exactly what is an overclock?

[erf]

i've been around these forums awhile mainly to browse threads concerning general hardware performance. i've learned quite a bit about the basics of what makes a computer work etc. HOWEVER, this is an overclocking website right?

i understand that overclocking is basically stepping up your cpu's speed but, outside of this simlpe fact i have no clue.

so this leads to my question:

what exactly is an "overclock"?

it might be better if i understood how exactly the default speed of any given processor is........is........produced? i mean how are the speeds of processors determined? what makes a 3000 venice 1.8ghz, what makes a 4000 claw 2.4? once this is determined/produced, how exactly do you overclock a cpu if not actually physically altering the chip?

the reason i'm asking this now is because i'm about to be building my first rig and am thinking about getting an 80mm zalman for my setup. will this fan be good enough to overclock either a 3500 venice or x2 4200? i know i'm lost, please help me understand.

 

[Lt_JWS]

A cpu's speed is determinded by the multiplier x FrontSideBus(FSB)

IE:
10 x 200= 2000MHz
16 x 200= 3200MHz

Hopefully that helped and should have been easy to understand
About the cooling could you post a link to the one your looking @ ?
These are some very good ones: XP90 XP120

 

[erf]

A cpu's speed is determinded by the multiplier x FrontSideBus(FSB)

IE:
10 x 200= 2000MHz
16 x 200= 3200MHz

Hopefully that helped and should have been easy to understand
About the cooling could you post a link to the one your looking @ ?
These are some very good ones: XP90 XP120

that doesn't really answer my question. what physically makes one chip faster than the other...if it's the "multipliers" then what exactly is a multiplier?

 

[Russ]

the total CPU's speed. I.E. 2000Mhz as in the previous problems. An overclock is an increase of that speed.

 

[erf]

the total CPU's speed. I.E. 2000Mhz as in the previous problems. An overclock is an increase of that speed.

o.k., when they "set" (not even sure if thats the proper term) the multipliers on a processor at the factory how exactly do they do it?

 

[Lt_JWS]

My guess would be they set the multi depending on the quality of the silicone, just a guess im not sure!

 

[Zoio]

Its a complicated task, its how the chip is engineered to operate. Multiplie - multiplies your System clock to give you the total speed example.

Multiplier --->(12) x (200) <--- System clock = 2400mhz, The ratings are based on AMD's benchmarks and such. Some cores can operate at 2200mhz (11x200) and be rated 3500+ (512KB Cache), But then again we have a 2200MHz core rated for 3700+ (1MB Cache), the cache in that instance gives it the difference. I hope this sort of explains what you want to know (Not that great at explaning things)

Overclocking for Athlon 64's, you simply increase your system clock to give you more MHz, the multipliers are locked to Athlon 64's. This isnt the case in older Athlon XP cpu's which some came unlocked. and all you could simply do is change from 11 x 200 to say 12 x 200 giving you a 200MHz boost.

The chipset and bios give you the ability to alter the chips internal frequency. so you dont have to physically modify your cpu. Your only changing its total internal frequency.

Correct me if im wrong. My english isnt very good (from Brazil)

 

[Zoio]

and to answer what is an overclock.

To run a microprocessor faster than the speed for which it has been tested and approved. Overclocking is a popular technique for eking out a little more performance from a system. In many cases, you can force your CPU to run faster than it was intended simply by setting a jumper on the motherboard. Overclocking does come with some risks, however, such as over-heating, so you should become familiar with all the pros and cons before you attempt it.

from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/overclock.htm

 

[Spare-Flair]

This is [H]ardOCP

The Hard Overclockers Comparison Page

And yes, while many people have given the standard defintion for overclock, it's really become a ubiquitous word meaning "to use something at higher performance levels than it was designed for or intented to perform at" and is not limited to CPUs or even computer equipment at all.

so you could for instance (and it's happened here), overclock your electric toothbrush (make it spin faster), overclock your gum (make it last longer), etc.

d00d I 0verc1ocked my ________ (fill in the blank)

 

[Spare-Flair]

o.k., when they "set" (not even sure if thats the proper term) the multipliers on a processor at the factory how exactly do they do it?

