Never OC'd anything before...

[D1sc1pl3 0f Mal1c3]

I have an AMD Athlon XP 2600+ in my tower. With the onset of HL2, I want to get as much performance as I can from my machine. Is overclocking a good idea? I'm not too incredibly technically inclined, and I don't have the extra cash to go and try messing around with water cooling and such. If it might be worth OCing, where can I find out how to do it, and is it possible that I could screw up my processor? Thanks!

 

[Chicken Penni Pasta]

Just buy a new HSF, and be careful with the voltages. I doubt you'll need much of an overclock.

 

[peepingdan]

just go in a few MHZ increments on the FSB until it stops working, then back down little by little. AMDs have the fun of balancing the FrontSide Bus and the multiplier unlike Intel proc's. Keep in mind that your memory syncs up to the FSB so crappy memory will hold you back. Then again, there are modules that will do more than a processor can...
I guess you just have to SLOWLY try your luck.