Vista - OverClocking NoOb.... Some Help from the Vista Gods?

Hi Guys,

I'm interested in overclocking my rig. I just built the rig from the ground-up a week ago when I got everything in from Newegg. I figured it's time to get over WoW, and start playing CoD4/5 and Crysis, which to be honest, run fine already on my computer. But for some reason I still want to give it a try. Now since this is also the first time I've even considered this, I'm completely confused as to the best way to figure out what to do in my bios to properly overclock my cpu, mobo, ram and gpu. So here are a couple of questions:

A) If I'm already running Crysis at high settings (not sure if I had the demo at the highest or just high), should I even try to overclock my rig? (I plan on installing the Adobe suite to do some web design and flash work now too.)

B) Can anyone direct me to a site where I can find the proper equations for overclocking?

C) Can anyone suggest what they consider is the best temperature monitoring program for all of the components? I downloaded the Monitoring program from Nvidia, but it isn't working properly on my machine? The program spec's on their site name my mobo and gpu as being compatible with the program, but it will not display my gpu and when I try to select it the program crashes.

P.s. Not sure if this would change anything, but another 4Gb's of Ram (same two sticks I already have for a total of 8Gb) should be at my house by tomorrow if that changes anything?

OOps, Just saw Skunksmash's OC Guide. So I'll give that a gander. Sorry for asking that stupid question. But can I get the other questions answered in the meantime?

A) Is it worthwhile to OC my rig if it can already run Crysis on high settings?

B) Can anyone refer me to a really good temperature monitoring programs please?

Thanks, and sorry for appearing lazy and not reading Skunk's post.

A) Doubtful since this game on 295 SLI runs on an overclocked system with 60+fps. Crysis is was released to soon for the market just like Stalker:Clear Sky because it uses both DX9 & 10 environmental hardware components which neither of these GPU's on the market are assembled with.

Ok. When I started the demo up for the first time, I immediately went to the video options to mess with it. Not sure if the game did this automatically or if it was an option to let the game recommend settings based on the machines setup. It came back all on high? And I've always wanted to work with overclocking because it's always good to learn, but wasn't sure if I should really try and learn on a brand new rig that was already capable of running that game at a decent setting.

Dude, all of this overclocking is just a manipulated race to the top with other extreme users involved. It's an irrelevant necessity and it's only meant to be on liquid cooling. Most heatsinks out there will not tolerate the internal heat combustion from ram, cpu, gpu & motherboard combined. You will fry your hardware relatively fast.
Overclocking is meant to be done for the future when the user feels the computer is slower to the ever evolving software demands. If you have a decent computer, stick to it dude but if your ready for overclocking then you need to be ready to dish out more cash on the pottery.

I gotchya. Thanks

Sure thats one way to look at overclocking.

I overclock because I like to push the boundaries. See if my computer will run that frame faster. Overclocking for most people has nothing to do with speed, it is bragging rights and the simple act of taking something beyond it specifications.

When you do it is actually quite fun UNTIL your computer fails to boot for the first time. That first time sucks because you have no idea what to do and you generally freak out, well I did.


While the thought of suddenly giving a performance boost to you computer when it feels slower in the future is great but that isn't always how it works.

It is sort of like putting NOS on a 1920's Ford. The engine goes boom. The CPU and other components all wear down and don't handle the change in voltages and frequency's that well. Get in early while your computer is young (usually within your warranty).

People say that overclocking will void your warranty but the truth is that it is difficult to prove unless you have burnt pins or physical scarring.

If you want to try out overclocking the read about it loads. Don't skim through a few forums and try it. Read, re-read and read again the information from different sources.


Don't do it just because somebody on an internet forum says so and don't not do it just because a person on an internet forum says not to. You have to decide on your own.

Those who have had bad experiences will say 'Don't do it, it will just kill your computer' and the successful people (like myself) will say 'Yeah it is great, nothing ever goes wrong and it is really easy'. Both are lies.

Stuff does go wrong sometimes but not always. My E6750 runs every day @ 3.6GHz, 1GHz over stock, but some might only get 5 - 600MHz over stock. Each piece of hardware is different.


Good luck

I choose to overclock because I can.

I CHOSE to look into overclocking because it is there, achieveable and its another side to computing that I wanted to explore. Its not about the epeen for me.

I enjoy the self education, the trial and error. The success along with the failure.

Unless you do something silly, a majority of components on the market, are basically designed to handle overclocking, over volting and whatnot.

The way I look at it is if you want to explore OC'ing....read, read, read, read, then read some more. Then, if you are comfortable with your whole rig going up in a puff of smoke, go for it. Educate yourself first and know what to expect. Start slow until you get a feel for your equipment and what it can handle.

I do some interesting things with my PC's....Overclocking is part of it.

Gnys.....

in the inception OCing of course water was the preferred choice, as cooling solutions lacked any real capability, but i can assure you *now* the majority of OCing is via air cooling.... & its not done b/c i feel my rig is not capable enough while stock, its done b/c I ENJOY IT!! , taking components past their stock speeds & managing the same performance as a rig which may cost you double, feels like a real achievement (to me)

its the art of getting greater speed & keeping it ''stable'' for 24/7 use...


Gudziel...

dont be put off by Gnys post...... if you wish to try your hand at it, do so..

there is of course a real risk that comes with OCing, components can & will die.... RAM is the most susceptible to frying, & even if your board has some form of ''C.P.R'' BIOS parameter recall, you will need to locate the CMOS jumper on your mobo & make sure its accesible before you begin (refer to the mobo manual)

just start in slow increments, as stated in the tutorial...


i use a few monitoring apps, i haven't got 1 for everything.....

CPUZ..... will monitor overall CPU clockspeed, voltage, RAM timings, mobo specs..

Speedfan..... i use this for CPU temps, this app can vary from rig to rig, but on mine it detects correctly, this will also allow you to alter fanspeed for any chassis fan with a 4pin mobo connection (i.e. you CPU HSF)

GPUZ... this utility will show you driver version, clocks speeds, card specs & temps (though i dont use this for temps)


EVGA Precision tuner.... this is a great app, i use this for card temps, & OCing..


EVEREST... is also a handy app for most of the above settings, it will also allow you to run a sidebar gadget for CPU/GPU temps, which is handy....


if i were you i'd just install the lot & then your all set...







SK

Agreed. I like pushing my hardware (I don't do any extreme stuff, but still enjoy it) and like working with the formulas to see which one works best and trying the different settings...

...until I hit a brick wall with my RAM being 667MHz so need to invest in faster stuff.