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- Dec 5, 2001
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- Canuckistan
Hmmm... how to overclock? Well, i guess you could say you came to the right place. I'll start by explaining a few terms. I'm going to assume you know little about what i'm talking about for now. 
FSB(Front Side Bus) - This is the main system bus speed on your motherboard. You CPU speed is determined by this speed when multiplied by it's multiplier (133MHz x 7.5 = 1GHz). It also determines the speed at which your memory works and the memory bandwidth between the processor and memory.
vCore - This is the voltage of your CPU.
memCore - This is the voltage of your memory
Multiplier - Multiplied by the FSB to get CPU speed
Idle Temps - Temperature at which you will find in the BIOS. It shows what your computer is at when the CPU is doing very little processing.
Load Temps - Temperature when the processor is under 100% load. This is best achieved while running Folding@Home
The setings for overclocking are limited by your bios. For optimal overclocking your bios should contain vCore, memCore, FSB, and Multiplier settings. I am assuming when writing this that yours does. If not than you will be limited by your settings.
The most biggest concern when overclocking is your temperature. A program like MBM 5 will give you readouts on your temperature, voltages and CPU speed. Here's a simple guidline concerning temperatures.
This is a "safe" guideline to use. I have run my processor up to 80*C and it has not damaged it. But of course, it would not stay stable and was not usable.
The things that most adversly affect the CPU temperatures are the vCore and teh CPU Speed. Every CPU has it's limitations. You can increase your chances of reaching those limits with better cooling.
First I will start out describing how to overclock without being able to change the multiplier on your CPU. Doing it this way is all in the FSB.
Leaving your vCore and memCore alone, start upping your FSB. Try moving it 5MHz at a time. Keep track of your idle temps in the BIOS while doing this. If the temps get above 40*C and your system is still stable, then you may want to get some better cooling. As long as these temps stay below 40*C you'll be just fine to continue. If your temps are below 40*C and your system is unstable, then it is time to move the voltages up. Your vCore will be the first one you want to try. Move it up a small bit (usually .025v is one increment). If your system becomes stable, and is still good for a temp, then keep moving up the FSB. If your moving up the vCore and it's not helping, then you'll want to move up the memCore. Keep repeating this, always keeping tabs on your temps, until your vCore/memCore are maxed out, your cooling will not suffice, or your system won't handle any more. This is your max overclock.
Now if you are able to change your multplier you have an advantage. The main points still apply, but you will get more control. First what you will want to do is find your max FSB. As you increase the FSB, move your multiplier down so that your CPU stays below stock speed. This way you'll know that your CPU is not your limiting factor in achieving high FSB speeds. (High FSB is better). You will only have to concentrate on your memCore, FSB and temps while doing this. Want you want to do is find the maximum possible FSB. Your processor temps should move much since your not overclocking the CPU yet. But your motherboard temps may rise. They shouldn't matter too mcuh, but make sure these stay under the 35-40 mark. Once you have found the most that you can get out of your FSB, write that number down, or at least don't forget it. Now comes time for the CPU. Have your FSB at where you maxed out (maybe 2-3MHz lower), and have your multiplier set so that the CPU is close to stock speeds. Your temperature should be fairly normal. Start moving the Multiplier up. Keep tabs on your CPU temps. If your system starts locking up, but your temps aren't to bad, then you'll want to try upping your vCore. You will hit a barrier eventually. Either your system will crash (unstable) or your temps will be too high (unstable). Once you have achieved your max on the FSB and CPU speed, and your temps are within optimal range, give yourself a pat on the back.
Now for cooling purposes, 2 main ways to cool your CPU. Heatsink & Fan(HSF) or a Waterblock(WB). With either setup you'll need thermal paste. Products like Arctic Silver II / III are considered top of the line, but any thermal paste will do. A HSF uses plain air cooling and is limited by the temperature in the room the computer is located. A WB uses water to transfer heat from the CPU. With a setup like this you can cool the water, sometimes to subzero themperatures, therefore allowing you to get colder temperatures.
