INTRODUCTION:
Welcome!! So you've found Overclock.net (OCN). Maybe you've been surfing the forum for a while and just barely joined. Perhaps you have a pressing PC/electronic issue and found our wonderful community. Or maybe you just need some friends. Whatever your reason, your stay here can be a pleasant experience or it can be rather frustrating. In order make your life (and the lives of those around you) easier, this guide will help you post your questions, comments, and news in the right locations. This will benefit you in multiple ways:
- Your question will be seen by people who are most likely to be able to answer it
- You won't make people angry
- You will make it easier for future members to find your thread if they have the same question
There is a section here for just about everyone. Whether you know it or not, you will eventually have a question that does not fit into your usual sections. For example, let's assume you are big fan of Playstations and spend quite a bit of time in the
Playstation sub-forum. When your wife asks you to start a family blog, you may have no idea where to start. Unbeknownst to you, we have a
Web Coding section with some extremely knowledgeable members who can help you have the best blog around. But if you post your question in the Playstation forum, well, you get the idea. Using the three points above, your misplaced post might:
- be overlooked as the web coders probably won't be looking in the Playstation section to help you.
- cause someone to post a nasty reply due to your misplaced post causing them to get an infraction. Way to be a jerk.
- never be able to help a future blogger looking for the exact same guidance in the correct section.
THE PROBLEM:
The one big obstacle most new members encounter is "Where do I post my question/comment/news?". When you scroll down the main page, there are 112 DIFFERENT sub-forums. I took a screenshot and to fit it on one page I had make my monitor Portrait mode and zoom all the way out in Firefox:
Does this make sense so far? If not, start over and read it again a bit slower ... but if so, GREAT!! Let's move on.
OCN SECTIONS:
These are the general sections on the forum. Each one is broken down to specific sub-forums. Let's go over each section and their Sub-Forums. I'll list the different sections as they appear on
Home Page in that order along with a description of their purpose. Be sure to notice the differences as some are subtle but dictate a completely different topic of conversation. Click on each one for a summary of their Sub-Forums and the purposes of each. Find the one that best fits your question.
Overclock.net Forum - Here you will find the Sub-Forums dealing with the forum itself. From suggestions to site problems, look no further. This is NOT for computer related questions or threads, only for topics dealing directly with the site or site run programs. The New Members section is also located here. If you question or comment deals with the site itself, you'll most likely post here.
Overclockers Care - This deals with the charitable donations and folding that OCN is involved in. If you are curious about folding or have a good charity to suggest, post here.
Industry News - News articles. We have LOTS of members scouring the internet and sharing their exciting findings in the world of science, computers, and electronics. There are specific rules to posting a thread here. Save yourself some chastisement and be sure to read the stickies at the top of the different news sections. Again, this section is
only for news.
AMD - All things AMD, but specifically having to do with their CPUS, MBs, and RAM. (ATI, which was acquired by AMD, will comes later). If you want to build a new system with an AMD processor as the heart, use this section.
Intel - Intel's CPU, MB, and RAM section. If you want to build a new system with an Intel processor as the heart, use this section.
General Hardware - For threads that deal with both Intel and AMD or other CPU makers. If you aren't sure what processor to use, post in this section. Also use this section to compare between brands.
Graphics Cards - Here is the place for ATI, NVIDIA, and other graphics hardware related discussion. Be sure to post in the right section: ATI, nVidia, or General.
Benchmarks - Want to test your hardware for stability and performance? Look no further. Here you will find the members who push their systems to the limits, measure that performance, and do some crazy things.
Cooling - For different cooling solutions, post in this section. They include, but are not limited to: air cooling, water cooling, TEC, phase change, and other cooling methods. If you want it cold, come here.
Volt Mods - Actual hardware modifying to allow higher performance. WARNING: It will most likely void your warranty. But if you are considering it, you probably don't really mind, do you.
Specialty Builds - Builds other than your typical desktop or work computer. These include media PCs, servers, etc.
Case Mods & Cases - Anything having to do with how you house your computer components should go here. That includes custom cases or modding your mouse.
Components - For discussion of computer parts other than CPUS, motherboards, and RAM (these belong in their respective AMD or Intel locations). This also includes computer related items such as desks and chairs.
Mobile Computing - Laptops, PDA's, and smart phones. Anything for doing computing on the move.
Video Games - Anything game or console related belongs here. That includes Nintendo, Playstation, Xbox, etc.
Software, Programming and Coding - Use this section for the software side of things. Whether you are looking for programs to accomplish a certain task or writing your own, this is the place for you.
Hardware Vendors - Used for selling and documenting from our OCN vendors.
Overclock Marketplace - Here you'll find people selling, requesting, and appraising computer materials. There are also some freebies here too. Another important section to read the rules, there is an entire sub-section dedicated to them.
Everything Else - For Off-Topic discussions and other material not directly related to computer performance.
CONCLUSION:
I hope this guide has helped you to understand what each of OCN's Sub-Sections are for and where your thread belongs. As we post in the right locations, it allows our questions to be answered in a more timely manner and helps future members to find the wonderful information contained here. Happy posting!!
If you have anything to add, found a spelling error, or found dead links please let me know, either in this thread or through PM.
