What is overclocking?

• A. Running a program faster by using more cores.
• B. Manually adjusting clock speed over the factory set rate that causes overheating and needs efficient cooling to manage.
• C. Increasing the amount of RAM automatically.
• D. Slowing down the CPU to save power.

Answer: (B)

Overclocking is running a processor or other hardware at a higher clock speed than the manufacturer specifies. This usually means you manually raise the component’s frequency (and sometimes its core voltage) through BIOS/UEFI settings or specialized software to squeeze more performance. Because the clock is higher, the device generates more heat and uses more power. To keep it safe and stable, you need better cooling, a solid power supply, and careful stability testing to ensure it won’t throttle or fail under load. If cooling isn’t adequate, temperatures soar, performance can become unstable, and hardware damage or warranty concerns can arise. This isn’t about using more cores automatically, increasing RAM capacity, or slowing down the CPU.