Overclocking is, as you might know, when you increase the speed of a component to get increased performance from it. Many users are curious about this, as it can help them achieve higher FPS in a game for example.
The CPU is one of the most common components to overclock in a PC. However, users commonly wonder if there lies any risk in overclocking a CPU. For example, can overclocking a CPU damage it in any way?
Overclocking a CPU can damage the CPU and potentially other components, but it won’t if you follow the proper procedures of overclocking. What’s most important is that you don’t increase the voltage too much. Moreover, modern CPUs have thermal throttling functions to prevent the CPU from getting too hot, although it’s still important to check the temperatures manually when overclocking.
If you want to learn more about how you can safely overclock your CPU, and learn more about the potential risks that overclocking can come with, keep reading.
Can Overclocking Your CPU Damage It?
There are some risks that come with overclocking a CPU, but if you’re careful, you should be fine. I mentioned thermal throttling earlier – a function that stops CPUs from overheating by automatically lowering clock speeds so your CPU cools down.
This function isn’t there just because of people overclocking their CPUs, mind you, but it’s also useful if components that are important to cooling, fail.
It’s very important, however, that temperatures are kept in check while overclocking your CPU, as very high temperatures can damage the CPU and other components.
Overclocking any component will increase the heat of it and thereby your computer, because you will most likely have to increase the voltage to achieve a decent overclock.
With increased voltage comes higher temperatures. If you increase the voltage to your CPU by an amount that it can’t handle, you can fry the CPU, effectively destroying it. This is easily preventable, however. Check the voltage limit for your specific CPU before attempting any overclock.
It can also be a good idea, although not necessarily vital, to upgrade your cooling system. If you have an old computer with poor cooling, the CPU might reach unreasonable temperatures too quickly.
How Does Overclocking Work?
As I mentioned earlier, overclocking is the process of increasing the performance of a component by increasing the speed at which it performs calculations. This will, if done properly, help you achieve more frames per second in games, for example.
One thing to note is that your CPU needs to be capable of overclocking. For example, Intel CPUs that are capable of overclocking end with a K or Z, and most of AMD’s processors are able to overclock. If you’re still unsure, simply Google your processor and see if you can find any information on overclocking for it.
To overclock a CPU, you increase the clock speed. At a certain clock speed, the system will become unstable. That’s when you will want to increase the voltage because a higher voltage will give you more stability.
When you increase the voltage, your computer gets hotter, and therein lies the tricky part. To achieve a good overclock, you want to find the sweet spot, where you have a good increase in performance while still keeping your components cool enough and your system stable.
On the practical side, overclocking a CPU involves first doing performance and stress tests for your CPU as a baseline, then going into your BIOS and slowly increasing values such as clock speed and voltage.
Does Overclocking Shorten the Life of Your CPU?
I’ll sum it up in one word for you: yes. Overclocking will cause more heat to be generated through your CPU, which will in turn decrease its lifespan. However, the degree to which an overclock reduces your CPUs lifespan can be negligible if done properly.
Why does overclocking reduce the lifespan of a component? Overclocking will naturally make the overclocked component hotter since you’re providing it with more juice, and heat means more wear over time.
The increased heat will over time reduce the lifespan of your CPU. There are other things to consider as well, but that’s the gist of it. However, contrary to what some people say, with a properly configured overclock, you won’t reduce the lifespan by much.
In fact, the lifespan in a lot of cases is so slightly reduced that you can’t even tell because, by the time that the CPU dies because of the overclocking, you have already swapped the CPU out for a better one. The reduction, optimally, is a matter of days – not years or months.
Finally, how much a CPUs lifespan gets affected by overclocking depends on specifics. For example, what CPU do you have? Some CPUs simply handle overclocking better over time than others.
Also, if you have a computer with poor cooling and a bunch of dust on the inside, it’s going to get much hotter than if you have proper cooling and a clean computer.
How Much Can You Overclock Your CPU Safely?
How much you can overclock your CPU without having previously discussed issues, depends on what CPU you have. On average, a good CPU can probably be overclocked by about 20% without having any significant problems.
So, as I’ve mentioned previously: the basic rule of keeping it safe in overclocking is to know your voltages. Know the limit of your CPU, and keep the voltage a bit under that limit.
If you go over the voltage limit, you will probably fry your CPU and thereby damage it permanently. The process of overclocking isn’t something that’s inherently unsafe, but if you do it the wrong way, you’ll have problems.
Does Overclocking a CPU Void Warranty?
Generally, for CPUs, damage caused by overclocking will void your warranty. However, it’s hard for manufacturers such as Intel to spot if you have overclocked your CPU or not, as long as the chip isn’t fried.
Note that the warranty will be voided if there is damage to the CPU caused by overclocking, but if there’s no damage to the CPU, your warranty won’t be voided.
Intel has discontinued its Performance Tuning Protection Plan, which was an additional warranty you could buy. This warranty made it more viable for users to overclock their CPUs without voiding warranties.
If you RMA a CPU that has problems that aren’t related to the overclocking itself, you should be fine. To be safe, reset your OC settings to stock before returning the CPU.
Can You Undo an Overclocked CPU?
Yes, you can easily undo overclock settings for a CPU. When you overclock a CPU, you don’t permanently change anything with the CPU. You should be able to undo an overclocked CPU by simply heading over to the BIOS and resetting to the default settings.
If you switch to a different CPU, the settings will be reset to default. You don’t have to change your old CPU’s settings before installing a new one.
If the overclock went terribly wrong and you can’t start your computer, you can try clearing the CMOS. To do this, disconnect your computer from its power outlets, and then locate the clear CMOS button on your computer case.
If the button isn’t on the case, you can clear the CMOS through a button on your motherboard. If your motherboard doesn’t have such a button, do it manually (be very careful). Check this video out to learn how to do this.