Thought that title might grab some of your attentions.
Seriously though, I just built my first rig (see parts below) this past weekend.... went flawlessly & works WAY better than my old store bought rig from '03.
I built it to play mostly real time strategy games (Dawn of War, C&C3, etc.) but also play a little World of Warcraft sometimes. I have yet to get Sup-Com, but it runs WoW, DoW & C&C3 (demo) w/ graphics settings maxed out.
I built my system w/ 'upgradability' in mind for the next couple of years & intentions to OC. I've been reading the different how to's on OC & I imagine I will start tinkering w/ it very soon.
What I'm wondering is... how noticible is the performance difference between having my CPU running @ 2.4 Ghz to say 3.4-3.6 Ghz? Is it worth the OC effort? Don't get me wrong, the OC itself seems like just a neat a hobby as using the PC itself, but I'm wondering how much bang for your Ghz do you get???
Thanks!
Edit: hrmm.... I posted my specs in my sig. but I can't see them... wonder if everyone else can but I can't? Just in case:
I am currently compiling Topo maps (30x60 Minute series transparent topos for overlay on roadmaps for my Garmin GPS). It takes 4 hours overclocked and 6 hours stock. I save 2 hours per compile! The topo maps that I produce are better than Garmin's topographic maps for the same area.
Video rendering or compression would see similar gains.
Gaming... hmm... some games would benefit but most would not. You might see an absolute increase in FPS in demos, but no noticeable improvement in game play unless you are already flirting with sub-40 fps framerates in the first place.
...on the flip side you void warranty, create more heat, more electricity to pay for, shorten life of equipment, more chance of crashing system, more chance of data corruption etc. When you overclock it overclocks more than just the CPU.
I guess if you had a need to get more speed that I might. But for what I do and the games I play I've never really had the need (although I used to overclock my AMD). Computers are so damn fast these days!
For gaming and long life of your rig, overclocking is NOT worth it. Your video card mostly determines the speed of the game as long as you are not using old and slow CPU's. All of the overclocking guides make this pretty clear. Many of these guides can be found on THC.
For legal video and audio editing, copying etc. and for the enthusiast whose hobby is tweeking hardware, much the same as a mechanic would tune a performance car, then OCing can be rewarding. Women often get a breast job for the same reason An app that requires file compressions, conversion, etc. will finish sooner on an OC'd rig. But I am not sure even this is worth a 25% loss of CPU life over, say 4 years. If you are wealthy then maybe it is worth it.
...on the flip side you void warranty, create more heat, more electricity to pay for, shorten life of equipment, more chance of crashing system, more chance of data corruption etc. When you overclock it overclocks more than just the CPU.
I guess if you had a need to get more speed that I might. But for what I do and the games I play I've never really had the need (although I used to overclock my AMD). Computers are so damn fast these days!
How would it void warranty if you make no physical alterations on the cpu/mobo/gpu? Who would ever know?
My rigs run 24/7 OC'd... one has done so for 4 years straight...
1) It's not likely to void the warranty. They don't know what speed you were running stuff at.
2) Just because you increase the speed of other components, does not mean they are even OC'd. Std FSB for the E6600 is 533. If you buy DDR2-800 and just about any 965Chipset they support an FSB of 800 or higher w/o being considered an OC.
3) Just because you OC, does not mean you are using more power. It all depends on how you OC. I took my CPU from 1.8 Ghz to 3.0 Ghz and decreased my voltage from Spec. I am able to do this because the 1.8Ghz chip was designed to run at about 3.0Ghz at Stock since it's the same chip as the E6800 from an engineering capacity viewpoint. So I take it to the speed limit and then cut back power to the lower design limit.
I may be a bit lucky in getting both but I am.
4) The issue of Extreme OverClocking is another matter. This is one in which the chips and various components are pushed beyond their design limits. When this happens, you are far more likely to encounter the problems you stated. Simply configuring Hardware that is UnderClocked from the Manufacturer to run at full speed is not nearly as dangerous.
