Overclocking Laptops

[SnakeBoss]

I've seen a couple sites mentioning there is a way to overclock laptops but it's usually software overclock since the processor nor the BIOS doesn't offer the option to. What is the general consensus on software overclocking here on this forum? I don't NEED to overclock but I am curious as to what people think about it here.

[Starscream]

It's generally not a good idea, but I overclock my laptop from 1.4GHz to 2.2GHz quite often when using Dolphin. I can even go higher when the need arises. Keep it cool and if anything goes wrong, you're screwed.

[Garteal]

Quote: What is the general consensus on software overclocking here on this forum?

There's nothing wrong with overclocking via legit software, such as MSI Control Center, or whatever tool your motherboard vendor supplies.
The only downside with these is that you'll have to run the program, and apply the overclock each time you boot your PC.
Doing it via the BIOS makes it permanent, provided that it's a stable overclock.

As for laptops; there's a reason you can't overclock it via the BIOS.
It's to avoid people from frying their CPU's.

Most laptops, especially cheap ones, like the Acer you have, do not have good cooling and airflow. Your CPU is most likely already running very hot when you run Dolphin.
Unless you get a true gaming laptop, like a MSI or so, which has good cooling and airflow, you shouldn't look into overclocking your laptop.

[NaturalViolence]

Ultimately it boils down to which laptop you're using.

[SnakeBoss]

(07-28-2012, 09:48 AM)Garteal Wrote:

Quote: What is the general consensus on software overclocking here on this forum?

There's nothing wrong with overclocking via legit software, such as MSI Control Center, or whatever tool your motherboard vendor supplies.
The only downside with these is that you'll have to run the program, and apply the overclock each time you boot your PC.
Doing it via the BIOS makes it permanent, provided that it's a stable overclock.

As for laptops; there's a reason you can't overclock it via the BIOS.
It's to avoid people from frying their CPU's.

Most laptops, especially cheap ones, like the Acer you have, do not have good cooling and airflow. Your CPU is most likely already running very hot when you run Dolphin.
Unless you get a true gaming laptop, like a MSI or so, which has good cooling and airflow, you shouldn't look into overclocking your laptop.

lol $900 is not cheap. Like I've mentioned before, I don't need to overclock. I was just wondering in case I ever run into a game in the future that might need me overclocking the CPU.

[LordVador]

(07-28-2012, 11:22 PM)SnakeBoss Wrote: Like I've mentioned before, I don't need to overclock. I was just wondering in case I ever run into a game in the future that might need me overclocking the CPU.

Anyway you shouldn't be able to overclock much more than your Turbo Boost optimum speed. So it will be a mimimal gain

[SnakeBoss]

And why is that?

[LordVador]

(07-29-2012, 01:42 AM)SnakeBoss Wrote: And why is that?

Because I had supposed you couldn't overclock beyond 3.5GHz without getting fairly high temperatures

[admin89]

Not just temperature alone , laptop mobo is fragile . If you screw up laptop mobo , the new mobo replacement won't be cheap (Nvidia/AMD discrete GPU is soldered directly on the mobo) , the replacement fee may cost as much as new laptop

[SnakeBoss]

I am willing to buy a cooler for my laptop but I was told it would hardly make a difference in temperatures (~5C) even with the most expensive coolers.

BTW, is PCSX2 more demanding than Dolphin overall? When I tried to run GTA:SA, I wasn't able to get full speed like I easily did with Dolphin.