Microsoft: Don't overclock Windows 8 unless you like our new BSOD

[JMH]

Microsoft's Blue Screen of Death is the curse of Windows. Not just its appearance, mid way through some serious game play or spreadsheeting, but the messages themselves - digital monologues on the existence of a problem, its possible causes and how you can fix it.

Yeah, right. Just shut down and re-start like everybody else.

With Windows 8 Microsoft has re-engineered BSOD for the era of Twitter and texting - unhappy smilies and chirpy one-liners.

Based on some Microsoft research, though, it seems you could be seeing more of the Windows 8 BSOD if you buy a PC from an OEM who's fiddled with the chip to make it go that little bit faster. Also, beware the temptation to buy a PC from an unrecognized PC maker.

A Microsoft Research report, published in April 2011 but only just coughed to the top of the web ahead of the Windows 8 launch, has found that overclocked CPUs are substantially more likely to make a Windows PC crash than chips left untouched. The message: pick your PC wisely and resist home-brew fiddling.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/07/02/microsoft_research_pc_hardware_crashes/

 

[zigzag3143]

Nice catch. I never realized how dramatically OC can shorten lifespan. Thanks

 

[AceInfinity]

I knew what it could do to shorten lifespan, I just didn't know that Microsoft would be so kind in creating a BSOD for overclockers. If they 'break' their machine sooner, isn't that more profit for them based on the discretion of the end user as to whether they like to overclock or not? Why not leave them the option to overclock, I know there's people out there that like doing it.

 

[AKA]

The message: pick your PC wisely and resist home-brew fiddling.

The real message: Long term goal - Screw with overclockers, self builders, non-partnered OEMS long enough to the point that in the end, you'll need to buy a MS partnered and 'certified' machine just to run a Windows OS properly.

Sell said certified products at close to Apple prices, lock UEFI BIOSes to limit other OS options, gouge consumers into buying apps from 'their store' as core functions are removed and gimped, charge for licenses for this that and the other = overall piss off consumers, but make more money. Re-enforce a monopoly and attempt to conquer a market they lost out on because they underestimated it's appeal.


It's becoming increasingly apparent that Windows 8 is the test bed for the MS long term business strategy. A strategy that the mass of sheep will lap up because they're already inured to giving up choices and are used to blindly following the herd.