How do you overclock a CPU and whats the easiest way to tell how fast your CPU currently is? Is there a software tool you download to do all this? Im a total n00b when it comes to computers but I know overclocking will help speed it up. I looked online and everything seems really technical. I need it laid it out in n00bness terms. laugh.gif

 

Okay, well, first off there are a couple pieces of software that will detect CPU speed.

Megahertz: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Mega...load-37663.html
CPU-Z: http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

As for overclocking, it's pretty much forcing a processor to increase it's amount of clocks(routines) per second. This can be done by editing the FSB Speed, CPU Ratio(Multiplier), and memory settings within the BIOS of your motherboard. These three settings will overclock your computer to run at a higher speed. This also means it will require more power consumption and generate more heat. In order to not fry your processor you'll need added fans or higher flowing ones. Or upgraded heatsink.

First off not all computers should be overclocked unless you want it to burn. lol. Laptops and pre-manufactured computers aren't so easy to overclock. The manufacturers will sometimes make the settings in-editable or remove them all together from the BIOS.

Here's a link to some info: http://www.wikihow.com/Overclock-a-PC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overclocking

 

When overclocking, you're setting the limits of the processor higher then the processor manufacturer suggests. This can cause problems with accurate data transmission and wear out the processor quicker. Only do this if you know your way around a computer otherwise you will be blaming your blue screen of death on Microsoft when you should be pointing the finger at yourself.

These days, you either have a BIOS that supports overclocking or you don't. There are some tools available to manually edit the bios on some models of motherboards. You need to find your motherboard model. It may be in the BIOS, it may be on the motherboard. Then search overclocking "your motherboard model".

On older AMDs they severely under-clocked their chips from the factory as a sales gimmick. That is not so much the case these days.

 

Before you burn up your CPU, you might try adding RAM (which has the fun benefit of letting you do more, while you do it faster)