platform with the MSI GTX 950 Gaming
GPU and G.Skill’s RipJaws4 DDR4
2400MHz memory. An average gaming
machine, but one that revealed to
the entrants and on lookers just how
much latent potential it held not only
for competitive overclocking but
gaming as well.
The importance of the event, helped
to dispel the myth that overclocking
was a sure way to damage hardware,
which hasn’t been true for over a
decade. With first-hand experience,
competitors and on lookers had the
opportunity to see just how robust DIY
components have become over the
years. The systems ran repeatedly,
for hours on end each day without
issue ridding the competitors of their
“fear” of overclocking. Once that was
dispelled, the addiction to an ever
increasing score took over. As many of
you know, once the overclocking bug
bites, it tends to stay with you. The
impression made on amateurs far
outweighed what we could have ever
achieved with any demonstration of
extreme overclocking using
liquid nitrogen. As much as those
demonstrations and even competitions
will make their way back to the show
floor in future rAge expos. The heart of
the workshop remains the amateur
component. As it helps connect
what we often take for granted with
clock speeds north of 5.7GHz to the
average gamer, many of whom are
still operating their systems at default
clock speeds or at around 4.5GHz
for the experienced ones. The NAG
OC Workshop brought overclocking
down to a simple and straightforward
goal that all could understand and
be part of. As true as the statement
may be, telling onlookers and gamers
that overclocking is “making one’s
computer run faster” isn’t saying
much of anything at all. It is as good as
a dictionary definition, but of course
tells one nothing about the mechanics
and purpose of such an endeavour in a
material sense.
Fascinating about such competitions
is how the hardware that many expert
and veteran overclockers take for
granted, still holds such a sense of
wonder and awe amongst amateurs.
The hardware that is passable for the
elite overclocking community is what
many amateurs hope to one day
upgrade to. Moreover, the idea that
any one of them may win the very
same h ardware they were using
guaranteed the competitors that they
could go back home, dial in the very
same settings and experience the
same performance.
Throughout, the workshop received
over 80 entrants, and the final came
down to six of the best. As a
testament to the elimination process,
the last day saw not only the highest
scores on average, but of course the
highest XTU and 3DMark FireStrike
score overall. The 3dMark FireStrike
top score for the GTX 950 was
actually the highest recorded on
HWBOT at the time. Something that
when announced of course made the
sense of achievement that much
great for the eventually winner Fenix.
2016, will likley see the return of
the NAG OC Workshop in Cape Town
as part of the HWBOT world Tour. Not
only will it be larger, but with the
success of the 2015 event in
Johannesburg, it’s clear that the
most effective and direct way of
promoting overclocking is through
such events. We look to events such
as Jagat-Review’s AOCT and the
Brazil’s Campus party for inspiration.
Two of the most impressive amateur
overclocking gatherings on the
calendar. Places from which future
champions will certainly come.
Until the next NAG OC Workshop, be
it you’re a professional overclocker or
an amateur. Keep pushing it!
[ The Overclocker ]
Issue 36 | 2015 The OverClocker 17