Before you start overclocking your computer, you’ll want to make sure that you understand the good and the bad that can come out of this process. This information shouldn’t be viewed as a deterrent, but rather a clarification of the pros and cons associated with overclocking your computer.

Risks of Overclocking:

- Your warranty may be void:

What you’re doing to your system is modifying it to operate differently then it was initially intended to. Once you’ve overclocked the component, you will no longer be able to take advantage of the warranty that the manufacturer has offered.

- Lowered lifespan for your components:

Your components where tested to operate at their defaults for an extended period of time. By pushing their limits, you’re increasing the stress that is being applied to it. This will result and a shorter life span of the component when compared to an unmodified version.

- Increased heat output:

While frying an egg on your system may be appealing, you’ll need to do something about the heat your overclocked components will be giving off. Unfortunately, this means spending money. Higher voltage means more heat, and that heat can effect all the components in your system, not just the overclocked ones.

- Overclocked? Yes. More efficient? No.

Just because you’ve managed to overclock your CPU, doesn’t mean that it’s as efficient as a more expensive chip that operates by default at that speed. No matter what you do overclocking wise, the instruction set for the CPU will still remain at what it was mean to, limiting your efficiency gain.

- Overclocking will frustrate you, big time:

Overclocking can be very frustrating. Even if you’re patient you risk frying components or winding up with a computer that just won’t turn on for some unknown reason. Unfortunately, if you’ve hit the point of frustration and want to give up, the only easy option is to buy new components as your warranty is now voided.

Pros of Overclocking:

- Improved performance:

You may not get the same efficiency as the CPU $200 more expensive then the one you bought, but you’ll definitely see a jump in performance over the default speeds that it currently operates at.

- More dough in your pocket:

Instead of buying new components as the biggest and best come out, overclocking allows you to take advantage of the components you already have that may have a little bit of age to them. Overclocking lets your current components hold their own for longer then they would at stock specifications.

- You’ll know your system like the back of your hand:

Computer knowledge is gained through hands on activities. By opening up your system and getting a feel for it, you’ll be able to grasp a lot more than you were before. Even if this isn’t your first time inside your computer, you’ll definitely learn something new.

- Geek Pride:

People don’t mod their cars to keep in their garage. Gamers don’t overclock their computers to not show off at the next lan party.