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The abbreviation CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. This is the basic memory or logic center of the computer and is considered to be the brains of a computer. All of this is contained within a single silicon chip and is characterized by the specific set of instructions, bandwidth, and clock speed that it has been configured with. The instructions detail exactly what the CPU is capable of executing. The Bandwidth determines how many bits are processed per instruction. And the clock speed determines the number of instruction executed per second measured in megahertz (MHz).

While you may have a fast CPU, you can’t always take full advantage of it’s capabilities. The speed at which your CPU will run at is determined by two factors, it’s internal multiplier and the motherboard and memories front-side bus (FSB). The FSB is the speed of data transfer between the CPU and the system memory. The internal multiplier indicates the speed of the processor and when multiplied by the FSB, yields the CPU speed in MHz. If your motherboard has a lower FSB than your processor can utilize, you will bottleneck your performance significantly. Many processors do not allow you to adjust the internal multiplier as even changing it by one is a significant jump in the MHz output of the CPU. Modifying the FSB for performance is by far the easiest and most common method of overclocking your CPU.

When you begin to overclock the CPU, for it to reach the new speed that you are pushing it to, you will need to increase the voltage that it runs at. As stated before, CPU’s are running at a lower speed then they can actually be pushed to, so increasing the voltage your CPU operates at is not pushing it above it’s capabilities but pushing it above its default settings. You will also need to make sure that your power supply is capable of handling the increased output to the CPU. As more current passes through the silicon based chip, it continues to heat up higher than the stock cooling unit is meant to handle. Make sure that you have a proper way to cool your CPU as you increase the voltage to it.

A rule of thumb when overclocking your CPU is that you shouldn’t push the voltage past .3 volts for an extended period of time. Also, the maximum temperature that you should allow your CPU to reach is 115 F. While many systems can sustain up to 160 F, 115 F provides you with a much safer temperature for your system as often times the increased heat of other components being overclocked can cause issues.

By better understanding how the CPU works, overclocking makes a lot more sense then simply adjusting information within the BIOS or switching a jumper on your motherboard. Offering up a guide for people to follow on how to overclock their system without providing the technical information and background or pointing towards where to look for it is negligible. Those interested in fixing up older cars don’t just jump in after reading how to replace the brakes without actually understanding how the brakes work. Take pride in what you’re doing and learn about it as much as you can.

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