Overclocking made simple

Just stick with a name brand 120mm. I normally buy NZXT or Thermaltake. 120mm fans are cheap, however, you don't want to buy bargain crap.

Ok then, I will stick with Zalman - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...%20-%203%20Pin

I quite like the blue, glowy ones, but as one reviewer said, "If you don't mind your PC sounding like a Hoover..."

Mine's more like a Dirt Devil! hahaha

haha the way out i totaly understand what you mean(the psu in my other pc sounds close to a 747 taking off(that is for a pc think i'll have to glue it to the ground xd)

Got one 120 mm in the top and one 145mm in the psu, both are good ^^, wished i could fit that 145 mm from my old psu that broke down due to a factory error -_- into my case :P

but for cpu cooling ya can't go wrong with thermaltake(newer series, no comment on a certain older series where i've had alot of problems with and i'm not the only one)/Zalman (very decent cooling, yet silent but takes up space so you're mobo has to have enough space (no comment on the spacing on the AN8 series -_-) or Arctic Cooling

I personally prefer Arctic Cooling (for the heatpipes/still rather silent combo and not taking up too much space (not a problem in the case which is a big server case ^^) (it's the mobo spacing which is a pain, darn memory bays are so close to the cpu that it was a pain to get my Corsair XmS ram in it (now sitting in my older pc since i couldn't set in Dual )

This is a great Idea snog with the OC made easy but the deal is, it is not.

People are Id10t5 and think that chip x=y settings. This is hardly the case. Now take into account all the different hardware manufactures and chip sets. lol. Every chip (even 1's made right after 1 another by the same manufacturer) will over clock differently.

2 things, at least for me that are constants are: stability and temps.

Start off slow and take baby steps.

Overclock and stability will change over time, what once was stable is not anymore.

The rule of thumb for ALL OVERCLOCKING IS: If you can not afford to replace it, don't do it.

says,"over clocking is like a drug, Just a little more, just 1000 more points in 3Dmark06, just 50 more FPS.".

also says,"When will you be happy? Set a limit."

Before you overclock anything get cooling under control and always turn all the fans up to 100%.

That sounds to me like the golden rule of overclocking. Shame you can't sticky a quote!

Stupid bloody bank holidays - can't get my fans and coolers 'til Tuesday.

im running at 55C CPU and 35C MOBO, like the others said - don't overclock!

My Golden rule (Everyone see the "MY") is: stability>everything.

If your system is only stable for 10 minutes or less what good is it?

Not directed at you Snog, but at everyone, If you smoke your system and come here and cry, I will laugh and flame you.

You can't flame what's already been burnt

Double post time.

As I said above, I've ordered cooler, fans, thermal gunk and an air duster so I'm just waiting it out. In the meantime I've adjusted the system fans to run at 100% - noisy, but necessary.

"After" temps in bold.

Motherboard 42 °C (108 °F) 43 °C (109 °F)
CPU 53 °C (127 °F) 50 °C (122 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1 70 °C (158 °F) 66 °C (151 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2 68 °C (154 °F) 63 °C (145 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #3 63 °C (145 °F) 60 °C (140 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #4 67 °C (153 °F) 61 °C (142 °F)
MCP 62 °C (144 °F) 60 °C (140 °F)
GPU1: GPU 55 °C (131 °F) 55 °C (131 °F)
GPU1: GPU Diode 54 °C (129 °F) 55 °C (131 °F)
GPU1: GPU Memory 55 °C (131 °F) 55 °C (131 °F)
GPU1: GPU Ambient 50 °C (122 °F) 50 °C (122 °F)
GPU2: GPU 45 °C (113 °F) 45 °C (113 °F)
GPU2: GPU Diode 61 °C (142 °F) 61 °C (142 °F)
GPU2: GPU Memory 45 °C (113 °F) 45 °C (113 °F)
GPU2: GPU Ambient 43 °C (109 °F) 44 °C (111 °F)

Not a whole heap of difference. Where's that can o' air?

Snog, until your cooling supplies arrive, underclock your CPU, and lower the core voltage. That will prevent possible damage when playing GW or w/e.

Damn, now I have to dig into the archives, find where someone told me what to alter, and change it back :/

Oh, I found it - way back in March. My system was delivered runnin 7x and I was advised to up it to 10x.

Back it goes

[Customary edit] Damn, according to this -http://www.frostytech.com/articlevie...id=2144&page=5 - the cooler I opted for is shit

Well yeh Snog, the Zalman you chose is old now. It has been outpaced by the newer heatpipe technology.

If I were you Snog, I would return it, and get this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...t%20AM2/LGA775)

or this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=HS-009-SY

The Kama Cross is fairly garbage. Look into the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 and / or Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.

I suggest you don't overclock until you fully understand what you are doing. Its nowhere near as dangerous as most people seem to think, but fooling around in a BIOs without knowing what is what is just stupid. Sorry, it just doesn't make sense. Its not like anything you're doing is overtly complicated, establishing a basic understanding of the principles / methods involved is crucial imho. Btw, (I didn't bother to read the whole thread) if it hasn't already been said, always overclock from the BIOs, non-multimeter voltage readings mean jack shit, and never underestimate the value of a quality powersupply. High wattage doesn't mean a good unit.

Thanks for your concern, Lurid.

You're right - I know stuff all about overclocking, aside from the basic theory. What I am doing, however, is getting advice from people in this very forum - people who's opinions I trust (not everyone - I do know who's who) - and not doing a damn thing without their step-by-step.

At this stage in the proceedings, I'm not even overclocking at all - I'm remedying a serious cooling deficiency that won't even allow my rig to run at stock without danger of component damage.

You didn't say 7-9 minutes out of what? If it's like 53 minutes versus 60 minutes, I still say whoop-de-doo!
If you are actually overclocking to do something worthwhile, overclocking may be worth it, but I'd be willing to bet that the extra cooling and other expenses would probably have paid for a faster cpu in the first place (or soon after).
At any rate, too many people who are into overclocking try to convince other people to do it, and far too often those people just end up with an unstable and/or fried system.

To be honest overclocking the current generation hardware doesn't really add alot usually (Especially with the added costs). Simply put you aren't likely to notice the difference between (The exact same CPU) @ 2Ghz vs 2.5Ghz. Its just doing it because you can.

Personally I have a good bit of free time between work and school, so its a bit of an art and a challenge to eek out the last bits of performance. It also can be used to lengthen the longevity of older systems (Obviously not too old).

Its just like people spending hours on cable management. Is it useful? Yes. Is it practical? Usually not, lol. I do it, because I can. I won't argue or yell at someone for not doing it, but it can be a bit of a challenge and thus can be interesting.

Btw, Snog any idea what your ambient (Home temp, usually easily found) and case ambient are? I'd try remounting if you have any thermal paste handy.

I second the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Rifle.

It all depends on what you do to how much of a difference you will see. Of course high end games nowadays, which are more so heavily GPU bound wont see as much. But when it comes to things that are heavily cpu bound and limited you very likely will see the difference.

Depends on the type of overclocking.

I'm sure if Snograt overclocks at the FSB level, there will DEFINITELY be performance differences overall.