Overclocking my desktop-computer

[89_Matias_111]

Hi

I can send more info later on.

I am trying to overclock my quite old desktop computer. I would like to do it 'balanced' so that I'd not break anything. It is an air-cooled PC, and first problem is with Speedfan-program: I would like to control my fans 'automatically' with that program. Problem is related to my NZXT fan control panel, and so on I am not sure if it is possible to take control of fans from software - as they're controlled from panel. At the moment Speedfan only shows zero rpm of fans.

I would like to do the process 'clean', meaning for example I've tried Prime95 program once and the result was immediate crash of PC. So, I would also need help how to use that program, and at what point of overclocking.

All in all, I already have skills to overclock graphics card - I only would need help -clocking processor, and perhaps RAM-memories.

Conclusion, I am somewhat lost on this overclocking path and would need some help getting on right tracks - meaning where to start, or continue?

Thanks,
Matias

 

[EarthDog]

It's impossible to tell you where to start or continue without knowing your exact hardware, bub! Please list complete system specs...

As for the fan issue. First, I haven't touched Speedfan in decades, you must be on a really old system. If you have an NZXT control panel, use the NZXT software that works with it. Speedfan is ancient... buuuuut may work with your system.............(list system specs!).

 

[89_Matias_111]

Okay, thank you for your reply! I am not 100 % sure but at some point I'm quite sure I tried find software for NZXT and it didn't exist. I'll be back in touch after summer holiday, as I'll be back on desktop-PC.

 

[89_Matias_111]

Hi

See the attached picture, I guess it tells more than 'thousand words'?

From Bios those G.Skill -memories should somehow be possible to make run at full speed, before clocking? XMP or something.

From BIOS also I guess I must put on the control of fans - if I remember right I have five fans on PC, and three of them can be controlled from BIOS. I don't know about the last two, though.

As I have air cooled system, not watercool, I think it is quite important to make the system run stable?

I can tell you more later on, but here is perhaps the most important I know at the moment.

Matias

 

[EarthDog]

Thanks for the info.

As far as the memory speed... I dont know what your running (on memory tab of cpuz), but yes, enable xmp to get them running at rated speeds.

As far as stable... water or air, keep that chip under 100C. You're just more temperature limited on air. What air cooler?

Your fans... figure out where they are all connected. I set a static speed and leave it... but you can set it different.

Last, I believe we have a haswell overclocking guide... check my signature.

 

[89_Matias_111]

Thank you

Sorry, I don't remember the brands of my fans. Some are perhaps Noctua?

Is XMP the top speed of RAMs, or can they be clocked even faster?

About Speedfan, I have managed to make the program open on Windows start-up, but how further? I have heard that it is not possible to control fans on program side, versus physically, as they are related to that NZXT control panel, but I am not certain about this..

 

[EarthDog]

Is XMP the top speed of RAMs, or can they be clocked even faster?

They can go faster. But one thing at a time.

About Speedfan, I have managed to make the program open on Windows start-up, but how further? I have heard that it is not possible to control fans on program side, versus physically, as they are related to that NZXT control panel, but I am not certain about this..

Not sure what you mean by "how further"?

Try the NZXT software and see if it works. It should if you're using the NZXT fan controller.

 

[89_Matias_111]

Yes

I mean, 'how further', that after overclocking, the settings for example on Speedfan, would always be the same - meaning every time I start up my computer.

I searched Google for that NZXT software, it seems, as I said before that there isn't such software.

What do you think about my system, after if overclocking succeeds, I am able to play newest games, for example Jedi: Outlaws - at least with medium graphics?

 

[MisterEd]

I thought that currently CPUs from both Intel and AMD are binned so well that there isn't much headroom to overclock them much. Somebody can correct me if that is not true.

Years ago I overclocked some of my AMD CPUs but didn't gain much performance. However, the CPUs ran much hotter so cooling them was a problem. I gave up on this and went back to stock settings.

 

[EarthDog]

Yes

I mean, 'how further', that after overclocking, the settings for example on Speedfan, would always be the same - meaning every time I start up my computer.

I searched Google for that NZXT software, it seems, as I said before that there isn't such software.

What do you think about my system, after if overclocking succeeds, I am able to play newest games, for example Jedi: Outlaws - at least with medium graphics?

1. I'm sorry... are you saying that when you 'overclock' the clockspeeds are the same in speedfan?? Still not sure what you're trying to say.

2. NZXT CAM (now wondering if it control fans?)

NZXT CAM | PC Monitoring and Configuration Software

CAM is free PC monitoring software. Control performance, temperatures, and lighting for all of your NZXT components.

nzxt.com

3. No idea what FPS you'd get......... I dont think you've shared what video card you own or the resolution of your monitor.

I thought that currently CPUs from both Intel and AMD are binned so well that there isn't much headroom to overclock them much. Somebody can correct me if that is not true.

Years ago I overclocked some of my AMD CPUs but didn't gain much performance. However, the CPUs ran much hotter so cooling them was a problem. I gave up on this and went back to stock settings.

Overclocking headroom is considerably less these days, indeed. Not worth much... but there are ways to improve them still.

Not sure how you overclocked back in the day, but that's where you actually saw tangible benefits from overclocking and they were easier to cool than todays' chips. I'm unsure what happened with your adventure.

 

[89_Matias_111]

OK, thank you

That CAM-software might work with me.

I mean about that Speedfan that if I manage to control my fans with that app - the settings would be kept like 'forever', so that I wouldn't have to touch them anymore.

..but maybe I have to try that NZXT software, cause not certain if I can make Speedfan work. For example, at the moment it shows on my desktop-PC that all the fans are 0/zero rpm, so it is possible the program don't recognise my fans - and vice versa, maybe because the fans are connected to that NZXT Sentry LX control panel. In BIOS, I haven't yet changed the fan control settings, I consider if changing them for example to 'manual' setting, would do the thing? I have five fans, if I remember right, but for some reason only three are visible in BIOS..

My GPU is GeForce GTX 960, it is seen on the image I attached. It is also the question, that how much would it be wise to clock this with Afterburner?

There is also the thing that I may at some point update from Windows 10 to 11, but as far as I know it shouldn't affect this overclocking procedure?

 

[EarthDog]

shows on my desktop-PC that all the fans are 0/zero rpm, so it is possible the program don't recognise my fans - and vice versa, maybe because the fans are connected to that NZXT Sentry LX control panel.

Right. Because they connect through the nzxt unit, I doubt you see rpm through anything else. Speedfan is ancient... try this... or, if you can, plug all fans into the motherboard headers.

My GPU is GeForce GTX 960, it is seen on the image I attached. It is also the question, that how much would it be wise to clock this with Afterburner?

That's old. A cpu upgrade won't help a ton... your gpu is holding you back in gaming.

 

[89_Matias_111]

Okay

Anyway, about that Speedfan, I still would prefer make it work as I have put quite much effort for example to make it run at Windows startup - making startup shortcut etc.

 

[EarthDog]

You'd have a better chance getting that to work if you plugged all of the fans into the motherboard headers. Take out the middleman (nzxt unit).

 

[89_Matias_111]

So, I decided to upgrade my GPU before the overclocking process.. I will be back in touch in about after month's time!

 

[EarthDog]

So, I decided to upgrade my GPU before the overclocking process.. I will be back in touch in about after month's time!

List a budget and we can surely help!