QOTD: Did You Ever Fry Your PC by Overclocking?

By Tuan An Nguyen
published

Everyone wants to get the most for their money. This is no exception to Tom's Hardware readers.

Granted, a good number of Tom's Hardware readers also overclock their computers. From the CPU to GPU to RAM, they're all designed to operate normally within a certain frequency range. However, with the right cooling, and voltage, these components can easily be pushed higher.

In some cases however, bad things happen and something starts to smell bad. Hopefully, this hasn't happened to you, but...

The question of the day is: Did you every fry your CPU, GPU, memory or other things by overclocking?

If so, what were you doing and how far were you pushing your components?

Tuan An Nguyen
114 Comments Comment from the forums
  • nukemaster
    Not yet, but i am still working on it.
    Reply
  • lucuis
    Can't say I have, but there is always that risk.
    Reply
  • jefreynnv
    nothing yet
    I hope I don't have to experience one.
    how would I claim warranty for burned processor?
    Reply
  • The Schnoz
    No, but my new Q9400 is coming in the mail today so we'll see. Shooting for 4GHz. Right now I'm still running an E2160 at 3.2GHz.
    Reply
  • Dave K
    Components yes... Graphics Cards seem to have been particularly susceptible (even after liquid cooling).
    Reply
  • daft
    i have, but it was a case of underclocking believe it or not. old celeron 750 on a cuw-am mobo. i smell something burning, turn it off, take off the HSF and what do you know, melted silicon on the HSF
    Reply
  • mcnuggetofdeath
    Pentium D 820

    Intel says 1.40 volts is safe, but i ran it 24/7 for a year at 3.91GHz with a voltage of 1.44 and now the max overclock i can get with that voltage is 3.8Ghz so damaged the CPU but not fried.
    Once had it as high as 4.16GHz at that voltage but wont go back there anymore.
    http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=424242

    Biostar P43

    The usb controller on the board literally melted, no reason it shouldve but my friends insist it was because i had the voltage to the northbridge cranked up there too. Again, shouldn't have happened anyway. But Biostar was nice about an RMA even though i didn't have a receipt anymore. New version of that board has a Core 2 Duo running at 4.1GHz 24/7 with an intel safe 1.36 volts ( i've learned not to overvolt )
    http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=480253 E7400 @ 4.25
    Reply
  • tommysch
    Not yet, and that is not because i havent tried. Ive seen a friend who forgot to unplug his CPU while filling his liquid cooling loop... It didnt even burned, thx god we didnt OCed it yet.
    Reply
  • xizel
    nope... also still working on it...
    Reply
  • waikano
    Never Burnt it completely but had a K6II 450 that I shortened it's life, had it running over ~533 for about 6 months....then one day...No Go. Was fun while it lasted.
    Reply