New Technology Reviews!.: Rewards

Overclocking the components within your computer can be a lot of fun, but you really need to realize the ramifications of your actions along with the benefits that you stand to gain. Don't take this article to mean that you shouldn't overclock your computer, just that you should completely grasp what the end results can be. Cons of Overclocking: - It will 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. - Your system has to deal with added stress: Even with the proper cooling and management of your components, you still risk damage to them and a shorter lifespan by opting to overclock them. While this doesn't always mean you'll end up burning out your components, you need to understand that it is very possible for it to happen. - Your system runs a lot hotter: While frying an egg on your system may be appealing, you'll need to do something about the heat your overclocked components will be giving off. Unfortunately, this means spending money. Higher voltage means more heat, and that heat can effect all the components in your system, not just the overclocked ones. - Overclocked? Yes. More efficient? No. Instruction sets dictate what a CPU can do. You can't add new instruction sets to your CPU, so overclocking can only do so much. Don't think that overclocking will turn your $200 CPU into a $500 CPU. - It isn't for everyone: Hope you don't mind the chances of your system just not working without any indication as to why. Many times when you overclock a system, you'll end up running into a series of oddities that you can't always explain. Thus, the process isn't always cut and dry and can become very time consuming. Advantages of Overclocking: - Improved performance: You may not get the same efficiency as the CPU $200 more expensive then the one you bought, but you'll definitely see a jump in performance over the default speeds that it currently operates at. - Your bank account will thank you: New components are outdated the second they hit the shelf, so why would you want to keep buying new hardware when you could tweak your old one? Overclocking can give you more life and versatility and leave a lot more money in your pocket. - In-depth system knowledge: Whether you have previous experience with computers or this is the first time you've opened one up, you'll gain a good grasp on how your system operates and what you may need to do to troubleshoot any issues. - Flaunt your stuff: People don't mod their cars to keep in their garage. Gamers don't overclock their computers to not show off at the next LAN party.

The Risks and Rewards of Overclocking

Overclocking the components within your computer can be a lot of fun, but you really need to realize the ramifications of your actions along...