Underclocking
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Underclocking is the practice of modifying a microprocessor's speed settings to run at a lower clock speed than the manufacturer's specification. The purpose is generally to decrease heat dissipation and/or decrease electricity consumption. This can be done for the purposes of increasing system stability in high-heat environments, or to allow a system to run with a lower airflow (and therefore quieter) cooling fan or without one at all. However, this invariably comes at the expense of some system performance.
While underclocking is a relatively rare practice, overclocking is not. In essence underclocking is the opposite of overclocking.
External links
- Newsforge article: "Underclocking: what's the rush?" (http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=03/10/31/1658242&mode=thread&tid=81&tid=87)