Asus: Overclock our laptops please

Need more performance out of your $400 netbook? Fine, says Asus. We'll not only let you do it, will give you the tools to make it happen.

Overclocking is an old-school technique that hard-core hackers have long used to get better performance from existing hardware. Typically done using specialized software and an innate knowledge of the inner workings of computers, overclockers push the clock speed of their computer's CPU to higher and higher levels -- right up to the breaking point where the machine begins to crash or fails to boot. While most users won't see much of a real-world performance bump from overclocking, ultra-high-end users do it to eke every last bit of capability out of their machines, usually in the name of getting a slightly better gaming experience.

But what about you, the common man? If you're sitting on a $400 netbook with rock-bottom performance, maybe overclocking is an even bigger draw for you than it would be for someone who already has a finely-tuned machine. Why? Because you might actually notice the improvement.

With that in mind, Asus is including overclocking software on at least one version of its popular Eee PC netbook, an application called the Super Hybrid Engine which lets you bump the clock of the off-the-rack 1.33GHz Atom CPU up to as high as 1.73GHz. In theory that could translate to a 30 percent performance improvement, all from tapping a few keys. And unlike most overclocking procedures, this one is actually sanctioned by Asus -- which means it won't void your warranty when you pull this stunt.

There are trade-offs to overclocking, of course. Overclocked machines run hotter (which means fans run longer and louder) and can be prone to crashing. And battery life is invariably impacted by the process, as well.

Anyone out there bumping up the performance on their Eee PC? Are you noticing any real-world improvements in the computing experience?