Overclocking Guide

*Note Original Article Reposted With Permission By Neoseeker

So why overclock? What's the lure? Well the reasons can vary from person to person. There is the economic side of overclocking a 2500+ AMD for instance currently retails for approximately $130 dollars and a 3200+ retails for in and around $315 dollars; it's not hard to see the value of overclocking. There are also those that just like the hobby aspect of overclocking, if it wasn't their computer they were tweaking it would be their Chevy, Ford or riding mower. Then there are people who like me are drawn to overclocking by both of these mentioned reasons.

Whatever your reason for overclocking or tweaking your system and whether you are a novice or have some experience, there are always going to be questions and what ifs. In this article we'll try to explain some of the basics and the role of the BIOS in overclocking. Also we'll look at some common stumbling blocks people come across when trying to boot up after overclocking and how you can overcome them. For all intense and purpose we'll deal with AMD systems, but most factors will also apply to Intel systems.

First some basic rules before we really get into it:

• Don't overclock unless you accept that you may damage your equipment.

• Always take small steps when increasing voltages, bus speeds and multipliers.

• Never change BIOS settings if you're unsure of the results or what function they perform

• Never assume that you'll get the same speeds as someone else, there can be many reasons why you won't.

• Remember just because it boots and runs for a while doesn't mean your system is safe or completely stable