-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: inkleput{at}isp.com
> "Derek W. Keoughan"  said:
> 
> >>Hi all,
> >>OK, what's next in quiet-n-cool computing? Anyone wanna try this?
> 
> >Let me know how you make out... I'd be too tempted to overclock the
> >whole rig and make french fries... :-D
> 
> >-Derek
> 
> I'm curious.  Percentage wise, about how much increase can you get out
> of the "average" push?  I ask because I'm a bit skeptical whether it's
> worth the effort.
> 
> Jim L, via eCS 1.24 version of OS/2

Hello
   The short answer is "Yes, the gains can be considerable".

  The longer answer involves what you use your computer for and how far
you're willing to go, primarily with cooling.  Because CPU speeds from the
manufacturer are labelled at a given expected thermal environment, changing
that environment, either by living in an air-conditioned or naturally
cooler climate or increasing the performance of the cooling system, there
is considerable room for bumping it up.  This is also affected by the
practice of re-labelling where faster chips are marked down to fit a market
demand.
   
  Even though it is possible to achieve substantial increases in speed,
it's effect may be somewhat reduced from what it was "back in the
day" partly because of certain thresholds.  50% increases used to be
common, that is to say that so many of them were the simple increase of FSB
from 66MHz to 100Mhz since virtually every mobo had both speeds available
for a fairly wide window of time.  Starting with a 166MHz and breaking
through to 233+, especially in the more hardware intensive, less scalable
windows world, could make the difference between a usable XP system and
sticking with W98.  The difference between a 666MHz and a 1.0GHz felt
spectacular, very noticeable in boot times, compile times as well as
general system snappiness.  However today, if one owns a 2-3GHz machine
already, the CPU is no longer a major bottleneck so less perceived gains
occur now.  However ram and videocard overclocking has become popular for
quite awhile now to make up for that.  But, just as automobile hot-r

odding changed what Detroit (and the whole world by now) offers as
"stock" and/or "optional" modern PC's are forever
changed by the overclocking community.  The manufacturers begin to
"hot-rod" themselves.  In terms of common availability it becomes
more difficult to make the same levels of percentage gains partly because
CPU manufacturers provide better heatsinks and fans than they used to so
one has to go to greater lengths to provide better cooling.  Video card
manufacturers offer overclocked boards right out of the box.  Ram
manufacturers offer sticks that already have heat spreaders.  Some system
builders offer completely overclocked systems.  The common denominator as
always though is gaming and increased framerates which can be a huge edge. 
If one only does email and spread sheets the change isn't that noticeable,
certainly not enough to make it economical to spend $100-$350 on a water
cooling kit.  Gaming and windows' spiralling hardware requirements is what
drives this change

 and this hot-rod industry aside from the pleasure of making more from
less.  If you don't do windows or 3D accelerated games all that's left as a
reason is that quest and the satisfaction of a little more speed.  From
what I've read at the rumour stage, those that plan to "upgrade"
to nexgen windows, codename Vista, a lot of people are going to be
absolutely shocked at requirements and that may cause a new spurt in
hot-rodding/overclocking.  Thankfully we are left with the just for fun
part.

Jimmy  

  Even then though the primary reasons people overclock was for fun and games 


 
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