Overclocking

Overclocking means setting a component to run at a higher clock speed than its default specification. It trades extra performance for higher power use, more heat and possible instability.

Why it matters

Enthusiasts use it to get more speed from the same hardware, typically through the BIOS or manufacturer software. It needs a capable chipset, a good cooler and a power supply with headroom.

It can void warranties and shorten component life if voltages are raised too far.

Many modern CPUs already boost automatically, so manual overclocking often yields smaller gains than it did years ago.

Example

Stock:        3.6 GHz at 1.20 V
Overclocked:  4.2 GHz at 1.30 V
Gain: about 17% frequency, with notably higher temperatures

Real-world performance gains are usually smaller than the frequency gain.

Common mistakes

• Increasing voltage without checking temperatures.
• Skipping stability tests such as a long stress run.
• Overclocking a production server where reliability matters more than speed.

Related

• Clock speed
• Thermal throttling
• Chipset
• BIOS and UEFI

This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.