...on the flip side you void warranty, create more heat, more electricity to pay for, shorten life of equipment, more chance of crashing system, more chance of data corruption etc. When you overclock it overclocks more than just the CPU.
I guess if you had a need to get more speed that I might. But for what I do and the games I play I've never really had the need (although I used to overclock my AMD). Computers are so damn fast these days!
My P4 2.4c system has been running for almost 4 years overclocked to 3.0-3.2 with a voltage increase of .025v, I see no change in temp, my electric bill has remained the same, my data is perfectly fine, and my system is 100% rock solid. As for the warrenty concern: I have RMAed parts that have been overclocked and I got my new parts with no fuss. The manufacturer will not even know that a component has been overclocked unless their is physical signs of abuse.
You are posting overclocking myths to scare people. Give facts and let him decide.
...on the flip side you void warranty, create more heat, more electricity to pay for, shorten life of equipment, more chance of crashing system, more chance of data corruption etc. When you overclock it overclocks more than just the CPU.
I guess if you had a need to get more speed that I might. But for what I do and the games I play I've never really had the need (although I used to overclock my AMD). Computers are so damn fast these days!
How would it void warranty if you make no physical alterations on the cpu/mobo/gpu? Who would ever know?
My rigs run 24/7 OC'd... one has done so for 4 years straight...
They definately CAN tell if a GPU has been overclocked, probably a cpu and mobo too. They have ways...
No they don't!
Story time children, gather 'round.
Once upon a time in a old Florida trailer park. The prince of computing wanted a new video card. So he ordered a nice new shiny 6800GT. Now this 6800GT ran great and overclocked way past Ultra speed, but then the problem struck. The prince was plagued with graphical errors and lock-ups. The prince then RMAed the card and was worried that he may not get a new card for he had overclocked it a voided the great warrenty. But low and behold he was reimbursed the price of the card and he ordered another 6800GT from a different manufacturer. This new 6800GT was plagued with the same problem of graphical errors and lock-ups. Now some might believe that the prince's overclocking was the cause of the issue, but no. The dreaded Infenion had produced a bad group of DDR3 chips. The Prince once again returned the card and was again worried about the warrenty, and was once again reimbursed. He then ordered his 3rd 6800GT and made sure that it had Samsung chips. And to this day the 6800GT runs overclocked and the prince fragged lots of peasants. The end.
The moral of the story is to not listen to people who do not state fact or try to prove their point by saying things like, "They have ways". Listen to experience and research myths. Do this and you will be rewarded with the truth.
But...it must be true, cause he didn't state any facts or experience and he also said that..."They have ways". I hope that you are no stranger to sarcasm.
...on the flip side you void warranty, create more heat, more electricity to pay for, shorten life of equipment, more chance of crashing system, more chance of data corruption etc. When you overclock it overclocks more than just the CPU.
I guess if you had a need to get more speed that I might. But for what I do and the games I play I've never really had the need (although I used to overclock my AMD). Computers are so damn fast these days!
How would it void warranty if you make no physical alterations on the cpu/mobo/gpu? Who would ever know?
My rigs run 24/7 OC'd... one has done so for 4 years straight...
They definately CAN tell if a GPU has been overclocked, probably a cpu and mobo too. They have ways...
How the hell are they supposed to know if you ramped it up? they won't know is the CORRECT answer, there is no little man inside screaming "this dirty motherf***er overclocked me!!!!" there is no memory inside that stores information about what clock speed you ran it at or how the voltage was changed. if you break the f***ing chip open and start sautering sh!t or you fry the thing from overvolting it of course they are going to think something is amiss...there are physical manifestations of what you have done!
i hate people that make sh!t up just cause they think they know what they are talking about...
These are the same ways "they" watch you through your television and keep track of you with hidden implanted microchips monitored by secret spy satellites. The "black helicopters" are also controlled by the very "they" that are keeping tabs on you.
All of this is true - it must be - I saw it on the internet!!!!
I hope that you are no stranger to sarcasm.
ryanwtab 
jrnyfan_e@hotmail.com 
jrnyofshroom 