Thread: Overclocking your CPU

The following steps will help you oc your cpu... This is a rough draft and I will revise it when I have time...

This is a thread I ran a long time ago on overclockers.net... It was the 1st cpu i oc'd.... still running the same one... some peeps comments are better than others (like in any forum)...

http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/...hwood-bfg.html

Tips to help you oc your cpu...
1) get cpu-z and speedfan (google them)
2) take screenshots of cpu-z, all 4 tabs...
3) do a little research and find the max temp your processor can handle (I don't have any hands on experience with amd's, but that really doesn't matter!)

Basic steps to follow when ocing the Processor in your CPU...
1) There are 3 components that you can overclock on your cpu; the processor, the ram, and your video card. You adjust the settings of each component in your bios. Some mobo's (motherboard) have a program that allows you to oc your bios while in windows; like uguru for some abit mobo's.
2) You should only change one parameter for one component each time you attempt to oc your cpu... The voltage should always be the LAST variable you change.
3) Always keep the two components you are not testing on automatic (settings you know work); this will help insure that you are isolating your oc to the component you have chosen.
4) Start with the clock of your cpu... You can turn the mhz up in increments. I suggest starting small until you know what you are doing... Example: cpu fsb = 200 mhz … change it to 201 Mhz… restart your cpu…If your cpu restarts successfully, then repeat the process. Try 202 Mhz…
4) If your cpu will not boot windows, notch up the voltage… your processor vcore voltage… Example: @ 200 Mhz, vcore = 1.45V…… @ 205 Mhz, vcore ~ 1.5 V (Always remember to watch the temperature of your cpu using speedfan…)
5) After reaching the highest processor fsb possible (the highest Mhz at which your cpu successfully boots windows), run a benchmark test and watch the TEMPERATURE… I use sandralite5.0 or 3DMark05 or 3DMark06…
6) If you complete the test without any problems and under the max temp rated for your processor, then you have found the MAX fsb Mhz of your processor. If you can successfully complete the test for an hour straight (similar to playing cs for an hour), then your cpu is STABLE. If your cpu overheats, then drop the Mhz and voltage.

Basic steps to follow when ocing the Ram in your computer...
Now that you have found your max processor speed, it is time to move on to your Ram.
!) Leave the FSB on your cpu at the max speed accomplished in the preceding steps and keep your CPU at a 1:1 ratio with your FSB.
2) Go into your Bios, and find the timing settings for your Ram. (It should say Ram Timings or something to that extent.)
3) The lower the timings, the faster your ram will communicate. (High timings around 4-5-5-8 represent the slowest speeds you can run your ram.) You should always shoot for the lowest timings possible. If you do some research on your Ram, you will see the recommended timings for your Ram.
4) The first digit (the 4 above) is always the hardest timing to lower. I suggest starting with the suggested timings for your particular Ram. Some Ram can reach timings of 2-2-2-5, but that ram is usually very expensive and it is the top of the line. As a rule of thumb, I’ve found that most Brand Name Ram, like Kingston or Corsair (even Value Select Corsair), can reach timings of 2.5-3-3-6. It simply depends on the luck of the draw; which is why you should always try to find the best ratings that YOUR Ram will operate at. (At this point, you had better know how to reset your CMOS… Changing your Ram timings can freeze up your machine and it may not even allow you to regain access into your bios; unless you reset your CMOS)… The CMOS resides on your motherboard and it is usually a jumper that will need to be swapped… Sometimes just popping out the batter and grounding the connections will produce the same effect. However, if you are new to oc’ing, then read your motherboard manual and learn how to reset your CMOS.
5) Now comes the fun part. You can either change a few of the timings or one at a time. As long as you know how to reset your CMOS, I would go to some optimal settings. Let’s say your timings are at 4-5-5-8… First I would try 3-6-6-7… If that doesn’t work, then step it up to 4-6-6-7… If that doesn’t work, then you are screwed and you can’t oc your Ram with a 1:1 split between your CPU:Ram… If it does work, then try 3-5-5-7. Continue in this order if your cpu restarts successfully after each attempt. 3-5-5-6, then 2.5-4-4-6, and finally 2.5-3-3-6… If your are successful this far, you have SWEET ASS RAM… Try 2.5-3-3-5, and run your pc for a bit… Then, you can continue lowing your timings with the aforementioned pattern…

GOOD LUCK, and PM me if you need some help!!!

HeavyG, How many fans do you have pulling in fresh air and expelling heated air You should push in more cool air than that that you expell... It helps convection heat transfer, keeping your system cooler... do u use xfire my xfire is bdninjalegolas... holla

With what you have described, you should be able to push your cpu much further than you are!!! What is the ambient temp If you're pushing 65C then maybe you should reapply new heatsink gel... I recommend artic silver... Works wonders... Also, you may want to try a split between your cpu and your memory or maybe just go with higher latency timings on your ram... You should be able to reach at least 235 on your processor without problems...

You are right to tell peeps to be careful with upping their cpu core voltage... Prescotts in particular are known to run with less voltages, which should mean less heat or running at lower temps... If you have hit 65C, I wouldn't push it any further... However, I do believe there is another reason your processor is at such a temp... Maybe it's the ambient temp, maybe it's your heatsink gel, or maybe you don't have enough fans blowing in cool air!!!

Wouldn't it be nice if air conditioning companies still put vents in the floor so we could direct all of that nice cool air into our cpu!!!

Nice buy... For memory, may i suggest corsair dual channel ddr400 xms... I've oc'd it to 261 mhz stable at timmings of 2.5,3,3,6... I think it runs ~$100~$125 for 2 x 512mb sticks..

I'm not big on ddr2 memory yet... can you run ddr2 memory in dual channel mode? I haven't done the research since I've never wanted to get it... The last time I researched it was this past christmass... The prices were tooo high and my dual channel ddr400 corsair was performing better than ddr2 466 or PC4000...

Do you like ddr2 ram? Do you think it is worth the money?

Memory sucks anyways... Who buys it..I don't. I have zero memory

Technolegy is for ppl who care i use a stone a piece of paper and a bird to transfer my data