overclocking is to a pc as souping up an engine is to a car...sorta. When you o/c a cpu (and some cpu's are more forgiving than others) you are bumping up voltage and/or clock speed/and or multipliers to make the chip run faster. As the chip runs faster, it gets hotter. At some point, is starts locking up. Also, your memory must be up to the task our your memory generates errors. The cpu and memory may take it, but the heat generated on the chip may lock it up or fry the chip. Now, what do you gain? well, maybe a 5-10% gain; not really alot, but it is fun! Now, lets do the car comparison: You take your car, put some cool stuff on it, maybe a better carb, cam etc. You get some more horse power...but if you had just got a bigger, better engine to start with, you have a stock engine that is less trouble. Sorta the same with o/c'ing a chip. If you need the performance, and I mean NEED, then get a new mobo/cpu/memory combo. If you just want to soup up your pc, go for it. Don't forget cooling is as critical as anything else -- there are water coolers, glycol, massive fans, specialized heat sink paste, etc etc etc. Or you can buy a newer, faster parts.
