Overclocking

[Lagerlout]

Don't really know anything about it. Obviously you're somehow increasing the clock speed of the processor (or the multiplier) to make your chip work faster and subsequently hotter as a result.

Before I start looking into it in earnest I want to know if it's something the computer geeks on here consider worthwhile. Is it risky? Is it easy to do? Do any asociated risks outweigh the gains?

I have an Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 if that makes any difference.

Also can this be done to graphic processors?

ta

 

[Racingblue182]

I think it will pretty much half the lifespan of the CPU. I dont bother with it personally and yes, it can be done with GFX processors.

 

[Lagerlout]

I'm not surprised. It's not very often you get something for nothing. lol.

I've read how people have massively increased the clock speed - Seemed a little bit too good to be true!!

 

[BatFastard]

Think of it like remapping the ECU on your car.

My e6600 has a stock 2.6ghz per core - I have managed to set it to 3ghz per core on stock cooling. The higher you set it the higher temperature its going to go which could fry the chip (thats why I didnt go too high on my overclock) the people who have got crazy overclocks have got such things as water cooling in their computer and the like, you should be able to get your e6400 to 2.6/2.7 per core easily

 

[Gareth]

an e6600 is 2.4 stock.

 

[Nigel]

It can decrease the life of the CPU, but how many people keep their computers for more than 4/5 years? I'm sure even overclocked processors should last this length of time!

 

[Clart]

well i never. stef overclocking, whatever next!

My processor has been overclocked for the past 3 years, never had any problems with it, its been the most reliable PC i've ever had. windows never hangs etc, and thats on stock cooling with air. Admittedly its not clocked to stupid amounts, but i could certainly notice the difference in games after i'd done it

 

[BatFastard]

an e6600 is 2.4 stock.

My bad

 

[Gareth]

an e6600 is 2.4 stock.

My bad

that's ok dude, I've just bought one. What have you changed exactly to get it to 3GHz? I want to do the same but don't know what to do and am also unsure if I need to do anything to the memory? (2GB 1066MHz)

 

[BatFastard]

It depends on a whole lot of things -including the air in the case. What mobo do you have? 1066mhz memory - thats crazy I thought I was doing well with 800mhz

 

[BatFastard]

Also for your ram try a 4-4-4-12 setting, should speed them up a bit

 

[Gareth]

this mobo :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-000-EA

the build can be seen here :

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=212056

its a good system as it is, I was playing C&C 3 last night maxed out on all the settings flawlessly.

 

[BatFastard]

Excellent rig, defo need to overclock it cause I just read your getting a 5.3 when im getting a 5.4 - is the processor thats holding you back? After the overclock it should raise a helluva lot

 

[Gareth]

yes it is the processor holding it back, the rest is HDD read times and something else which score 5.5, then the graphics card scores 5.9, so overclocking to 3GHz may well get the overall score to 5.5, i just need to work out what to do exactly.

 

[ollie]

gareth you at home now? if so msg me on msn and ill help ya overclock it now..

 

[Gareth]

I'm not I'm afraid mate, i can talk to you now, (i'm at work) but if you need me to be infront of the machine I won't be until this evening, thanks.

 

[Mells]

I remember overclocking my 486 SX2-50 to 66mhz.

I also overclocked my P60 to P100. That did run hot!! I havent overclocked any of my newer machines.

 

[Darren S]

I just enable the 10% Overclock function in BIOS.

Have tried and used it on previous PCs, but I can't be arsed any more. I can see why people do it though.

D.

 

[Lagerlout]

Hmmm.

So it's as easy as changing something in your BIOS? Will my BIOS have a 10% overclock function?

 

[Lagerlout]

well i never. stef overclocking, whatever next!

My processor has been overclocked for the past 3 years, never had any problems with it, its been the most reliable PC i've ever had. windows never hangs etc, and thats on stock cooling with air. Admittedly its not clocked to stupid amounts, but i could certainly notice the difference in games after i'd done it

I just use the bloody things! I know fook all about them! lol

Worthwhile? I might give it a go *checks to see if PC is covered on house insurance*

 

[Gareth]

Hmmm.

So it's as easy as changing something in your BIOS? Will my BIOS have a 10% overclock function?

no it won't, its not that simple.

 

[172beast]

Some stuff overclocks better then others, for example, I've got a Pentium D805, 2.66ghz per core and cheap as chips, not particularly fast, but it'll clock so easy, I've had mine at 3.8 per core for about 5 months with no problems, doesn't run hot and its only on air cooling, water cool will take it over 4ghz easily.

The latest C2D also clock very easily but not quite to same extreme lol

Need to make sure other components are good before just trying to clock the hell outta summit, I've got decent ram, decent mobo and had to buy a good PSU to cope with the extra juice overclocking needs.

 

[Lagerlout]

Sound. Cheers lad.

Bit more to this than I thought then.

Is there some program to carry out this mystical overclocking business or can it be done by other means?

 

[Darren S]

Hmmm.

So it's as easy as changing something in your BIOS? Will my BIOS have a 10% overclock function?

no it won't, its not that simple.

Yes it is - if the mobo supports it.

The Asus M2N32-SLi has the 10% overclock function on the CPU tab. Stock clock on the AM2-4800 CPU is obviously 2,400Mhz. Enable the overclock and it immediately switches it to 2,640Mhz.

Seems entirely stable at that too - never had an issue in 9 months. The AMD CPU tools verify that both cores are at indeed at 2,640Mhz as well.

D.

