General question about overclocking

[meniscus]

I read that overclockers "overvolt" their CPUs. Is this simply to run the processor at a higher frequency? (As a voltage controlled oscillator?)
Is there any other reasons for overvolting your processor?

 

[donkey42]

Is this simply to run the processor at a higher frequency?

yeah, the reason people raise the CPU core voltage is: it increaces the stability of an overclocked CPU

Is there any other reasons for overvolting your processor?

no, well at least i don't think there is

 

[mut]

I suppose if you wanted to kill it.
Or if you wanted to make it warmer.

So, no other reason really. Just don't overvolt too far! You may damage it.

 

[Big B]

The only non-OC reason would be if the motherboard undervolts a little and it's affecting stability. I know my DFI board (it's a known issue) undervolts, so while that doesn't really affect the CPU's stability (results may vary per situation), in a case like that, it does need to be factored in. But, yeah, in general, overvolting is only done in conjunction with overclocking. No oscillator, though.

 

[zeus]

Ive got a board which overvolts all by itself! If I set it to 1.5v I get 1.55v. Nout I can do about that either.

Id only ever overvolt a cpu to increase the stability of an overclock and not to get a higher clock speed.