Overclocking is the practice of editing the parameters within a hardware device, pushing it to work harder and faster, but also getting better performance. This is most commonly used with computers and graphic cards, resulting in a better user experience as well as a faster computer or better display.

Now, altering the parameters or structure of any device or software will usually cause warranties or other insurances to become void. However, overclocking has become somewhat of a new trend, with some hardware manufacturers actually embracing this practice. They develop and build devices that have settings that are easy to adjust, making it easier for users to get the most from their hardware.

For someone who likes to play around with settings and such, this sounds appealing – a new product that can be customized to work better than it is originally supposed to, but for the same price. But is that really true? It seems that some companies often charge more money for a piece of hardware that has a high “overclockability” than a basic model that doesn’t list that as a feature. Although the basic model can be altered as well, it may be smarter to save a couple extra bucks and do the work yourself.

Overclocking can also provide a hidden advantage – inadvertently causing another device to work more efficiently. Depending on the way two components work together, increasing the clock rate of your CPU may increase your RAM speed.

Some software programs are available that will help you manage the aspects of your video card or CPU. With a couple mouse clicks, you can easily change the internal temperature, computer fan speed, voltage and other specifications. This is helpful for someone who has interest in overclocking and/or underclocking for short periods of time. For example, running your graphics card at regular specs for web browsing may be ideal, while overclocking may be necessary for playing a video game.

Although there are multiple benefits to overclocking, it is important to keep an eye on how your computer runs when you alter the settings of your CPU, graphics card or other hardware. Overclocking the device ultimately makes it work harder and faster, resulting in a higher temperature and the requirement for more voltage. Oftentimes, the computer will become noisier as well, because of the need to cool off more often.

Depending on your price range and how much power you need, it may not be worth it to overclock your hardware. Obviously, any device that is overworked or pushed beyond its limits for an extended period of time will ultimately result in failure.