QOTD: Did You Ever Fry Your PC by Overclocking?

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?

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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

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