Another part to cool is the RAM. Ramsinks or RAM heatspreaders should suffice here. If you go for really high FSB (+166MHz) you may want to look into placing a fan blowing over the ram.
Also case fans are helpful, especially when useing a HSF so that the temp inside your case is as close to room temperature as possible. The cooler your case is, the cooler the air cooling your CPU is.
A note on adding thermal paste that many people miss is using to much. The void that the thermal paste needs to fill is usually microscopic. If you are able to look sideways at an attached Heatsink, you'll see that very little daylight, if any can be seen between the heatsink and the processor core or heat spreader. An easy way to know if your applying to much is to put what you think is the right amount, apply the heatsink then remove. If there is any paste around the edges of the core/heatspreader or a ridge outlining the surface on the heatsink than that is how much extra you didn't need to put on. A key thing to remember is that most thermal pastes aren't that great at conducting heat. They are only meant to fill the microscopic voids that are in the material that make up the core/heatspreader and heatsink. It is used because it is better than the air that would reside otherwise.
There are other ways to get higher overclocks. To do most of these you have to be willing to ruin your board, and be good with a soldering gun. Some boards do not support multiplier settings, but it is possible to add them with dip switches. You can also add resistors to up your memCore and vCore past what your motherboard may support. For example most motherboards dont' support anything higher than a 1.85v vCore (For AMD, not sure on Intel), and a 2.8v memCore. As I said, it's not impossible to get higher, and many have done this with no problems.
Remember one thing more. Overclocking voids the warranty on all parts. If you motherboard is fried while overclocking, then that's your loss. Yes you can probably get away with an RMA, but that is the cowardly way out. Take responsiblity for what you are doing. I'm not trying to scare you away. If your safe about what you are doing, and don't try to goto the extremem your hardware should be fine. Just don't go taking things back to the store if you break them.
I hope this helps you out, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
FSB(Front Side Bus) - This is the main system bus speed on your motherboard. You CPU speed is determined by this speed when multiplied by it's multiplier (133MHz x 7.5 = 1GHz). It also determines the speed at which your memory works and the memory bandwidth between the processor and memory.
vCore - This is the voltage of your CPU.
memCore - This is the voltage of your memory
Multiplier - Multiplied by the FSB to get CPU speed
Idle Temps - Temperature at which you will find in the BIOS. It shows what your computer is at when the CPU is doing very little processing.
Load Temps - Temperature when the processor is under 100% load. This is best achieved while running Folding@Home
The setings for overclocking are limited by your bios. For optimal overclocking your bios should contain vCore, memCore, FSB, and Multiplier settings. I am assuming when writing this that yours does. If not than you will be limited by your settings.
The most biggest concern when overclocking is your temperature. A program like MBM 5 will give you readouts on your temperature, voltages and CPU speed. Here's a simple guidline concerning temperatures.
- <30*C - Ideal overclocking temperatures
- 30-40*C - Good temperatures. Will allow for some overclocking
- 40-50*C - An alright temp for a Load Temp. Doesn't leave much room for overclocking. Should still remain stable.
- 50-60*C - A touchy area. Your computer may be stable, but don't overclock.
- >60*C - Get some better cooling or lower your overclock.
This is a "safe" guideline to use. I have run my processor up to 80*C and it has not damaged it. But of course, it would not stay stable and was not usable.
The things that most adversly affect the CPU temperatures are the vCore and teh CPU Speed. Every CPU has it's limitations. You can increase your chances of reaching those limits with better cooling.
First I will start out describing how to overclock without being able to change the multiplier on your CPU. Doing it this way is all in the FSB.
