Will Overclocking Give an Old CPU New Pep?
A friend of mine recently suggested I could squeeze more speed out of my aging Pentium III system by "overclocking" the CPU. He says it's easy to push my CPU speed past its factory settings. But I wonder why Intel wouldn't run a chip at its fastest setting. Is overclocking really as safe and simple as my friend says?
Glen Raven, Jackson, Mississippi
Sometimes it's simple, sometimes it's safe. But sometimes it's neither.
Overclocking means running a CPU faster than the clock speed it's certified for. With many PCs, you just need to change one or two settings in their CMOS setup program. Increasing the frontside bus speed and/or CPU multiplier will make your processor run faster.
So why isn't your CPU already running at its fastest speed? Processors are made in sheets called wafers; only a few CPUs on each wafer are tested to determine the top speed rating for the whole batch. Proponents of overclocking say many of the untested CPUs are capable of running at higher speeds. Overclockers' success indicates that this is true. But that's no guarantee you can successfully overclock your CPU. Should you try? If you're a typical PC user, probably not. Here's why:
You can fry your CPU. It happens, though not often. Running faster means running hotter. Excessive heat accelerates chip deterioration and can cause processing errors or even circuit failures. Adding another fan or heat sink may dissipate the extra heat, but your performance increase may not justify the effort and expense.
It's a hassle. Along with cooling, you have to consider other technical matters. For example, Intel's Pentium III and later CPUs allow you to increase the speed of your frontside bus, but not the CPU, so only RAM and PCI bus speeds go up.
You'll find the information you need to overclock your PC at SysOpt.com and Overclockers. But before spending a good part of your weekend in pursuit of faster CPU cycles, ask yourself if you wouldn't rather be cleaning the grill or refinishing your hardwood floors. In other words, is it worth the trouble?
You may not benefit much. Your CPU's performance boost from overclocking will likely be more of a nudge than a launch. Today's PCs rely on the graphics card and other components for speedy processing. Unless you play graphics-intensive games or regularly crunch really big spreadsheets, you probably won't see a truly useful increase in performance.
Good Mousekeeping
It's not much to look at, it gets pushed around, and it's named after a rodent. Sometimes you forget that your mouse is one of your PC's most important devices. But is your mouse all that it can be?
As described in this month's Windows Tips, your mouse driver software gives you a world of options. They vary depending on the type of mouse you use, but you should at least be able to adjust the quickness of your double-clicks and the speed of your pointer. You may get more options by downloading an updated driver. Windows installs a bare-bones driver if it can't find any software more specific to your mouse's make and model. Figure 1 (on the next page) lists utilities that will give your mouse more maneuverability.
If you have a mechanical mouse, it may require cleaning. (Optical mice have no such need.) Just turn the mouse upside down and remove the cover that holds the ball inside. Take out the ball, clean it with soap and water, and thoroughly dry it before putting it back in place. Use the end of a paper clip to gently scrape the debris off the two hard plastic rollers inside the mouse's case.
Kirk Steers is a PC World contributing editor. You can reach him at kirk_steers@pcworld.com. Hardware Tips welcomes your tips and questions and pays $50 for published items.
Utilities to Teach Your Old Mouse New Tricks (chart)
| Utility | List price | Description |
| Cool Mouse 97 (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,4214,00.asp) | Free | Assigns functions to your middle mouse button or (if you have a two-button mouse) enhances your secondary mouse button. |
| IntelliPointer (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,18260,00.asp) | $25; free trial | Cuts down mouse movement to save you from wrist strain. |
| Mouse Lock | $15; free trial | Keeps interlopers off your PC while you're away from your desk. |
| Mouse Odometer (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,7579,00.asp) | $10; free trial | Tracks a vital computing statistic: how far your mouse pointer has traveled across your screen. |
| MouseTool 3.1 (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,19480,00.asp) | Free | Clicks your mouse for you to reduce wear and tear on your wrists. |
| Slippery Mouse (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,8130,00.asp) | Free | Drives unsuspecting victims nuts--but be sure they have a sense of humor. |
| ToggleMouse | $20; free trial | A complete mouse control center. Changes pointers, adjusts buttons and wheels, and much more. Definitely worth a look. |