Overclocking??

[Burch]

Hi. I was wondering if you are able to overclock the Macbook Air... So... Can someone answer this question?

 

[KPOM]

No. The Sandy Bridge chips are different from the Core 2 Duo in that it isn't possible to undervolt, or change the CPU clock multiplier from the fixed ratios programmed in. However, the chips do incorporate "turbo boost" which is a little bit like automatic overclocking. For instance, the 1.8GHz i7 can actually run at 2.6GHz with both cores running, or at 2.9GHz when just one core is needed.

 

[MarkMS]

It is possible depending on which MBA you're talking about. There are a few MacRumors' members that have OC'd their older MacBook Airs. I'm not sure which MacBook Air you're talking about, but if you do a quick search here or on Google you will see a bunch of threads.

While it is possible with older Airs, in my humble opinion, I wouldn't do it. The MBA is already pushing it's limits with the tiny form factor. Heat has been an issue with the MBA and adding more heat with an OC'd CPU/GPU will lead to some problems in the long run. I'd opt for the MacBook Pro if possible.

EDIT: Realized you're most likely talking about the 2011 MBA and what KPOM said is true. It's not really possible with the new MBAs and they already employ Turbo Boost. I still stand by my opinion that you should jump to the MacBook Pro if you need more power.