Overclock power generators or build more?

[redictor]

Using the same amount of resources, is it better to overclock power generators (not biofuel burners, of course) or to just build more of the same generators? Say I have a pure coal deposit and have calculated the correct amount of water from a few water pumps to power 8 coal generators at 100%, but I have the option to save some space and just use 4 coal generators at 200%.
Is there any difference in the amount of power you get/use from overclocking fewer power generators than using more of them at 100% power?

[Wolfgang]

Since the overclocking of power generators is linear overclocking them only costs power shards.

[Dark]

At the Coal Tier, you have to be mindful of the limit of Mk 1 pipes. 300 max throughput. That will be your bottle neck there.

Otherwise, Power generators are probably the best thing to overclock, Linear increase in production, same footprint, no loss.

In your case... just moving from 8 generators to 4, it should be the same amount of water as well. 180 for each pair, 360 total. So as long as its looped in the same system as the 8 generator loop, it will (probably) be fine.

[Kage Goomba]

If you can fuel/supply it - and shard it - you can overclock it.

[RadioIesbian Fluid]

I wouldnt bother with coal gens. sure you can overclock em if you're desperate to save space, but they're not that big.

It becomes more of a thing with fuel gens and nuclear reactors imo. Like i got a power plant with 360 fuel generators, clocked to 240%, if they weren't overclocked i would need over 860 of them.

[redictor]

Originally posted by RadioIesbian Fluid:

I wouldnt bother with coal gens. sure you can overclock em if you're desperate to save space, but they're not that big.

It becomes more of a thing with fuel gens and nuclear reactors imo. Like i got a power plant with 360 fuel generators, clocked to 240%, if they weren't overclocked i would need over 860 of them.

I mean, that's fair. But it was more of an example while I'm still in phase 2 for this new playthrough. Thinking ahead I of course should save the shards for the fuel generators. But the question applied to those as well, you see.

[RadioIesbian Fluid]

Save your sluggy bois until you've unlocked the somersloops to double machine output, then you can double the shards you get from them. You will eventuallt be able to produce power shards in tier 9, but until them being able to double the shards you get from the sluggy bois is nice.

Overclcoking to me is more preferable when you can cut down a lot on machines, specially the larger ones like manufacturers.

[molovian]

I always overclock and overproduce. Rather have way too much and not worry about it and not grind my way to efficiency and just overdo everything...

[Honorable_D]

Always overclock power generators to save space cause there is no penalty.

So why build 20 power buildings when you can max overclock and condense that down to 8 of them instead.

[kLuns]

power shards all the way

[Doc✪Hollywood]

Originally posted by redictor:

Overclock power generators or build more?

Machines who consume power get a penalty for overclocking, generators not. That makes the case clear:

• To save space
  
• to save repetitive, tedious work
  
• to not disfigure nature and landscape
  
• to save materials

you run all generators at 250%