Is it safe to Overclock?

[styx3]

Here are my system specs:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp.080413-2111)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8400  @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2030MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Card name: EVGA NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 

I heard that Overclocking would get me a better performance in games like Crysis. I was wondering if it would be safe to do so...

I was also told it could cause things to overheat.
It's almost December, and I'm in San Jose, California(kinda cold right now), I have a fan on my CPU, Power Supply, and one I added inside the case. What can I overclock, how would I do it, and most importantly, is it safe?

thank you for any answers

[xavier]

To get a good idea of what overclocking does [google] pcstats & type in overclocking.

[styx3]

Thank you, I'm checking it out now

[joevh09]

If you aren't carefull and overclock to much then you can start overheating components and can cause their life span to be shorter. Just be carefull with how much you overclock and you won't have any worries.

[styx3]

reading articles on it right now. I don't want to do it until I fully understand what it is I'm doing.

[saint_hades]

I've over clocked my Processor using 'nTune' but that came with my motherboard

Over-clocking is pretty safe as long as you have enough Power and a couple of Fans

But looking at your Spec's it doesn't really look like you need to over-clock, you've got a pretty good computer there.

Crysis is all about the graphics card, so to get better performance then just buy another one. They're easy to install and should make a difference. Just make sure you buy the same Card, because you can't mix and match

[mcxeb52!]

on topic of overclocking, how much overclocking could my system handle you think, with stability still good enough? (I'm just wondering .... not intending to overclock anytime soon)

[Calum]

styx3, ignore saint_hades please.  Your system should handle Crysis fine.
If you want to attempt overclocking, read up a lot before you start.  Do not use software utilities or auto settings, it's likely you'll damage soemthing that way.  As long as you take it slow and don't change anything unless you know exactly what you're changing and what it will affect, you should be fine.

mcxeb52, it's impossible to say how far you can overclock.  Even the same motherboard/CPU/RAM etc will have minor differences that could mean one set will not overclock at all, and the other will do handstands.  The only way to tell is to try it.

[yuki953]

If i were going to OverClock that, i would stop at 3.2, unless you tend to love your cooling. Get watercooling, couple of fans, place it in a freezer, and you would be good at 4.0 o.0, but i doubt you want to do that

[Calum]

yuki953, do you have experience with overclocking?
Why would you stop at a certain speed?  The limitations are temperature and voltage, nothing else.

[yuki953]

i know, thats why im saying, to not go past 3.2 otherwise you might over heat

[Calum]

And you know for a fact that past 3.2GHz the CPU will overheat?

[yuki953]

well, i dont, but it never hurts to be safe.