Overclocking Poses Risks to PDAs

Several software companies have developed small programs that allow handheld users who crave pure performance to run their processor's clock speed faster than advertised. Just because something can be done, however, doesn't mean it should, according to analysts.

For a long time, PC enthusiasts have been tweaking their systems--a practice known as overclocking--to get better-than-advertised performance out of their CPUs, motherboards, and other components. But such efforts involved tinkering with the motherboard and BIOS, activities beyond the comfort level of average users. Now several companies are offering software downloads that enable users to increase the speed of their handheld's processor with just a few clicks and for just a few bucks.

Speedy Software

Two applets, XScaleCtrl from Wibble-wobble.com and Clear Speed from Revolutionary Software Front, let users adjust the speed of their processor from 100 MHz to 500 MHz simply by downloading a piece of software and clicking a few buttons. XScaleCtrl is available for $3.50 on the Handango.com Web site, which sells handheld-related products.

Handhelds with faster processors can cost almost $100 more than slower models. Typically, users also get additional memory or peripherals with the faster model, but the chance to get high performance on a low-end handheld for less than $5 might tempt some budget-conscious users.

The overclocking programs seem to be confined to handhelds running processors from Intel and Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system, said Dave Linsalata, an analyst for smart handheld devices with market research company IDC, based in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Built-In Controls

Intel's PXA200-series chips use something called "XScale technology" to allow the processor to scale its clock speed easily, said David Rogers, PCA client group marketing manager for Intel, based in Santa Clara, California. This allows handhelds with XScale processors to increase the speed of the processor quickly to handle a complex application or download, and then to decrease the clock speed quickly to save power during work on normal applications, Rogers said.

The applets take advantage of this architecture by allowing the user to lock in the higher clock speed, yielding better performance for all applications--not just for the computing-intensive ones such as video playback or large downloads--Linsalata said.

The programs also permit users to underclock their handhelds, thereby (for example) extending battery life during a long trip away from a recharging station, he said.

Paying the Price

Increased performance comes at a price. Faster clock speeds increase power consumption, decrease battery life, and add to the heat the device gives off. This can lead to system failures and the loss of critical data, analysts and vendors warned.

Both Intel and Dell Computer strongly recommend avoiding overclocking software. In fact, if users break their handheld while using an overclocking program, the handheld's warranty doesn't apply, representatives from both companies said.

When Intel cuts usable chips from a silicon wafer, known as the "yield," it tests and validates those chips at certain frequencies. If a PXA250 processor fails to achieve 400 MHz during a test, it is often tossed back in the testing bin and retested at 300 MHz. If it works at that frequency, it is labeled a 300-MHz processor, and released for sale, Rogers said.

This doesn't happen very often, but some handhelds contain 300-MHz processors that didn't work at 400 MHz and will encounter significant problems if the user attempts to increase the clock speed, he said. Intel does not release specific yield statistics or details.

Representatives from Wibble-wobble.com and Revolutionary Software Front did not immediately respond to e-mailed inquiries.

So while the process of tweaking processor speed is easier than ever before for handhelds, users should keep in mind the inherent risks of running their handhelds at clock speeds faster than the vendor-specified rate.

"For most people, the number of tasks you can perform on older processors are just fine without the need for overclocking," said Alex Slawsby, an IDC analyst. "And as price points go down, the urge to get more performance for less money starts to balance out."