According to Gamestop, overclocking your processor is one of the easiest ways to increase the speed of your processor and improve the performance of your computer. Overclocking refers to the process of forcing your processor to run at a faster clock speed than the one it was originally rated for. Still, PC Guide points out that there are dangers to overclocking a processor, ranging from system instability to serious hardware damage, though it points out that the latter is unlikely. Still, it is very possible to safely overclock most processors.

Establish a Baseline

Establish a baseline of operations to give you an idea of your starting point. When increasing the speed of your system, it is important to know just how much of an increase you might be able to get. There are a variety of benchmark programs available that can give you a clear picture of your system performance.

Make Sure to Stay Cool

Make sure that your system has efficient cooling. Gamespot notes that extra cooling can help ensure that your overclocking efforts are successful, as well as prevent hardware damage. This means using a high-quality thermal paste and a powerful fan. Thermal paste serves to transfer heat from the processor to the heatsink so it can be dissipated into the air. The heatsink is mounted between the processor and the fan. It acts, with the help of the fan, to dissipate heat generated by the processor. When applying the thermal paste to the surface of the processor, use a thin, even layer to ensure proper heat transfer from the processor to the heatsink.

Increase the Frequency Multiplier

Use the BIOS to increase the CPU frequency multiplier. The BIOS serves as the hardware configuration for the computer and contains the code necessary for the computer and its components to operate. You enter the BIOS by immediately pressing a particular key when the computer is turned on; usually this key is "F1" or "Del." These settings can usually be found in the "CPU Configuration" menu. The frequency multiplier refers to the formula: Multiplier x Front-side bus = Processor speed. Therefore, if you are running on a front-side bus of 800 MHz with a multiplier of 4, you will have a final processor speed of 3,200 MHz. Increasing this number will increase your processor speed. For example, increasing the multiplier to 4.5 increases the final processor speed to 3,600 MHz.

Increase the Front-Side Bus Speed

Increase the front-side bus speed in the BIOS; this increases the overall operating speed of the computer. PC Stats indicates that it is the easiest and most common way to overclock a computer, but Gamespot counters that it can potentially cause a great deal of stress to the computer. When you increase the front-side bus, it is important to also increase the voltage to your individual components to keep the system stable, though this will also increase the amount of heat generated.

Test the System

Start up the system and run your benchmark programs again to see how much of an increase you were able to get. Running these benchmarks also allows you to test your system stability and see right away if there are any problems. If your computer crashes or has problems, back it down and try again. Always use small increments when you make any change. This is the best way to prevent hardware damage and to ensure reliable operation.

Source:

Beginner's Guides: Overclocking the CPU, Motherboard, and Memory

Risks of Overclocking the Processor

How to Overclock Your CPU