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Your path to understanding overclocking begins with a view of today's market in Chapter 2. This background information explains how you can use overclocking to offset the increasing costs of computing. We'll do a cost analysis of common overclocking scenarios versus the actual monetary cost of both purchasing a prebuilt PC and upgrading individual hardware components, so that you can better appreciate the fundamental benefits of overclocking.
Chapters 3 and 4 provide the concepts that create the foundation of overclocking. We'll cover the basic techniques and ideas required to attain a successful overclock without concentrating on platform-specific data.
Chapter 5 covers perhaps the most important factor in attaining a successful overclock: cooling. Proper thermal regulation of both the microprocessor and the entire system is required to maintain stability at extended operating speeds, especially as the latest 1+ GHz architectures push the envelope in terms of extreme heat generation. The overclocking of a processor without proper cooling is tempting fate, as this is the leading cause of component failure when pushing systems beyond their factory defaults.
Chapters 6 through 8 offer extended information about each of the latest platforms from the three primary manufacturers: AMD, Intel, and VIA. Topics include platform specifics and detailed information about the latest generations of processors. We'll cover background information, architectural data, operating speeds, and detailed overclocking procedures for all current, popular platforms.
Chapter 9 tackles troubleshooting, which is often required to diagnose potential instabilities or device failures within an overclocked computing system. Overclocking increases the possibility of instability because it places additional stress on the various system components. The majority of problems arise from mismatches in the communication rates between each of the PC's components.
Chapter 10 discusses benchmarking applications and procedures, the ability to assess the performance return offered by overclocking. We'll look at the intricate testing and analysis of system performance at all component levels with a balance of both synthetic and real-world benchmarking routines. A complete system benchmark testing process can also offer you the ability to determine the proper mixture of various overclocking procedures for maximum performance.
Chapter 11 offers advice on whether or not you should overclock once you know how, as well as smart shopping tips, and what to do with your PC's increased performance. Just because you know how to overclock, doesn't mean that it's right for you, since overclocking can increase system instabilities and the potential for data loss. And of course, it may make more sense for you to buy cheap and fast components rather than overclock your existing hardware, so the smart shopping tips section will help you find the lowest prices on quality hardware from the best retailers.
The Appendix answers your most frequently asked overclocking-related questions, defines terms, and provides a list of resources where you can further advance your knowledge and overclocking skills. You will also find a list of software applications to help you diagnose, benchmark, and overclock your PC. Several retailers are listed that provide overclocking equipment such as water coolers, fans, Athlon unlocking kits, and PC cases.
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