Editing Overclocking (section)

===Components===
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2022}}
Technically any component that uses a timer (or clock) to synchronize its internal operations can be overclocked. Most efforts for computer components however focus on specific components, such as, [[Central processing unit|processors]] (a.k.a. CPU), [[video card]]s, [[motherboard]] [[chipset]]s, and [[random-access memory|RAM]]. Most modern processors derive their effective operating speeds by multiplying a base clock (processor bus speed) by an internal multiplier within the processor (the [[CPU multiplier]]) to attain their final speed.

Computer processors generally are overclocked by manipulating the [[CPU multiplier]] if that option is available, but the processor and other components can also be overclocked by increasing the base speed of the [[front-side bus|bus clock]]. Some systems allow additional tuning of other clocks (such as a [[Clock rate|system clock]]) that influence the bus clock speed that, again is multiplied by the processor to allow for finer adjustments of the final processor speed.

Most [[OEM systems]] do not expose to the user the adjustments needed to change processor clock speed or voltage in the BIOS of the OEM's motherboard, which precludes overclocking (for warranty and support reasons). The same processor installed on a different motherboard offering adjustments will allow the user to change them.

Any given component will ultimately stop operating reliably past a certain clock speed. Components will generally show some sort of malfunctioning behavior or other indication of compromised stability that alerts the user that a given speed is not stable, but there is always a possibility that a component will permanently fail without warning, even if voltages are kept within some pre-determined safe values. The maximum speed is determined by overclocking to the point of first instability, then accepting the last stable slower setting. Components are only guaranteed to operate correctly up to their rated values; beyond that different samples may have different overclocking potential. The end-point of a given overclock is determined by parameters such as available CPU multipliers, bus dividers, [[voltage]]s; the user's ability to manage thermal loads, cooling techniques; and several other factors of the individual devices themselves such as semiconductor clock and thermal tolerances, interaction with other components and the rest of the system.