Overclocking (OC)

Overclocking is the practice of increasing a computer component's operating speed beyond its officially specified rate by the manufacturer.

expanded

Overclocking involves adjusting the settings of computer components, such as the CPU or GPU, to run at higher clock speeds than specified by the manufacturer. This can lead to improved performance in applications and tasks requiring significant processing power. However, it also increases power consumption and heat output, necessitating adequate cooling solutions to prevent overheating.

examples

Overclocking an Intel Core i9-13900K CPU from its base clock of 3.0 GHz to 4.5 GHz.

Common in gaming and computer-intensive simulation tasks where enhanced CPU performance is essential.

Boosting a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080's core clock from 1.44 GHz to 1.70 GHz using ASUS GPU Tweak II software.

Utilized by professional gamers and content creators requiring increased GPU capabilities for rendering and graphical processing.

related terms

Direct Overclock Profile (DOCP)

DOCP is a BIOS feature used to automatically configure RAM settings for overclocking on AMD platforms.

Boost clock

The highest possible clock speed a CPU or GPU can operate at under specific conditions.

Clock speed

Clock speed is the operating frequency of a computer's CPU, measured in hertz (Hz).

Thermal throttling

Thermal throttling is a mechanism that reduces a computer's processor speed to prevent overheating.

Modification (MOD)

A change made to a computer system's hardware or software to meet specific requirements or improve performance.