disadvantages to overclocking

[tkim]

i am planning on doing the 1.6a to 2ghz+.....are there any diadvantages?

i heard it is not hard on the cpu but it is hard on the mobo? any truth to that?

are there any other myths that are true/false that newbies should be aware of?

 

[Def]

If you really don't know what you're doing, I guess the worse thing that will happen will be that you have an unstable system.

As for the activity itself, I would say building a computer would be the tough part of overclocking, and that's as easy as putting together some simple Legos.

After that free Mhz are just a few BIOS/Jumper settings away. Take small steps, run Prime95 for a while at each step. If it is stable, you can move up in speed. Small jumps in speed usually don't require any increase in the voltage to the chip. And you usually have to increase the voltage rather rapidly for any speed increase once you hit that "stock-voltage wall".

Other parts of overclocking should be part of normal computer maintence. Like making sure temps aren't too high, keeping your case clean and occasionally stressing your system to make sure it is completely stable(<shameless plug>or by doing a Distributed Computing project you could do that all the time, Go TeAm!!!</shameless plug>). These issues basically stem from the increase in heat production by basically every overclocked component in your system.

So.. in fewer words, overclocking does not entail certain disadvantages beyond those of normal computer use(for someone anal like myself anyway, not the average "Dude you got a Dell!" person).

Defter ---- Asking why am I up so late and typing on the computer???

 

[tkim]

thanks for the advice....

regular building is ok for me but overclocking is a whole new ball game. these tips should help me greatly!!!

anyone else with soem words of advice??

 

[golfreak]

Its quite easy.
Get a 1.6A and a decent MB.
Once you get everything setup, move the FSB to 133 and you just have yourself a 2.13 system.
Everything stay within spec and theres NO disadvantage. AGP stays at 66 and PCI stays at 33.

OCing the 1.6A is about as easy as it get.

 

[Vrangel]

Higher utility bill is the only disadvantage I can think of.

 

[soulm4tter]

heat can be a disadvantage
and noise in the way of louder fans to remove the extra heat

 

[golfreak]

Again, there is NO disadvantage to OCing a 1.6A.

The included retail fan/hs is spinning at 2500rpm and you can't hardly hear it.
All you have to do is turn up the FSB to 133 and you're done.
At most you might have to bump up the Vcore voltage from 1.5(default) to 1.6 but thats about it.
This is about as simple as it get.

Heck, the CPU is warranteed for 3 yrs. In 3 yrs, the cpu will be in the museum.
(don't say something stupid like OCing void your warranty. How does Intel now you bump your FSB to 133 ?).

Its when you want to go overboard like trying to get it to 2.5++ that you might run into problems.
For a newbie overclocker, just be happy that your 1.6 can run 100% perfect at 2.13

 

[PlatinumGold]

as long as u don't up the voltage i don't see how oc'ing just by increasing the fsb can hurt the stability of your system. if you get the fsb too high the system will be unstable so you just keep bringing the fsb down till it is stable. then u leave it there. at that point you shouldn't have any negatives to oc'ing.

if you oc w/ fsb and voltage increase however, i think u can affect the long term life span of the cpu.

 

[j@cko]

Void your warranty of course.... duh...

 

[imgod2u]

First of all, it's "dude, you're getting a Dell!", and you have to have the "!" to stress how stupidly and obviously faked excitement it is said with.

Anyway, I can certainly see how with an Athlon and the pencil trick (or with the AthlonXP's, something more complicated) the manufacturer can tell you've overclocked. But overclocking a P3 or a P4 doesn't entail changing anything on the chip itself. Any breakdown in the chip could be caused by overheating or having the voltage too high (if yer careful the latter won't happen). So how would they know that you've overclocked? Intel, I think, has a 3 year no-questions-asked return policy on all retail CPU's, so if you break it, return it. I really don't see what the big deal is.