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Help with overclocking

  • 04-08-2011 11:03pm
    #1
    irish gamer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭


    Hi all. i love my gaming but i dont know much about overclocking and need a step by step quide to do so. My specs aint the best but thts wht i have for now as money is tight so i dont want to break any components by doing it myself without getting help first. Anyway if anyone can give me a safe guide to overclock so i can get good results id be very thankfull.

    Core 2 duo
    4gb ram
    9800gtx


Comments

  • #2
    Monotype
    Registered Users Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    Overclocking your processor will depend on your motherboard.
    You can find out what motherboard you have by dowloading CPU-Z from www.cpuid.com. Download links or on the right hand side.

    You'll be able to overclock your card. Get the latest nvidia drivers/software from www.nvidia.com/

    Locate the overclocking settings and you will be greeted by a few sliders. Pics here.
    http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/nvidia_geforce_gtx_560_ti_overclocking_guide,2.html
    http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/nvidia_geforce_gtx_560_ti_overclocking_guide,3.html

    Take note of your temperatures before you begin. Only move the sliders a small amount at the time, e.g, 5-10MHz at most.
    Test for stability with something like GPU tool.
    http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1383/GPUTool_Community_Technology_Preview_1.html
    Or FurMark.
    http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

    If you get errors/artifacts, go back down the scale. Keep an eye on your temperatures the whole time. Try to keep it below 80C when running tests.
    When you are finished, run games for a few days. If there's crashes, scale it back a bit further.


  • #3
    irish gamer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭irish gamer


    Thank you very much this was i very good guide for ppl like me "dummie" lol. Anway i was wondering could you help me with overclocking my cpy "core2duo e8400". Thnks in advance


  • #4
    Monotype
    Registered Users Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    You need to download CPU-Z first.
    http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z/versions-history.html

    When you load the program, there's a tab with "Mainboard" on it. If you post what the name of the board is, we'll be able to check if it supports overclockig.


  • #5
    irish gamer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭irish gamer


    Monotype wrote: »
    You need to download CPU-Z first.
    http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z/versions-history.html

    When you load the program, there's a tab with "Mainboard" on it. If you post what the name of the board is, we'll be able to check if it supports overclockig.
    I have that already and other programs, im just going to idle pc for half hour to record temps at idle and then at load running few progams at one time "virus scanner,Defag,Watch a movie at 1080p"

    Core2Duo E8400 @3.00GHZ
    Asus P5N73-AM
    RAM 4GB(2x2) DDR2-800
    Pny Geforce 9800GTX
    500GB western digital HDD 7200rpm
    Ocz GameXstream 700W psu
    Im using stock fan for cpu
    120mm at back top of case just under psu
    120mm fan bottom side for gpu
    Check this link so you'll have a better idea of where the fans and everything is
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4459734&csid=ITD&body=MAIN


  • #6
    irish gamer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭irish gamer


    Thanks again for your help


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  • #7
    Monotype
    Registered Users Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    Here's your motherboard. http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_775/P5N73AM/
    Looking around it looks like overclocks aren't great with it, but maybe you might squeeze and extra 10% out.

    I think the first thing to do is get that latest BIOS (0801) on the download page.
    The BIOS utility looks like one of those ones that you need to put on on a bootable disc/drive which are troublesome so download that "Asus update" under the utilities section and see if includes a BIOS update tool. Don't forget to backup your old BIOS.

    Get the latest prime95 for your system. This will be used to test for stability.
    http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/default.php
    Coretemp will help you keep an eye on your temperatures.
    http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

    To overclock, go into the BIOS settings when your system boots up. You will have to press some key like delete or one of the function (F) keys, so look out for prompts telling you. When you get into setup, go to the advanced tab and select "Jumperfree".
    Next switch the "FSB -Memory Clock Mode" to "Unlinked". This will stop your RAM from overclocking. Make sure the RAM doesn't go over 800MHz.

    Bump up the FSB 5-10MHz. Save your settings and boot into Windows.
    Have a look in CPU-Z to see if your speed increased.
    Run prime95 for a while with one of the tests.
    Keep coretemp open. You want to keep your temperatures below about 60C.

    If your temperatures and stability seem ok, reboot and bump up another few MHz. As soon as you get freezes/prime errors, go back to the settings and scale back, say, 15MHz. Run prime95 for 6-12 hours - 24 to be very sure. If you have no errors in that time, you're done. If you get errors in the first few hours, drop by 10MHz. If you get errors late, just drop by 5 or so.

    I don't know if your motherboard supports voltage increases. This will normally come under vcore or CPU voltage or something like that. If it is there, you can increase it by about 0.05V at a time to increase stability, helping you to overclock further. Keep a sharp eye on temperatures as they can increase very fast with this.


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