Leaving your vCore and memCore alone, start upping your FSB. Try moving it 5MHz at a time. Keep track of your idle temps in the BIOS while doing this. If the temps get above 40*C and your system is still stable, then you may want to get some better cooling. As long as these temps stay below 40*C you'll be just fine to continue. If your temps are below 40*C and your system is unstable, then it is time to move the voltages up. Your vCore will be the first one you want to try. Move it up a small bit (usually .025v is one increment). If your system becomes stable, and is still good for a temp, then keep moving up the FSB. If your moving up the vCore and it's not helping, then you'll want to move up the memCore. Keep repeating this, always keeping tabs on your temps, until your vCore/memCore are maxed out, your cooling will not suffice, or your system won't handle any more. This is your max overclock.
Now if you are able to change your multplier you have an advantage. The main points still apply, but you will get more control. First what you will want to do is find your max FSB. As you increase the FSB, move your multiplier down so that your CPU stays below stock speed. This way you'll know that your CPU is not your limiting factor in achieving high FSB speeds. (High FSB is better). You will only have to concentrate on your memCore, FSB and temps while doing this. Want you want to do is find the maximum possible FSB. Your processor temps should move much since your not overclocking the CPU yet. But your motherboard temps may rise. They shouldn't matter too mcuh, but make sure these stay under the 35-40 mark. Once you have found the most that you can get out of your FSB, write that number down, or at least don't forget it. Now comes time for the CPU. Have your FSB at where you maxed out (maybe 2-3MHz lower), and have your multiplier set so that the CPU is close to stock speeds. Your temperature should be fairly normal. Start moving the Multiplier up. Keep tabs on your CPU temps. If your system starts locking up, but your temps aren't to bad, then you'll want to try upping your vCore. You will hit a barrier eventually. Either your system will crash (unstable) or your temps will be too high (unstable). Once you have achieved your max on the FSB and CPU speed, and your temps are within optimal range, give yourself a pat on the back.
Now for cooling purposes, 2 main ways to cool your CPU. Heatsink & Fan(HSF) or a Waterblock(WB). With either setup you'll need thermal paste. Products like Arctic Silver II / III are considered top of the line, but any thermal paste will do. A HSF uses plain air cooling and is limited by the temperature in the room the computer is located. A WB uses water to transfer heat from the CPU. With a setup like this you can cool the water, sometimes to subzero themperatures, therefore allowing you to get colder temperatures.
Another part to cool is the RAM. Ramsinks or RAM heatspreaders should suffice here. If you go for really high FSB (+166MHz) you may want to look into placing a fan blowing over the ram.
Also case fans are helpful, especially when useing a HSF so that the temp inside your case is as close to room temperature as possible. The cooler your case is, the cooler the air cooling your CPU is.
A note on adding thermal paste that many people miss is using to much. The void that the thermal paste needs to fill is usually microscopic. If you are able to look sideways at an attached Heatsink, you'll see that very little daylight, if any can be seen between the heatsink and the processor core or heat spreader. An easy way to know if your applying to much is to put what you think is the right amount, apply the heatsink then remove. If there is any paste around the edges of the core/heatspreader or a ridge outlining the surface on the heatsink than that is how much extra you didn't need to put on. A key thing to remember is that most thermal pastes aren't that great at conducting heat. They are only meant to fill the microscopic voids that are in the material that make up the core/heatspreader and heatsink. It is used because it is better than the air that would reside otherwise.
There are other ways to get higher overclocks. To do most of these you have to be willing to ruin your board, and be good with a soldering gun. Some boards do not support multiplier settings, but it is possible to add them with dip switches. You can also add resistors to up your memCore and vCore past what your motherboard may support. For example most motherboards dont' support anything higher than a 1.85v vCore (For AMD, not sure on Intel), and a 2.8v memCore. As I said, it's not impossible to get higher, and many have done this with no problems.
Remember one thing more. Overclocking voids the warranty on all parts. If you motherboard is fried while overclocking, then that's your loss. Yes you can probably get away with an RMA, but that is the cowardly way out. Take responsiblity for what you are doing. I'm not trying to scare you away. If your safe about what you are doing, and don't try to goto the extremem your hardware should be fine. Just don't go taking things back to the store if you break them.
I hope this helps you out, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
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