Maximizing Your Computer's Performance

One way to get maximum performance out of your computer is to utilize overclocking. Overclocking is a means of increasing your computer's speed in order to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently. Clocking is the amount of clock cycles a computer goes through per minute as it processes things. Increasing the number of clock cycles per minute makes your computer capable of processing more things concurrently, or concentrate on one task and complete it more quickly.

This is especially beneficial if you are running games or video editing applications. The obvious advantage to overclocking is that you do not constantly have to purchase upgrades. Many people choose to purchase a less expensive computer-processing unit (CPU) and then overclock it rather than buying a newer unit or one with more memory. It is possible to overclock various components dependent upon your purpose.

Some choose to directly overclock the CPU or the RAM (random access memory) while other users prefer to direct their attention to the video card. It is important, if you do choose to overclock your computer to improve performance, that you consult a professional or purchase professional overclocking software to avoid potential problems. Some of these problems can include overheating of your computer unit, shortened life of computer components, system instability and increase noise produced by your computer.

Overheating occurs because as you increase the speed of your computer, you are increasing the rate at which the components work-more clock cycles per minute equals more energy and consequently more heat produced. It is possible to counteract this by using various cooling devices. Getting high-powered fans is one option but will produce a substantial amount of noise. Other cooling options include water-cooling units but it requires some instruction in the proper use of such units. Additionally, because you will be operating the unit outside of the manufacturer's intended operation parameters, you may expect that the computer's lifespan will be shortened somewhat.

System instability can result from improper overclocking, which is why it is best to use a professional software system to help you insure this does not happen. There are many different software programs available that will test for instability problems and bugs, as well as providing benchmark testing to ascertain how your computer's performance has improved. If you choose to overclock your computer on your own, be sure to get some professional advice.

Purchasing a book on overclocking your PC that contains excellent easy to follow directions for this process as well as troubleshooting guides and additional resources can help. After you overclock your computer you will want to test to be sure that you are not having any problems with instability such as bugs or errors. Some errors are silent errors, meaning that while you may not see them right away, they can still be causing problems with your system. This book also contains information on how to test for this type of problem before it can harm your system.