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After prolonged exposure to computers, some people become interested in the practice of overclocking. This is supported by the thought that they find out they can make their computers run faster without any expensive upgrades. Even unexperienced users are attracted to this concept. Although it is a simple process to perform, overclocking should remain something that only computer enthusiasts attempt because of the negative side affects.

Overclocking will force your components to run faster. It will use more power and perform tasks faster than stock speeds. This can be done by raising particular settings through FSB in your BIOS. While it can speed up your CPU, graphics cards and overall system, there is a reason why it is unsupported by hardware manufacturers. If hardware could comfortably handle the speeds some people overclock to, manufacturers would release products running at those speeds. However, when releasing a product to the market it is important that it runs smoothly on the wide range of computers it will be used in.

The downsides to overclocking include:

• decreasing the life span of your components.
• voiding warranty.
• creating extra heat (which could require a better heatsink if your stock can’t handle it).
• destroying hardware if overclocked too much.
• making your system unstable.
• creating extra dust that can clog up your heatsink and/or other components if not regularly cleaned.

It is up to you to exercise precaution before overclocking. Be sure to analyse both pros and cons before messing with your BIOS settings.