How many folks always run their OC configurations?

Question

The top of the PPBM is filled with OC systems.
Are any of these configs practical for day-to-day use, or for testing purposes only?
I have always assumed the latter and run my i7980x equipped
P6T7 WS Supercomputer MB in stock BIOS clock configuration.
I am not interested in specialized cooling systems to deal with any added heat.
I realize a potential consequence could be decreased processor life span,
but with the currently steep development curve, I suspect I would likely
end up moving on to the next generation processor before 'burning out'.
Any input from OC'ers would be appreciated.
Lian Li PC-A77F-B case
CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 EPS12V 2.91
Kingston - HyperX 24GB (6 x 4GB) SDRAM DDR3 1600

Answer 1

That is the guide Bill mentioned. The drawback of the TurboV utility is that nearly all voltages are set way higher than you would like, increasing temperatures inside the case and reducing the longevity of your components. Doing it manually in the BIOS gives much better results and is not harmful to your system. But be aware it is a time-consuming effort to get the best balance between stability and GHz.
By the way, it has been a while since I visited the PPBM site and the
updated layout, navigation, filters, etc. are really well done... kudos.
I do think there is a perfect spot for a 'Submit Donations' button
directly below "Submit Results'.
Thanks for the compliment. It has been quite a learning curve for me and we plan some major improvements for the new PPBM6 site, that are hinted at in the tooltip boxes in the current version. In short my plans are to create a login for the results pages, either as a guest or as a registered user. Registered users can buy a yearly subscription that gives them access to more pages, more detailed information and access to up-to-date BFTB charts, based on current day prices of the hardware in the system. That also entails a much simplified submission form, because the hardware information will be collected in 'ghost' mode without the user noticing it and can be represented in a CPU-Z like pop-up screen when details are requested. More information and especially more accurate information. Subscribers can Donate an amount to help fund our efforts and get even higher access levels and more sorting, selection and drill-down options, including more drill-down dynamic graphs, based on the selections one has made.
Well, the ideas are in place, all I need to do is implement them in the coming weeks/months and maybe add a blog with interesting hardware news as it impacts on NLE and CS6. Of course Bill and I need to reach an understanding what kind of subscriptions we will offer and at what prices, but the first step is to get the site in the air and that is difficult enough. I'm not a website builder and have no experience at all with web-shops, at least from a builders perspective.
If you have any suggestion on experienced website builders who want to help us, please let us know, but keep in mind that everything we do is volunteer work, so we don't have a budget for commercial builders.