GPU info/Overclocking for dummies?

I've been browsing through the GPU overclocking thread and other stickies on the m15x forum, and while I've picked up quite a few things, I feel that someone should make a comprehensive "Overclocking for Dummies" thread, either about GPU's in general or pertaining particularly to the m15x.

Its not that its an extremely hard subject to pick up, its just that I haven't been able to find all the information in one place, and it would be great if someone with in depth knowledge on this topic contributed, as opposed to me just reading what some random guy on some thread said and then having to take that at face value.

Things that I think such a thread should contain (unfortunately I don't know enough to write this thread myself, but I do have a vague idea of what I'd like to see in it)

• basic info on a gpu (what gpu stands for, ddr3/ddr5, the three numbers you always post together, shader count, vram and some third value... 700/1000/1600)
  
  
• The proportion/ratio between those three values
  
  
• Benchmarks (3dmark06, 3dmarkvantage, (furmark), etc.) - what they do, how their value corresponds to ingame performance, could give a link to the notebookcheck benchmarks list here so people would know where to go to compare gfx cards
  
  
• Brief mentioning of how to keep your gpu cool, thermal paste
  
  
• Artifacts, what they are and what they mean
  
  
• The benefits and drawbacks/dangers of overclocking/underclocking (the actual potential gains you can get vs. the risk of the thing melting )
  
  
• Changing voltage on your gpu
  
  
• Life Span of GPU's in relation to Overclocking (Electromigration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
  
  
• How to Overclock/Underclock (which software to use, a bit on bios flashing)

Thats all I've been able to think of, I'm sure that the more seasoned veterans can think of lots of other things to add.

I understand that much of this information is contained in threads around the forums, a lot of it is discussed more in depth in other stickies (f.x. cooling, benchmarking etc etc), but I think that for people like me who are new to this, reading all the in depth information is a bit overwhelming, and it would be great to have a comprehensive, objective, easily accessible and understandable base of information, a starting point. Most of you will already know almost all of this, but everyone starts out at some point so I hope that you will empathise and support this idea.

This would also be helpful since as I've seen, lots of the questions asked on these forums are similiar and it would be good to be able to refer newbies like myself to one single thread.


P.S.: God I hope someone hasnt already made this, would be such an epic waste of my time writing this post otherwise


tl;dr - NBR, lets make a General GPU information, and Overclocking article for noobs/dummies like myself!

 

I'd be willing to undertake this myself (if someone smarter and better than me hasnt already ), if I got some feedback regarding what to include, and then once I've written the thing some criticism (wouldnt want to spread false information )

 

I think Overclocking is very well documented on the internet. An appropriate guide wouldn't need to contain much more than some links to some very good guides that are already in existence; no reason to reinvent the wheel. Also, I am somewhat of the belief that proper amounts of research needs to be done on the part of those who wish to overclock. The last thing we need is a 3 step guide for every "dummy" to potentially damage his machine with.

 

I think it's a great idea.