Overclocking - Intro

For those that may or may not know, Overclocking is a fine art that pushes a specific hardware component to exceed its 'rated' performance setting.

Any single piece of silicon is usually binned for performance as no two pieces are ever the same (even if they are cut from the same batch/wafer). These parts are binned to increase yield (by making the pieces incapable of meeting high end requirements for example, to be turned into lower priced components). (there are MORE criteria to binning though such as TDP, voltage requirements, etc so this is a VERY GENERALIZED look). However, even in the process of binning, the manufacturers must set an acceptable speed that the binned tiers can be guaranteed to run properly at.

What does overclocking do? It pushes the hardware above the guaranteed speed to fully maximize that piece of silicon. That's right, it allows it to maximize its potential. For example, my current processor (Intel E8400 - SLAPL). Stock speed is 3.0GHz at stock voltage. However, I pushed it all the way to 3.8GHz without even touching the voltage. 800MHz improvement right out the door.

So how come everyone doesn't just do this? Well overclocking as I mentioned, is a fine art. The moment you push it above and beyond, you no longer enjoy the safety net provided by the manufacturer (that it will run appropriately under all normal operating conditions). With that in mind, instability among other things (including outright hardware failure) becomes a very real threat (though there are ways to avoid and safely do this).

So why do people do this? Well, for a variety of reasons. I personally embarked on this art by wanting to have more performance so I could game better. At the time, I was still budget oriented (I still am to a certain extent). But at the current levels that I am at, budget oriented really is not a factor (I spend hundreds on cooling alone). I no longer really care about performance gain (well apart from increases in gaming that is). I just want to overclock the mofo (excuse the term). So it is more of a need I guess. A yearning/longing. I get itchy when I have a CPU/GPU/RAM in my system that is running at stock speeds.

Next I will write a bit on how to safely overclock. :)

A time to game

GTA IV Multiplay weekend is here!


Let's go play some!

Fallout 3

Pre-ordered the Collectors Edition. Added the counter.

What can I say. I have been counting the days since I first saw/heard about this game.

Now all I need is to scrounge up some dough for a few upgrades (second Raptor X/150 for RAID 0 action and perhaps a 4870 GPU).

MMmmmMMmMMmmmm..........

I <3 Reading

Which is why (believe it or not), I don't read.

I am the type of person that would devour a whole book in one sitting. I read reasonably fast too (not skimming).

I hate it.

The thing with gaming is that (like reading) it occupies my idle time. BUT, I can stop on a dime (well after I save that is LOL) and not worry about it. With a book, all I can think about is opening it and reading some more. I become involved and obsessed.

And that has just been the fact for the past two days. I have devoured two books. First one was the Slash book that took me ages to finish (occasional toilet reading only previously). I consumed 2/3ds of the book immediately yesterday. And today, I devoured my new-but unread Anne Rice novel, The Mummy. A VERY good book. I couldn't put it down. I barely used the computer (only used it to reply to my professional resume writer's email). No gaming. No nothing. Well until I finished the book that is.

Man, good thing I don't really have anything else that needs reading (apart from my Guitar World magazine). PHEW!

Hilarious pick up lines

Well since I am a woefully single overly kind and humble (but commited) geek, I am not very good on pick up lines (heck I think the act of picking up itself would creep a girl out).

BUT!

I have just ran across some A-Class hilarious ones.

Allow me to share (and no I was not looking for pick up line examples - ran across them by chance. Psh... :p ) (and no, they do not represent my perception towards woman - try me :p ).

"you must wash your clothes in windex, cause I can see myself in your pants"
"Hi. I'm Barack Obama. What's your name?"
"Hi. I'm Michael Phelps. What's your name?"
"So, how do you like your eggs?............ Fertilized"
"Excuse me. Do you know how much a walrus weighs? No? Just enough to break the ice. Hi, my name's Barack Obama. What are you listening to?"
"Hey do you like potato chips? I am Fri-To-Lay!" <-- BAHAHAHAHA
" Girl your father must have been a baker because your buuns are driveing me crazy".
" Hi, I can lick my forehead"
"whats your myspace?"

Umm... Yeah....

Specifics, Keep It Simple Stupid, Give yourself more credit

A.k.a resume writing.

Boy I hate it. :s

It's hard to quantify yourself. Especially for me as I don't like to toot my own horn. But unfortunately, that's what a resume is. It is hard as you may have had a pretty hard and demanding job, but since it is your job, you don't think anything of it. A good buddy of mine (Abe) came by to help me out with my resume and as I would explain stuff that I did, he'd go wow and where the fuck (well not quite that word) is that on your resume? :o

But it is good to have a good friend (family cannot really cut it on somethings) who has a fresh and objective (hence why family is excluded) view on things. A complete outsider to help suggest things (not write the freaking thing for you) to put on your resume.

Though another option that I am considering is have it written (for a hefty sum).

We shall see. :)

All I know thus far, is my old resume is shit that is vague and would be better off as toilet paper. I have the buff and horsepower, just not the ticket for the ride. :\

Past 4GHz!

Actually at 4.3GHz right now... :D

Probably need to stop soon. Temperatures are really high now (and I am on water).

Let the overclocking commence!

Man...

Very unlike me, I have left my 2 month old E8400 processor at stock (and my even longer G92 8800GTS 512mb too).

But all is well for I am finally making amends.

The overclocking has commenced.

CPUz Validation.

Stock voltage (825MHz OC on stock volts - not shabby).

I have let it run through 10 grueling passes on IntelBurnTest. Now I am baking it overnight via Prime95 (FULLY expect it to pass as IntelBurnTest is far more rigorous).

Stay tuned to see how far I push this bad boy (4+GHz is looking to be a reality soon).

Happy Ramadan!

Wewt!

Ramadan is here! Along with it's glory, is some changes. Namely me being jobless. LOL!

After a 13 month stint, I am now out of a job. If you are looking for a PC Hardware nut who has a strong business aptitude with vast and in depth (and passionate!) knowledge on PC Hardware (and the industry) and consumer electronics, do let me know. I am used to working long and hard on things. Muahahaha!

So now I am left wondering wtf I want to do with my life. I love operations. I love supply chain. I love efficiency. But most of all, I love computers/tech/it. However, it seems that these are either 1) Hard markets to penetrate for a non-tech 'background' (even though I could probably smoke most people with my hardware knowledge - off the back of my hand) or 2) I need to make more friends on the operations side of things.

Supply Chain/Inventory Management/Logistics seems to drift away from my overall goal of ending up in corporate business.

I have toyed with the idea of running a small business. Mainly because I am sick of applying for jobs.

What I need is a career coach...

Anybody have any recommendations?