overclocking

hardware Any adjustments made to computer hardware (or

software) to make its CPU run at a higher clock frequency

than intended by the original manufacturers. Typically this

involves replacing the crystal in the clock generation

circuitry with a higher frequency one or changing jumper

settings or software configuration.

If the clock frequency is increased too far, eventually some

component in the system will not be able to cope and the

system will stop working. This failure may be continuous (the

system never works at the higher frequency) or intermittant

(it fails more often but works some of the time) or, in the

worst case, irreversible (a component is damaged by

overheating). Overclocking may necessitate improved cooling

to maintain the same level of reliability.

(1999-09-12)