1.  What is overclocking?  
 

Overclocking is when a processor runs at a speed that is faster than what it is intended to be ran at.  An example would be making a Pentium II 233mhz CPU run at 266mhz.  
  
 

2.  Why would I want to overclock?  
 

When overclocking, you're, in a sense, beating the system.  While a person may only have a Pentium 166mhz processor, speeds of 200mhz or more are often attainable; causing the need for an upgrade to be less evident.  

Overclocking can also be much cheaper than buying a more expensive processor.  Making a 300mhz CPU run at 333mhz can be very financially beneficial.  

The most obvious reason for overclocking is simple, blunt, and natural to human behavior:  Speed.  Like my pappy always used to say, "The more speed the better", and experienced overclockers will be more than happy to take a processor to its limits, putting to risk their precious investment.  
  

3.  Will anything bad happen if I overclock?  
 

This is very subjective.  While, in most cases, overclocking will not harm a system, there are always risks that are taken when doing so.  Electromigration, the antagonist of overclocking, is a very good example.  Electromigration is, in layman's terms, when a CPU is ran overclocked for too long; however, it can sometimes take years for the effects to set in.  Which means, if a processor upgrade is made every 6-12 months, electromigration no longer becomes a factor.  

Heat is also a factor to take into consideration.  An overheated processor is not a good processor; be sure to keep it as cool as possible by using plenty of fans and, on certain occasions, ice cubes.  
  

4.  What are the limits of overclocking?  
 

That depends on the type and brand of processor used.  When dealing with speeds that are 90 and below, 100mhz would be the recommended limit.  However, when higher speeds and more advanced processors come into play, a 266mhz CPU can go as high as 333mhz and beyond. 

The overclockability of a processor usually scales with its speed; the faster the CPU, the higher an individual is going to be able to overclock it.  
  

5.  Overclocking sounds good.  How do I do it?  
 

There are no set ways to overclock.  Motherboards have many differences in design and layout, which makes it difficult to determine how, or even if you can make your system run faster.  Below are some general guidelines:  

1.  Find out if the motherboard can be set to a higher multiplier setting.  A 200mhz processor sitting in a mainboard that has a maximum 3.0 multiplier will not be able to go any higher unless a faster system bus is used.  

2.  Determine the maximum system bus speed.  If the motherboard can go as high as 83mhz, there is a good chance that a computer can be successfully overclocked.  

3.  Memory can play a big part in how successful an overclocking excursion will be.  For anything above a 75mhz system bus, 10ns SDRAM is highly recommended.  
  

Once it is determined that the processor can be successfully overclocked, consult the motherboard manual and find the proper settings.  Depending on the type of motherboard, there are three different ways to change the speed:  

1.  By setting the Jumpers.  Since describing them is not an easy task, images have been made to give you a better description.  

2.  By flipping Dip Switches, which are simply switches that can be moved up or down to determine bus and clock speed. 

3.  Changing the speed via softmenu.  Softmenu is probably the easiest way to overclock, because there is no longer a need to open up the computer case.  All of the settings are done through the BIOS, including multiplier, bus and voltage.  
 

By now, the multiplier and system bus settings should have been located, the only thing left is to overclock.  However, it may not be as simple as that; without knowledge of proper multiplier and bus settings, overclocking can become a tedious and overwhelming task.  Below is a table that illustrates the speeds of the CPU when at the default 66mhz system bus, 75mhz, 83mhz and the new 100mhz system bus. 
 

The increase in processor speed by increasing bus speed can be a substantial improvement, as the table above proves. 

While bus speed is important, the easiest way to overclock is by notching up the multiplier.  Again, the table below will help determine a comfortable overclocking speed.