The practice of increasing a computer component's clock rate beyond the manufacturer's specifications to achieve higher performance.
Computer term from the 1990s, combining 'over' (beyond normal limits) and 'clocking' (referring to the clock speed that synchronizes computer operations). The practice emerged with enthusiast computer builders seeking maximum performance.
Overclocking can increase computer performance by 20-30% or more, but it's like hotrodding your car's engine—more power means more heat and potential instability. Modern processors actually have built-in overclocking features because manufacturers realized enthusiasts would do it anyway, so why not make it safer!
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