

simply because we can :icon_twisted:

i have a p4 celeron 1.7Ghz that i overclocked to 2.1. and to be honest it has been way more stable then stock and temps where still reasonable. (with stock cooling)

As you can see it is quite an old processor now but still works :tongue:

However with the newer processors......it is more about having the edge then getting a noticable perfomance gain ImO :sbiggrin:

And as with breaking the processors..... yeh i guess you could some how manage lol