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brand new to overclocking help please

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ashley1337

Registered
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Hello I have not overvlocked before but looking to over clock My cpu which is i7 940 2.93ghz looking to over clock to around 4.0 can anyone give me a guide on how to do so?

And what are the risks and things to be careful of.

Thanks
 
@ ashley1337 welcome to the forums i would start with the basics which you will need to monitor and test your system? Like these programs you will need to Download and install on your PC! Before your like dive into your Bios i would spend some time reading and learning what these do first. And yes this is the boring bit lots of reading to do! AJ. :thup:

1, http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

2, http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

3, http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/

4, http://prime95.en.softonic.com/

5,

The first 3 monitor your set up the 4 stress tests it and the 5 post is a video showing you how to do it properly. ;)
 
Some quick steps:
1. Set cpu ratio to x19, x20 or x21, not higher
2. Set bclk to 190-210 , usually something up to 210 is stable, better keep it near 200
3. Set memory ratio to something lower or if you have option then just pick 1200+ or 1600 memory clock.
4. Set QPI/VTT voltage to ~1.30-1.40V , if you want to run memory @1600 then better near 1.4V
5. Set cpu voltage to 1.30-1.40V , here all depends from cpu but most are making something about 1.35V at 4GHz

These voltages should be safe. In worst case you will have to restart BIOS using clear CMOS jumper, button or just remove battery.
If you will be sure that all is stable then try to lower voltages.

In this way you should make something like 4GHz ~1.35V but expect that temps will be high if you won't use good cooler.

soft to test stability:
- memtest86+ or 86+ bets 5.0 to test memory/memory controller
- prime95 for cpu or mixed cpu+memory +memory controller or Intel Burn Test for about the same
- programs for monitoring from Ajay post above
 
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