[FRIAM] post you seem to have missed from FRIAM

[Marcus Daniels]

Nick writes:

< Can somebody explain “overclocking” >

A computer's processor (CPU) runs at a certain clock rate.  These days it is around 3 billion cycles per second on average.   A higher clock rate will generate more heat and increase the risk of a malfunction (or a meltdown).  To mitigate this, manufacturers or enthusiasts will add cooling systems.  That could be anything from a large heatsink to liquid nitrogen.   My main computer has a closed-loop water-based system.  The pump breaks down about once a year, and then I have to buy a new one.   The cooling system is more useful to mitigate temperature variations in the ambient environment than it is to increase the clock rate.  The degree to which a processor can be overclocked varies by processor design.   Typically it isn't very much, but with a good cooling system a 30% increase in performance can be possible.

To really get high clock rates, there is the possibility of using superconductors.  This engineering work is in its infancy.

Marcus
________________________________
From: Friam <friam-bounces at redfish.com> on behalf of Nick Thompson <nickthompson at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2019 9:06 AM
To: 'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group' <friam at redfish.com>
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] post you seem to have missed from FRIAM


Can somebody explain “overclocking”



That’s a new one for me.



Nick



Nicholas S. Thompson

Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology

Clark University

http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/



From: Friam [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] On Behalf Of Prof David West
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2019 5:09 AM
To: friam at redfish.com
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] post you seem to have missed from FRIAM



Marcus,



"puritanism" was mentioned only because Nick, and indirectly Frank, used the term as a self-descriptor. Obviously there are other reasons for self imposed limits other than puritanism.



You might not pour gasoline on your computer to improve it, but you might overclock it.  For me, hallucinogens are closer to overclocking the brain/mind while cocaine, morphine, oxycodone, etc. are akin to gasoline. The latter are (bad) habit inducing but not the former.



Interestingly, most hallucinogens also have a side effect  like overclocking — of generating excess heat.



davew









On Wed, Nov 20, 2019, at 7:07 PM, Marcus Daniels wrote:

Dave writes:



< Puritanism is one of those things that IS relative, in the sense that most everyone has a line that is not to be crossed, for no objective, rational, reason but just because "I don't want to." I won't use recreational drugs (e.g. cocaine), drink to excess, or read (well I have, but don't anymore) romance novels. We are all puritans sometimes. >



Puritanism?  Among the reasons I don’t take cocaine is that I held/hold a security clearance and I would have been caught within a few months if I had done that.   For example, I also would not think of improving my computer by pouring gasoline on it.   Why would I expect some ham-handed intervention like that to work on my brain?   Why should I go out of my way to find more bad habits within unknown consequences?



Marcus

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