Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.overclocking.amd (
More info?)
It realy comes down to an equation, or two.
It takes some time, and time is money. The less your time is actualy worth,
the more benefitial it should be.
There is the additional cooling that is often required, which may or may not
add additional direct cost. As a previous poster suggested, you may modify
an old otherwise worthless, refrigeration unit for the purpose. But you
then need to refer to the "time is money" component again.
System stability may, or may not be not a serious issue, again this is
largely dependant on your individual "time is money" component. Stability
is often not a problem. However, "often not a problem" also implies
"sometimes is", so we must again probabilistically refer to the "time is
money" component. The otherwise worthless refrigeration unit must also be
considered in the "stability" component if it is to be incorporated into the
system.
Now, if I could afford the time, I could do a statistical analysis of the
added probability of system failure. Then by calculating the probable time
required (without regard to the inevitable actual monetary cost of a failed
component) to repaire the failure, or failures, I could factor in an
individuals actual, or percieved, hourly value, but this would not be
accurate as it hasn't actualy taken all factors into consideration.
Some would argue that without regard to the previously mentioned
considerations, "overlocking" can be fun. Now, fun should arguabley have a
"time is money" value. This may not be so easy to convert directly to a
monetary value, unless of course you actualy earn your living while having
fun. In this case, it would be quite unlikely that your occupation actualy
involves your using a computer to any great extent. It's far more likely
that you would be involved in some sort of "humanities" activity. "Prison
guard" being the first example that comes to my mind. Some may also argue
that the having fun part of this consideration is so subjective that to
calculate it's true "time is money" value would in itself actualy add
intrinsic nuances that may make the calculation incalculable. IE. What if
it is actualy "fun" to do the calculations? In this case the value of the
calculation's fun component must be continualy included as long as the
calculation is taking place. Something that most people, on the basis of
"time is money", could not realy afford to consider. This immediately
implies that it is actualy not possible to include the "fun" component
without inadvertantly incorporating infinately recuring fun components, for
"some people".
You also need to factor in the performance gained, with due regard to the
primary function of the modified machine.
The above probably only includes a primary subset of all the possible
factors necessary to perform a relatively course consideration of the
'cost\gain' analysis of "overclocking". It implies that there are indeed
many things to consider if a truly accurate assesment is to be undertaken.
It may also indicate that the author must include a relatively small "time
is money" component in his own calculations, or, that he was having "fun"
and has thereof derived a profit from the reader which may or may not have
had an inherent reciprocal "fun" return for the reader. If the author was
of the opinion that the second case ("may not") was the more likely there is
an apparent likelyhood that his reference to "prison guard" may subliminaly
indicate that he is perhaps well suited to such an occupation.
Taking time to consider the possible costs\merits of "overclocking" can be a
rather expensive excersise for some, that must also be factored into the
final 'cost\benefit' analysis. Remeber, "time is money".
HTH
Vince Morgan
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