Optimizing Per for mance 33To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:1 Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.2 Click Hardware and click Device Manager.3 In the Device Manager window, click the plus (+) sign next to the processor type. IfHyper-Threading is enabled, the processor is listed twice.You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through the system setup program. For moreinformation on accessing the system setup program, see page 124. For more information onHyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on the Dell Support website atsupport.dell.com.OverclockingDell locks the microprocessor multiplier options in the system setup program to preventprocessor overclocking. The first and most important reason for preventing overclocking isthat Dell’s performance labs vigorously test and fine-tune Dell computers at the systemlevel in an attempt to attain the best possible overall performance. Any performancemodification that is not implemented in the labs could cause performance degradation.When you receive your computer in the configuration that you ordered, it is already primedfor high performance.The second reason is that an overclocked processor, in general, creates excessive heat andelectrical fields that can cause heat fatigue failures within the processor, thus possiblyshortening its expected life span. Even slight overclocking can cause a computer to becomeunstable and lock up.There are several after-market "performance-modification" products available throughvarious sources, but Dell discourages and does not support the use of those products on itscomputers.G0550bk1.book Page 33 Thursday, July 10, 2003 1:55 PM
