Graphics cards have their own processor and RAM, each of which you can speed up via software utility programs. RivaTuner 2 from 3Dguru ( com/prog¬Download/Riva Tuner- R C- Download 6867) has long been the overclocker's program of choice for easy graphics tweaking, but overclocking has become common enough now that leading graphics board vendors ATI and nVidia include overclocking programs with many of their graphics cards.

In fact, in some situations, using ATI's Overdrive utility for overclocking doesn't even void the card's warranty. You may need to unlock nVidia's Cool¬bits utility; consult Jim Aspinwall's "Secret Tweaks" at pcworld.in/here show/index.jsp/artld=5800030 for instructions (scroll to "Video Over clocking Made Easy").

Much of the advice that goes for overclocking your PC applies equally to graphics cards: Check the overclocking Web sites referenced earlier for the procedures for your card, always increase clock rates in small increments, thoroughly test a given speed before making further increases, and watch like a hawk for overheating.



If you're worried about your graphics card overheating, monitor its temperature with the Digital Thermal Probe from HighSpeed PC (comTemp1&Category_ Code=Overciocking). If the heat gets too high, dissipate it with a graphics card cooler such as {Disabled] (Auto) (DIsabled) (Disabled) (Enabled)
Disabled Antec's VCool (/US/ productDetaiis. php ?ProdID= 75060).