06-28-2009, 09:58 AM
New CPUs are smart enough to shut down before they start melting and motherboards have a temperature warning option (alarm beeping when the threshold is met) and a fail safe if the processor fails to start due to too much overclock. Of course residual heat will be a problem, even if the CPU itself doesn't overheat it can warm up the case so that other components do. Usually, the computer will just freeze or shutdown before any damage happens so the difficulty comes from getting the system stable, rather than from having to know when to quit pushing it further.
Overclocking does void warranties though so that's a good reason to not do it on any new stuff if you are in doubt.
Although, I did broke a GFX card (gf6600) not too long ago, just by using the "automatic overclocking" option from the drivers. I think its memory was damaged, because the card did boot but all the graphics would be garbled badly.
Overclocking does void warranties though so that's a good reason to not do it on any new stuff if you are in doubt.
Although, I did broke a GFX card (gf6600) not too long ago, just by using the "automatic overclocking" option from the drivers. I think its memory was damaged, because the card did boot but all the graphics would be garbled badly.