 

[Gareth]

i tried overclocking my C2D last night to 3.0Ghz on stock cooling without increasing the voltages on the CPU/FSB, but the CPU went to 83c and the system shut off. I've ordered better cooling, but I don't know if not increasing the voltages caused the problem. My stock E6600 setup seems to run at around 53c and I don't know if that's high or normal for stock. Anyone know?

 

[Stu_c]

i know someone who 7Ghz off a 2Ghz processor, lol, got pics of this lol

when you do it you need a good cooling system

i am running a AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ (2.6ghz) dual core

 

[Lagerlout]

Sounds complicated. i don't even know what my motherboard is. lol.

I had a look in the BIOS but could see no CPU options related to clock speed.

I have downloaded a program called SpeedFan however and it's telling me that my PC was running @ 38 degrees. Which is pretty good because it's actually shut inside my desk. There's allsorts of cooling s**t on the inside too with copper pipes and all manner of s**t coming of waht looks like a big f**k off aluminium heat sink.

My PC is very quiet that's for sure.

 

[Longy]

i tried overclocking my C2D last night to 3.0Ghz on stock cooling without increasing the voltages on the CPU/FSB, but the CPU went to 83c and the system shut off. I've ordered better cooling, but I don't know if not increasing the voltages caused the problem. My stock E6600 setup seems to run at around 53c and I don't know if that's high or normal for stock. Anyone know?

something wrong there i think!

My E6600 runs 3.2ghz at about 32c

 

[Gareth]

i tried overclocking my C2D last night to 3.0Ghz on stock cooling without increasing the voltages on the CPU/FSB, but the CPU went to 83c and the system shut off. I've ordered better cooling, but I don't know if not increasing the voltages caused the problem. My stock E6600 setup seems to run at around 53c and I don't know if that's high or normal for stock. Anyone know?

something wrong there i think!

My E6600 runs 3.2ghz at about 32c

what cooling?

 

[Longy]

Artic cooling pro - but even on stock you shouldn't get that high temps surely? Fan is working correctly? HS seated correctly?

 

[Darren S]

i tried overclocking my C2D last night to 3.0Ghz on stock cooling without increasing the voltages on the CPU/FSB, but the CPU went to 83c and the system shut off. I've ordered better cooling, but I don't know if not increasing the voltages caused the problem. My stock E6600 setup seems to run at around 53c and I don't know if that's high or normal for stock. Anyone know?

Feck Gareth - that's high! Good job it was an Intel CPU - an AMD would have been a melted blob at the bottom of your case by then.

I'm running high-40s normally. If I've done an hour or so on BF2142, it will be mid-50s. The GFX cards fair better - usually mid-40s regardless of what I'm doing.

D.

 

[Gareth]

Artic cooling pro - but even on stock you shouldn't get that high temps surely? Fan is working correctly? HS seated correctly?

its all installed correctly, 100%

 

[Gareth]

i tried overclocking my C2D last night to 3.0Ghz on stock cooling without increasing the voltages on the CPU/FSB, but the CPU went to 83c and the system shut off. I've ordered better cooling, but I don't know if not increasing the voltages caused the problem. My stock E6600 setup seems to run at around 53c and I don't know if that's high or normal for stock. Anyone know?

Feck Gareth - that's high! Good job it was an Intel CPU - an AMD would have been a melted blob at the bottom of your case by then.

I'm running high-40s normally. If I've done an hour or so on BF2142, it will be mid-50s. The GFX cards fair better - usually mid-40s regardless of what I'm doing.

D.

tell me about it, i'm partly surprised its still working!!

 

[ollie]

nah it wont be to do with voltages, if you had of increased the voltages last night the temp would have been even higher, therefore meltin your chip.

Will just be the cooling, should be twice as good when you get your new cpu cooler. What other fans are on your case ??

 

[Gareth]

the PSU has a 120mm fan, the case has a 80mm fan extracting heat from the CPU, the std Intel CPU fan (the new one should be here tomorrow) and two 80mm fans at the front of the case at the bottom.

 

[Gareth]

well I've just overclocked it to 3.0GHz with the new cooler, underload (playing a game and still displaying the desktop on the second screen) the highest it reached was 52c. I've re-run the Vista score, the processor is up from 5.3 to 5.6, giving the system an overall score of 5.5. So I'm pretty happy now. Thanks for your help Ollie!

PS. Idling in Windows its doing 44c

 

[ollie]

nice one mate

run that thermal analysis tool i sent you and set them to 100% and leave it for 5 mins and see waht temps get to, should be fine but just make sure it dont sneak to high

 

[RSi Dave]

I o/c my e6400 on the Asus P5N-E mobo when i first got it. I am running it at 2.6ghz instead of 2.1ghz.

Im limited to my ram, i am only running 667 memory so i have put my FSB to 1333 (667 / 2 = 333 x 4 = 1333), i did put the FSB to 1600 which is for 400 memory and but not sure, it ran at 3.2ghz without major increase in heat on stock cooling.

I am tempted to increase the Multiplier to 9 but not sure on the volts etc... dont want it to break.

Gareth - have you checked the Asus site for the latest bios? Mine is up with the new cpu bus speed support

 

[Gareth]

my board is EVGA not Asus, but its running the latest BIOS as at a few days ago. I've actually had a few more issues since my last post and its not running quite so cool, I've fitted another fan and am in the middle of a rebuild, so don't have much access to the net, will post more when I am up and running again.

 

[Munson]

Yes it is - if the mobo supports it.

The Asus M2N32-SLi has the 10% overclock function on the CPU tab. Stock clock on the AM2-4800 CPU is obviously 2,400Mhz. Enable the overclock and it immediately switches it to 2,640Mhz.

This is a fact. I have the exact same mobo