To overclock your processor (assuming your motherboard supports it), go
to your BIOS setup page, as described in Appendix A, and use the controls
in the Overclock Options category. Make sure you consult the documentation
that came with your motherboard or PC for some of the restrictions; for
instance, overclocking on your motherboard may be limited by the speed of
the installed system memory (RAM).
When you??™re done, load up Windows and update your Windows Experience
Index, as described in ???Maximize the Windows Performance Rating,??? earlier
in this chapter. Obviously, the Processor score should go up as you dial
up the overclocking.
Now, over-overclocking a CPU??”overclocking past the point where it??™s
stable??”can cause it to overheat and crash frequently, and at the extreme,
damage the chip beyond repair. Thus, the most important aspect of overclocking
your system involves cooling, so make sure you beef up your computer??™s
internal cooling system before you start messing around with overclocking.
(Obviously, your options will be limited here if you??™re using a laptop.)
Make Your Hardware Perform | 241
Performance
Increase your CPU??™s speed in stages, if possible; don??™t start
off with the fastest setting, or you may end up with a fried
processor and lightly singed eyebrows.
How Much the CPU Matters
A common misconception is that??”with all else being equal??”a computer
with a processor running at, say, 2.8 GHz, will naturally be faster than a 2.
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