What is overclocking?

Overclocking refers to the practice of increasing the operational speed of a computer's CPU beyond its specified clock rate, allowing it to complete tasks more rapidly. By boosting the clock cycles, the CPU can perform more operations in a given time frame, which can result in improved performance, especially for demanding applications such as gaming, video editing, and other resource-intensive tasks.

This technique takes advantage of the architecture of modern processors, which are designed to handle speeds above their default settings. However, overclocking can lead to increased heat generation and power consumption, so adequate cooling solutions and power supply considerations are crucial.

While other options may address different aspects of computing, they do not encapsulate the core definition and purpose of overclocking. Reducing power consumption, enhancing cooling, or improving graphics quality each touch on different technical strategies that do not directly relate to the concept of manipulating CPU clock rates for performance gains.