Overclocking is the adjusting of the standard specifications on memory modules, CPUs, and GPUs to increase and better performance. For example, raising the clock speed and lowering latency (wait states) of industry standard values (JEDEC) on RAM can significantly impact PC applications. Kingston FURY memory modules feature two simple approaches to overclocking memory: Plug N Play for novices and Extreme Memory Profiles for experts.
For PC enthusiasts (formerly known as hobbyists), overclocking is an art form and its own subculture. The most intense overclockers will go to extreme lengths like cooling their components in liquid nitrogen to compete for world records. However, not everyone who wants a powerful gaming rig needs to be an artist to extract better performance from their hardware. In the mid-2000s Intel, AMD, and NVidia devised methods that would allow for simple overclocking of memory through profiles programmed onto the DIMM. These profiles defined clock speed, voltage, and latencies. An ecosystem of checks and balances developed between the chipset/processor makers, the motherboard manufacturers, and the memory companies and this provided a stable landscape. As a result, it’s never been easier for enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike to push the performance of their memory modules.