Everybody is giving overclocking or technical advice but I gather from your post, your question is really, how is any of this possible in the first place. Well, here's as simple an explanation as I can give as to why overclocking is possible in severe layman's terms.

Basically in a factory, electronic components and especially processors are produced en masse. However, because of the basically microscopic (talking nanometers) process involved, there is a wide variation in quality of product (like wafer or chip).

These are then tested and binned to see at what level they will perform at. Because the higher performing chips are rarer in each batch, they cost more, therefore a higher price is charged for them. So basically factories don't pump out CPUs designed for each speed. Rather, they are tested to see what the maximum stable speed they are most likely to run at the required specifications at, and then grouped. This however, is usually a precautionary safe speed to ensure reliability for the sold product. A 1.8GHz Venice is a chip that has been found to be able to run with stability at 1.8GHz and is grouped with others with similar performance and sold as such.

Because of this, you'll find that electronic components can sometimes run faster than the speeds they are sold at. Additionally, many parts will run at a higher speed if you change the requirements that the manufacturer tested them at. If it doesn't run at a certain speed, perhaps increasing the voltage will allow it to do so. A by-product of this is heat, because again, the component was designed or sold for different performance and likely thermal requirements. Electrical components will run better, more stably, and at higher speeds when cool than hot because high temperatures inhibit efficient conduction. Therefore the emphasis on cooling in overclocking. If a manufacturer sells a processor at a certain speed, it's likely to have been tested with certain thermal requirements, that if relaxed, will mean the CPU can actually run faster if you use better cooling.

In addition, sometimes you'll find that products set out for different market segments are the same or work in other applications with a few tweaks. IE: A laptop CPU that is the same architecture as a deskop CPU, but binned to run at high speeds at lower voltages will run much, much faster in a desktop situation where the user can increase the voltage.

Sometimes manufacturers will fill shortages in demand for lower speed processors by simply using higher clocked chips, marking the lower, and clocking them lower and selling them marked as lower speed chips.

In the end, all this means that if you really want to know what would be good for a CPU, you should do a lot of research into the CPU you are getting. For instance, find out what is typically a good batch for that CPU, from feedback from other owners. A good batch will usually be from the same area of wafer and have similar overclocking potential. This is identified by stepping codes, etc. Those CPUs will have the most potential in having higher overclocks beyond their listed specifications.

You said you'd like to know if an 80mm Zalman would be good for overclocking, well, it depends on the CPU that you get. Because of everything I explained above, no two CPUs will overclock the same so there are no guarantees. You say "will this fan be good enough to overclock either a 3500 venice or x2 4200?"...

Well, that's a question of cooling mainly, in which you'll have to access what the pressure and airflow exerted by the fan, and more importantly, what is the performance of the heatsink you are using in conjuction with the fan in removing heat from the CPU. What do you mean? Figure out how much a resonable and demonstrated overclock you desire, and fit the cooling solution to that need. Basically, the cooler the component, the faster it will run is simply what overclocking is mainly about. Then, there's just the technical aspect of getting your hardware to actually run it at the speed it's capable of getting to and that's where playing the multipliers, front side buses', timings, voltages, etc. come into play. For instance, it's absolutely no use to you to have a cool and potentially fast CPU if you choose a motherboard that doesn't even have the flexibility in modifying your front side bus speed (which is what you'll have to be doing because the 3500 has a locked multiplier), or supplying enough voltage options to get any real stability out of an overclocked CPU. You don't really seem to understand CPUs that well so I would not recommened the X2 for you unless you could differentiate between single and multi-threaded processes that could actually make usage of the dual cores, and it's also unlikely you would be using these sorts of programs anyway to the degree to which it would be useful to have dual cores. Most programs cannot take advantage of this.

 

[erf]

well i think i've actually decided to go with an OEM 3200 venice. it's cheap and if i fuck it up then i can just order another.

 

[Spare-Flair]

well i think i've actually decided to go with an OEM 3200 venice. it's cheap and if i fuck it up then i can just order another.

It's hard to fry a CPU with overclocking (although I've managed two).
Just make sure your temperatures don't get too high and you go slowly with voltage.

 

[ryuji]

my friend fried a 3200 in a day, ran it at 70C ocing it to extreme... should have put on his phase changer before even playing with ocing it