[KStrawn]

In case you're not wondering, there is one thing the "Speed Up Everything" article doesn't mention that could be of great help: Overclocking your CPU. I really think that would be a very good thing for people who don't want to open up their computer, since all you have to do is change settings in the BIOS (albeit needing to possibly get a better CPU cooler). Anyway, it works very well.

[waldojim]

KStrawn, on 12 December 2009 - 12:47 PM, said:

In case you're not wondering, there is one thing the "Speed Up Everything" article doesn't mention that could be of great help: Overclocking your CPU. I really think that would be a very good thing for people who don't want to open up their computer, since all you have to do is change settings in the BIOS (albeit needing to possibly get a better CPU cooler). Anyway, it works very well.

but the majority of pc users bought an HP or Dell or whatever, and the bios is typically locked to prevent OverClocking...

Just saying, for the majority, such an article is not helpful. For those that DO oc, there are sites dedicated to such things and have excellent guides. I mean no offense, but I would not take advice from PCWorld anymore on that topic, as it seems they are glorified Gossip writers anymore.

[thevil1]

waldojim, on 18 December 2009 - 05:06 PM, said:

but the majority of pc users bought an HP or Dell or whatever, and the bios is typically locked to prevent OverClocking...

Can't you get around that by using a Backdoor Bios pass?

[SnyperTodd]

thevil1, on 22 December 2009 - 03:17 PM, said:

waldojim, on 18 December 2009 - 05:06 PM, said:

but the majority of pc users bought an HP or Dell or whatever, and the bios is typically locked to prevent OverClocking...

Can't you get around that by using a Backdoor Bios pass?

You can get around that by force-flashing the correct retail BIOS onto your OEM board... IF you can figure out what retail board yours is based off of, and if the Super I/O matches...

This post has been edited by SnyperTodd: 22 December 2009 - 03:39 PM

[Pattycake]

waldojim, on 18 December 2009 - 05:06 PM, said:

KStrawn, on 12 December 2009 - 12:47 PM, said:

In case you're not wondering, there is one thing the "Speed Up Everything" article doesn't mention that could be of great help: Overclocking your CPU. I really think that would be a very good thing for people who don't want to open up their computer, since all you have to do is change settings in the BIOS (albeit needing to possibly get a better CPU cooler). Anyway, it works very well.

but the majority of pc users bought an HP or Dell or whatever, and the bios is typically locked to prevent OverClocking...

Just saying, for the majority, such an article is not helpful. For those that DO oc, there are sites dedicated to such things and have excellent guides. I mean no offense, but I would not take advice from PCWorld anymore on that topic, as it seems they are glorified Gossip writers anymore.

This post has been edited by Pattycake: 01 December 2010 - 06:46 PM

[Pattycake]

I've always been afraid to overclock for fear it would burn out something faster. Is that not possible? If not, why wouldn't they overclock in the first place?

[Knifeblade]

Pattycake, on 01 December 2010 - 06:47 PM, said:

I've always been afraid to overclock for fear it would burn out something faster. Is that not possible? If not, why wouldn't they overclock in the first place?

Hi, Patty,

Well, overclocking is practical way to boost performance for several areas of the comp. that WILL allow it. Most older machines are very limited as to what can be boosted, and many lower-end machines today are similar. Not all, but most. Overclocking can raise heating issues, but damage to a specific part {RAM, Mobo, processor, etc. is unlikely as Windows OS's have a failsafe built-in to shut the comp. down if things go nuclear.

In older machines, overclocking really is more of a "I did it" statement than seeing any real appreciable performance gain. In my case, a Dell ' 03 Dimension 2400, I overclocked the RAM, CPU, and the FSB for a maximum 4% +/- gain, which is really unnoticeable. But "I did it"

As to overclocking in the first place, I really have no answer, but I postulate that several makers allow the end-user to do so, but most fine-print then voids the warranty if the system goes west, releasing the maker from responsibility they would have if they shipped it out o/c'ed in the first place. Now, there are some makers who DO ship systems out already O/C'ed, which makes me wonder why not just build a component to the o/c level in the first place.