The Book Of Overclocking:
Tweak Your PC To Unleash Its Power
Book Review

By Dale Farris, Secretary Golden Triangle PC Club July 2003 General Overview "The Book of Overclocking" is the definitive guide to the art of running a PC's processor faster than the manufacturer intended. Not only can overclocking help you squeeze another year or two out of older hardware, but maximizing your PC's performance is also a lot of fun. Of course, this assumes you know what you are doing. Whether you are a veteran overclocker or a complete newbie, you will find this book essential if your interest is in overclocking your CPU. The book includes a complete reference and a virtual roadmap to 100 of the latest processors, plus sections on troubleshooting, proper cooling techniques, and benchmarking. Special Features In "The Book of Overclocking," you will learn: Why the PC industry does not want you to know about overclocking CPU cooling techniques and ways to improve overclocking results and system stability Specifications, overclocking tips, and specific recommendations for over 100 individual Intel and AMD processors, including the newest Athlon XP "Thoroughbred" and Pentium 4 "Northwood" CPUs. How to overclock a processor using BIOS and motherboard settings PC troubleshooting and performance benchmarking techniques What is Overclocking? Overclocking involves manipulating the computer processor's multiplier and the motherboard's front-side bus speed, in small increments, until a maximum stable operating frequency is reached. The idea is simple, but variation in both the electrical and physical characteristics of x86 computing systems complicates this process. Processor multipliers, bus dividers, voltages, thermal loads, cooling techniques, and many other issues can affect your ability to push any given system to its maximum potential. This is why you need help, if you are interested in overclocking your machine, and "The Book of Overclocking" is your first tool to start out on the road to overclocking your PC. Material Covered The book begins with concise chapters on the state of the PC industry and how overclocking has been approached by the mail CPU companies. This is followed by a nice cost analysis of common overclocking scenarios, followed by material that explains the concepts that create the foundation of overclocking. Basic techniques and ideas required to attain a successful overclock are described, followed by the all important information on cooling a CPU, especially after it has been overclocked. There are chapters on extended information about each of the latest platforms from AMD, Intel, and VIA, and a very good explanation of troubleshooting, which is often required to diagnose potential instabilities or device failures in an overclocked system. The authors also discuss benchmarking applications and procedures, and the ability to assess the performance return offered by overclocking, and they offer advice on whether you should overclock, once you know how, as well as smart shopping tips and what to do with your PC's increased performance. Table of Contents The eleven (11) chapters include the following titles. What the Computer Industry Does Not Want You to Know Overclocking Versus Industry Hype: Technical Background Technical Theory: Evolution of the Integrated Circuit How to Overclock Cooling Intel Overclocking AMD Overclocking VIA/Cyrix Overclocking Benchmark Testing Troubleshooting Final Thoughts The Appendix contains answers to 11 frequently asked questions, and a glossary of key terms in overclocking. Target Readers The focus in "The Book of Overclocking" is on learning how to set up a computer so it will run faster, called overclocking a computer. Of course, the authors are assuming readers are interested in, as well as technically proficient in overclocking computers. However, if you are easily frustrated by problems with your PC, troubleshooting is an annoyance, or you frequently rely on others to help resolve issues with your PC, then overclocking is not for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy real troubleshooting and tweaking computers, and the idea of getting a faster system for practically no money sounds good, then consider overclocking as a viable means to an end and "The Book of Overclocking" an essential investment. With so many computer enthusiasts involved in computer user groups, "The Book of Overclocking" will definitely be a hit with these groups. I also suggest user groups consider this book a super item for a door prize in user group meetings. Book Contents 272 pages; tables; figures; appendix; glossary; index Updates Visit www.nostarch.com/overclock_resources.htm for further resources on overclocking. Authors Scott Wainner and Robert Richmond About the Authors Scott Wainner founded SysOpt.com, one of the first PC hardware enthusiast sites, and ran it for seven years until in late 2001 he launched TechIMO.com, a knowledge-sharing community of PC hardware enthusiasts, gamers, and web developers. Wainner's opinions on overclocking have been cited in PC World, CNN, the Toronto Star, Entrepreneur Magazine, and countless hardware web sites. Robert Richmond's background experience in IT-related journalism extends to many well-recognized publications, such as SysOpt.com, SharkyExtreme, HardwareCentral, Romulus2, EarthWeb, and as a hardware editor for TechIMO.com. Robert holds Associate of Science degrees in Mathematics, Computer Sciences, and Scientific Application Development. Robert offers a rather untraditional approach to computers, as he is often more interested in "why" a device works, rather than "how" it works. ISBN 2003 - First Edition 1-886411-76-X List Price $24.95 $37.95 CAN About No Starch Press San Francisco based No Starch Press, Inc., publisher of such best-selling titles as "Steal This Computer Book 3," "The Book of JavaScript," and "The Linux Cookbook," is an independent publishing company committed to producing readable, information-packed computer books that make a difference. No Starch focuses on Open Source, Web development, computer security, programming tools, and alternative operating systems. No Starch authors are highly regarded experts who have the rare ability to write about complex topics clearly and concisely. As a result, No Starch books share a no-nonsense manner that both educates and entertains. The Linux Journal Press series offers readers books on cutting-edge Open Source topics that make a difference, in an effort to advance the acceptance and usability of Linux. Recent titles include "The Book of Zope," "Programming Linux Games," and "The Linux Cookbook." Linux Journal Press titles are developed in partnership with Linux Journal. The No Starch international distribution network brings their books to all major English-language and critical non-English language markets. Their U.S. distributor, Publishers Group West (PGW), is the largest U.S. distributor for independent book publishers. PGW sells to all major wholesalers (Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Bookazine, Koen, etc.), national chains and independents, online booksellers, and academic and technical bookstores. No Starch also aggressively pursues sales in non-traditional channels, including corporate and premium sales, bulk sales, and book clubs. The No Starch international distributors (including JGA in Canada, Computer Bookshops in the UK, Woodslane in Australia/New Zealand) reach all major English and non-English markets with large technical populations. They also maintain extensive contacts with international publishers who translate their books and bring them to their markets in their local language. William Pollock, founder and publisher of No Starch Press, Inc. (and co-founder of APress) has over fifteen years of book publishing experience. No Starch Press benefits from his experience in professional reference, scientific, college, and trade publishing. Mr. Pollock has worked his way up through the publishing ranks from editorial assistant, to sales representative, to acquisitions editor, to publisher. He knows the book publishing business from the ground up. Publisher Contact No Starch Press 555 De Haro St., Suite 250 San Francisco, CA 94107 800-420-7240 415-863-9900 FAX 415-863-9950 www.nostarch.com