Monday, August 28, 2006
Fear Uncertainity & Doubt: Common Misconceptions
People often claim that overclocking can be harmful, it can reduce the lifespan of your hardare etc. Now, I will clarify them.
Is overclocking harmful?
If you overclock a system with care and do just as much as what are decent limits for that hardware such that it is meant to sustain it, then overclocking should not be harmful practically almost 100% of the time.
RAM voltage depends upon the chips. From what I know, Hynix D43 might be fine around 3.2V while there may be some which may not do ok after 2.8V, there may be others which might do 3.5V. You will need to check for your modules. But generally, 2.8, 2.9V should be fine for most modules.
Does overclocking reduce the lifespan of my component?
Yes, it does. However since most the CPUs are anyway meant to last 5+ yrs, the life deterioartion depends upon several/few factors. it is dependant upon the extent of overclock, temperatures of the overclock and the time period for which the overclock is maintained. Anyway, if you get good cooling solution, the temperatures should be fine. Also, those of us who overclock only for short periods of time for benchmarking and restore to default speeds afterwards shouldn't as such face much trouble with life expectancy. I am assuming right now that, after all how much damage can few hours of overclock do.
Is volt modding harmful?
As long as you stick to specific levels, and maintain decent temperatures, there should be no harm. 90nm CPUs like Winchester and Venice should be able to take between 1.5-1.55V or higher while Northwood(130nm) should go higher, maybe around 1.6V or so.
But, will I fry my system?
For complete noobs, if you have a system which supports overclocking just fine and if it is done with care or under controlled conditions, you will be just fine. You will not blow up your system. However there may be exceptions but most chances are that nothing wrong should happen. It is like asking the chance of a landslide occuring on the very road you plan to travel on the hills.
Is overclocking harmful?
If you overclock a system with care and do just as much as what are decent limits for that hardware such that it is meant to sustain it, then overclocking should not be harmful practically almost 100% of the time.
RAM voltage depends upon the chips. From what I know, Hynix D43 might be fine around 3.2V while there may be some which may not do ok after 2.8V, there may be others which might do 3.5V. You will need to check for your modules. But generally, 2.8, 2.9V should be fine for most modules.
Does overclocking reduce the lifespan of my component?
Yes, it does. However since most the CPUs are anyway meant to last 5+ yrs, the life deterioartion depends upon several/few factors. it is dependant upon the extent of overclock, temperatures of the overclock and the time period for which the overclock is maintained. Anyway, if you get good cooling solution, the temperatures should be fine. Also, those of us who overclock only for short periods of time for benchmarking and restore to default speeds afterwards shouldn't as such face much trouble with life expectancy. I am assuming right now that, after all how much damage can few hours of overclock do.
Is volt modding harmful?
As long as you stick to specific levels, and maintain decent temperatures, there should be no harm. 90nm CPUs like Winchester and Venice should be able to take between 1.5-1.55V or higher while Northwood(130nm) should go higher, maybe around 1.6V or so.
But, will I fry my system?
For complete noobs, if you have a system which supports overclocking just fine and if it is done with care or under controlled conditions, you will be just fine. You will not blow up your system. However there may be exceptions but most chances are that nothing wrong should happen. It is like asking the chance of a landslide occuring on the very road you plan to travel on the hills.
<< Home
