3 ms·

Is overclocking (at this level based on this form factor) really worth it? Sure, the speed increases are notable, but I can't see much benefit to overclocking (

Is overclocking (at this level based on this form factor) really worth it? Sure, the speed increases are notable, but I can't see much benefit to overclocking (specifically a pi) unless you are trying to increase game emulator performance or something. This is all probably moot if you're planning on using the pi for an actual third world type setting as a workstation for schools and such, I suppose.

et2o 7y ago
I’d rather under lock it and be able to use it with strictly passive cooling. Who wants a fan on their raspberry pi?
- throw20102010 7y ago
  You can use it at stock speeds with passive cooling, but you can also use it at below stock speeds (just change the numbers in the tutorial). The main benefit not being cooling, but lower power consumption. Lowering speeds is fine, but under volting often causes boot errors, so I'd stay away from that.
  - et2o 7y ago
    I've been reading that the Raspberry Pi 4 tends to run very hot. I saw reports as high as 80 deg C with the case and no active cooling.
    - throw20102010 7y ago
      80C is warm, but not life-threatening to the chip. I'm not sure, but it may start to throttle at this temperature, as previous versions did throttle at 80C. So cooling is helpful, but not required (Apple ran inadequate cooling in their MacBook Pros for years). Also, I think that hitting 80 is only under heavy load. Regular use should be cooler than that. You will certainly need to cool the chip to get any meaningful overclock. In that case it is different from previous versions of the Pi, when you could overclock a bit with no extra cooling at all.
sciurus 7y ago
Agreed. I came here to say overclocking a raspberry pi seems like it misses the point of the pi relative to other computers.
- penagwin 7y ago
  For some of the older pi's it was kinda a "free performance" that you may as well use for a lot of applications. The zero w still needs it for decent camera streaming. The problem with the Pi 4 however is that it's on the verge of needing active cooling at stock speeds, so overclocking the pi 4 is kinda a deal breaker for me. (If I'm going through the trouble of setting up active cooling for the pi I'd rather use a different solution like an atomic pi or old laptop)
  - noir_lord 7y ago
    I have two pies in use at work 3B's. Bought cheap little cases with active fans of Amazon and they are brilliant, nicely designed, quiet little fans and you dropped the pi in and closed the top. Thermals where much improved.
Havoc 7y ago
>Is overclocking (at this level based on this form factor) really worth it? For the average hn reader probably not. For say a poor student with too much time on his/her hands...perhaps. My previous OC experience has been that it's all about what the chip gods bestow on you. e.g. I've had chips that can do 10%+ more _and_ undervolting to drop temps at same time. i.e. jackpot But obviously you don't know that until you try.

et2o 7y ago

I’d rather under lock it and be able to use it with strictly passive cooling. Who wants a fan on their raspberry pi?

throw20102010 7y ago
You can use it at stock speeds with passive cooling, but you can also use it at below stock speeds (just change the numbers in the tutorial). The main benefit not being cooling, but lower power consumption. Lowering speeds is fine, but under volting often causes boot errors, so I'd stay away from that.
- et2o 7y ago
  I've been reading that the Raspberry Pi 4 tends to run very hot. I saw reports as high as 80 deg C with the case and no active cooling.
  - throw20102010 7y ago
    80C is warm, but not life-threatening to the chip. I'm not sure, but it may start to throttle at this temperature, as previous versions did throttle at 80C. So cooling is helpful, but not required (Apple ran inadequate cooling in their MacBook Pros for years). Also, I think that hitting 80 is only under heavy load. Regular use should be cooler than that. You will certainly need to cool the chip to get any meaningful overclock. In that case it is different from previous versions of the Pi, when you could overclock a bit with no extra cooling at all.

sciurus 7y ago

Agreed. I came here to say overclocking a raspberry pi seems like it misses the point of the pi relative to other computers.

penagwin 7y ago
For some of the older pi's it was kinda a "free performance" that you may as well use for a lot of applications. The zero w still needs it for decent camera streaming. The problem with the Pi 4 however is that it's on the verge of needing active cooling at stock speeds, so overclocking the pi 4 is kinda a deal breaker for me. (If I'm going through the trouble of setting up active cooling for the pi I'd rather use a different solution like an atomic pi or old laptop)
- noir_lord 7y ago
  I have two pies in use at work 3B's. Bought cheap little cases with active fans of Amazon and they are brilliant, nicely designed, quiet little fans and you dropped the pi in and closed the top. Thermals where much improved.

Havoc 7y ago

>Is overclocking (at this level based on this form factor) really worth it? For the average hn reader probably not. For say a poor student with too much time on his/her hands...perhaps. My previous OC experience has been that it's all about what the chip gods bestow on you. e.g. I've had chips that can do 10%+ more _and_ undervolting to drop temps at same time. i.e. jackpot But obviously you don't know that until you try.