Though computers continue to get more and more powerful, there's usually even more performance that can be squeezed out of them by those with the skills and determination.
Whether it's for the extra frames per second in games, shaving time off a video encode or just for the fun of it, overclocking is serious business.
However, it can be a bit daunting if you don't know where to start. That's why we've compiled our tutorials for overclocking just about everything into this one handy guide.
Best overclocking software: 15 top apps
Though the hardcore overclocker may swear to use only BIOS settings, for those just getting into it, it's easier (and safer) to use a dedicated piece of software without leaving Windows. Everyone should be able to find one that suits them with our list of 15.
Read Best overclocking software: 15 top apps
How to overclock your graphics card
It's slightly more complicated than overclocking a CPU, but there are still some juicy performance gains to be had with a bit of effort and the knowledge in our guide.
Read How to overclock your graphics card
How to overclock your AMD CPU
Though Intel currently holds the performance crown, write AMD's processors off at your peril – especially if you're interested in overclocking. AMD's Black Edition CPUs in particular offer a huge amount of performance headroom, and we'll show how to make the most of it.
Read How to overclock your AMD CPU
How to overclock your Intel CPU
If you've got an an older Core 2 processor and you want some extra performance without splashing out for a new CPU, we can help – and Core i5 and i7 users will find some tips, too.
Read How to overclock your Intel CPU
How to overclock DDR3 RAM
The performance gains from overclocking your RAM aren't as dramatic as what you can get from your processor or graphics card, but that doesn't mean your memory should be ignored – "Because I can" is as good a reason as any to get tweaking.
Read How to overclock DDR3 RAM
How to overclock the GeForce GTX 470
The 480 is the big dog of Nvidia's newer cards, but the lower heat emissions of the 470 just give us more room to get overclocking.
Read How to overclock the GeForce GTX 470
How to overclock the GeForce GTX 460
It's one of the most cost-effective graphics cards available, and it's also just ripe for overclocking. We'll show you how to get even more bang for your buck.
Read How to overclock the GeForce GTX 460
How to overclock the GTS 450
Nvidia has brought us a graphics card based on its Fermi technology for under £100. Let's power it up.
Read How to overclock the GTS 450
How to overclock the Intel Core i5
The Intel Core 2 chips were great for overclocking, and somehow the latest and greatest Core i5 chips are even better. We'll show you how to get well over 1GHz of extra oomph from your CPU.
Read How to overclock the Intel Core i5
How to overclock the Intel Core i7
A different architecture from Intel's previous chips means a more complicated process, but no less room for getting some major overclocking boosts from Intel's high-end CPUs.
Read How to overclock the Intel Core i7
How to overclock your notebook
The major concern when it comes to high-end performance in laptops is overheating, but that doesn't mean overclocking is out of the question. Our guide will show you how to safely get a portable performance boost.
