JJBuck2

Join Date 01/2009

Overclocking

Since I don't want to jack gmc2's thread anymore but wanted to know, I thought Id make a new post. How does one go about overclocking, how safe is it, and can my system handle it (I keep displaying my computer ignorance, nothing for it I suppose). My system is as follows

AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual Core 6000+ 3.1Ghz

8 gigs of RAM

Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT 1gig

Asus M3A78-CM motherboard

Thanks

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The 6000 is essentially the top end for the Athlon 64 X2s, which didn't overclock (compared to C2Ds) that well to begin with. That is, they tended top out around 3GHZ, with some lucky people being able to hit 3.2. There's a reason the 6400 at 3.2 was the last of the line.

The simple answer is you're not going to get more than another 100-150MHZ out of it (so you'd be at 3.2-3.25GHZ) and it's really just not worth the effort.

OCing the video card is another issue entirely and not something I'm overly familiar with but I don't believe it'd do terribly much good in your case either.

The GTX285 and the GTX295 are both 10.5" long, whereas the motherboard is 9.6"x9.6" (since it's micro-atx). But at least now you can measure how far it'd stick out off the motherboard into the rest of your case.

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K thanks Sole, just wondering.

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Overclocking mostly works to make lower end processors perform like upper-end ones in the same lineup, with some exceptions (AMD Black Series). Since you're at the top of that line it won't do much for you.

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what Soul Sole is correct, the line Black Edition or not is all but topped out from the factory.

I have A 6400+ 3.2 Black Edition . it becomes unstable at 3.4. You could probably get it up to 3.3Ghz, and I have seen a few with proper cooling and a very balance overall system clocking reach 3.5/3.6Ghz. By balanced I mean everything finely tuned together, FSB, CPU, RAM, etc....it is not just the CPU clock that causes instability.

However, without being experience in clocking and without proper cooling I would not suggest trying to hit more than 3.3.

but as Shodan said its not going to do you much good, as your already at 3.1. but if you'd still like to take a shot at it, ask around here

or nVidia puts out overclocking guides for their chipsets like this one, even though your running an AMD chipset you could use it as a basic guide or try to find similar for AMD chipset. the nvidia guide shows you how to balance the system, with a balanced overall system clocking you might see a little difference.

last but not least BE CAREFUL, if you want to clock you gotta start somewhere, but you can easily burn up CPUs or RAM etc...

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Overclocking any components on a Mobo can simply burn it enough to enforce replacement.

Sure, you'd play GC2 with a whopping FPS count going from 90+ to 95 or even less. Heck, you'd even put your whole OS multi-tasking, swapping memory & other features from .00005 nano-seconds processing to .00004. Silly, risky, costly.

Trust the manufacturers, they know what steadily solid performance mean to stock PCs.

Daring has an associated cost, eventually.

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Trust the manufacturers

Which is why I always recommend only taking them to top-end stock specs (in this case that would be 3.2, for which I would make an exception and say leave it at 3.0) if you're new to overclocking, or worried in any way.

I'm surprised I didn't make that distinction here; I always do.

The bottom binned processor can run at the top bin's speed >90% of the time, probably >95% of the time-it just needs marginally more voltage than "normal" (which actually varies from processor to processor anyway!) to do so.

Video cards have a somewhat different "binning" process, if you will-the differences between the models are generally much more so than simply clock speed. Which is why I don't recommend it and try to stay away from it.

If you have any idea whatsoever what you're doing (including just simply reading this post), it's not a bad idea. If you don't, get yourself a $40 Celeron and overclock that first. That way if you fry it, it's only $40 down the drain. (For AMD, substitute with Sempron.)

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Imagine an I7, on a 64 bits OS, bought this next summer and all that matter for that person is to *OVERclock* to gain a slightly higher kink in'a jink for awhile.

Specs of Hardware & recommendations on software boxes are there for reason, read - carefully.

In the meantime, wait for next year. Duals+Quads are gone done stone age drones of the past & underclocked by today's standards, and surprisingly this situation will outlast the week long usage of a brand new PC just plugged. The only way to increase capacity (worth the risk, i repeat) is to have the RIGHT devices in a pre-designed well-balanced time-guaranteed tower.

Unless of course, you have sooooo much cash to spend that changing a PC every year for you is routine & a must.

-- Boost your memory slots to the maximum suggested, it may help.

-- Monitor you heat sinks values within the 50°C+/- heat limit by Bios warnings, and check the fan speeds for dust clugs, it will overclock by itself.

-- PSU ratings can help filling every last PCIe expansions available on the Mobo. Do you really need all of it & GPU wise, sli fastening included?

It's not the ghz off the screwed or snapped in CPU (underneath the big fan), it's the entire array of components together both in quality & quantity as a whole that matters as manufactured for awhile.

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I would have to disagree that overclocking is useless and it definitely nets gains larger than the ones you claim. It isn't as dangerous as you think, as long as you take the time to educate yourself and buy quality components. Of course someone who has no idea what they are doing shouldn't try to overclock which is why you should do extensive research before you attempt it. I've overclocked my Intel Core2 Quad 9450 from it's stock 2.66ghz to a whopping 3.72ghz stable. I've been running it that way for the last six months and it hasn't given me any problems. Of course there's always risk involve and if you aren't willing to take that then don't try it, but it can be very rewarding if you happen to succeed.

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I have to agree with Xenophobe. This is especially true if you an AMD BE processor which has an unlocked multiplier.

With this processor, you just have to adjust one parameter to OC your cpu. Undoubtedly, you will need to increase your CPU voltage to OC your cpu. But if you do it in small increments and Prime95 your computer at every iteration, you will not fry your cpu.

Just make sure you have a good after market cooler. Heat kills... Actually, voltage kills more, just be careful....

Oh yeah, I just noticed you have a locked AMD processor. In this case, you'll have to adjust the reference clock , and be careful not to OC your ram to much, since OC'ing the reference clock, automatically OC's the CPU, HT link, and ram.

Good Luck JJBuck2...

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It isn't as dangerous as you think, as long as you take the time to educate yourself and buy quality components.

Ohhhh, but i DO agree with this reasoning.

Every stranger in our world is an incompetent dummie when it comes to highly complex electronics unless they aren't in all shades & variations including personal experience & job description & a whole lot more facts about somebody's real knowledge of overclocking risks as it applies to their specific gears.

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