# Overclocking a PC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739 "2003-05-31T06:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/1 "2003-05-31T06:25:14Z")
I just got the SIMS and the game’s performace is pretty close to bad. I know my computer is somewhat outdated (even though I had played Soul Reaver on it many times with no probs) but I thought since I use this one mostly for just email and the SIM game that I could overclock the processor to maximize the performance…How would I go about doing this? I overclocked my palm for certain apps and it works great. Is there a program for PCs like the Palm? Step by step instructions or a link to a program would be great…thanks for the info. -M ---
**Author:** ![something\_clever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@something\_clever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/something_clever)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/2 "2003-05-31T06:33:45Z")
no, way more complicated 🙂 1. you / we need to know everything about your computer. processor, motherboard, type and brand of ram, and the heatsink / fan setup you have. 2. you would probably have to upgrade most of that to even think about overclocking, so its probably not worth it ---
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/3 "2003-05-31T06:44:18Z")
Damn. I just got a new Dell, maybe I should have downloaded the game into that one upstairs… This one is a Emachine 566i. Do all I really need is a better video card or more memory? The SIM people move and freeze, move and freeze when I play…the computer is constantly running so I can tell it’s working hard for me. I really don’t want to have to buy a faster processor. I still have a working Acer! Gonna be worth a fortune someday. -M ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/4 "2003-05-31T06:53:11Z")
There is a program called [CPU Cool](http://www.podien.de/) that will allow you to change the front side bus speed if the PLL on your motherboard is supported by the program. You’ll probably need to open the case and have a look. The site gives some tips on how to locate it. I use it to overclock my Celeron 1.3 to 1.5. Not much of a boost, but I already have pc133 RAM, so I get an increase in memory performace as well. Be careful, as you know there are always risks to overclocking. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/5 "2003-05-31T07:20:38Z")
Keep in mind that heat will be your enemy, and you risk frying the CPU. Unless you really know what you are doing, I don’t think the performance gain is worth the risk, it would be pretty small anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/6 "2003-05-31T07:42:13Z")
For something like this, more RAM and a better video card before you even think of OCing it, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/7 "2003-05-31T09:56:57Z")
95% of pre-built PCs from Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc, do not have the capability to be overclocked. The motherboards they use only have one front side bus setting, and most can’t adjust the multiplier setting without trouble. Not to mention the cooling solutions are usually pretty weak in those systems…not good for overclocking. ---
**Author:** ![milk\_milk\_lemonade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@milk\_milk\_lemonade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milk_milk_lemonade)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overclocking-a-pc/178739/8 "2003-05-31T11:08:08Z")
Overclocking will give you a few % improvement, say 5-10% if you are very lucky. By far the best improvement will come from fitting a decent graphics card. Factory built PCs from Dell/etc tend to utilise the controlling chipset’s built in graphics which are usually pretty bad for games. If the PC has a spare PCI slot you could fit an Nvidia TNT2 based card for very little money. Unfortunately PCs with built in graphics rarely have AGP slots.