can i/should i overlock?

redenvy · 06-30-2009, 08:31 PM

I would like to overlock because it sounds like a fun challenge however i'm not sure wether it is possible or worth doing with my rig. I feel like my processor is the only thing holding me back, however i read that my particular processor has had a lot of overclocking success. My biggest concern is my powersupply.. i think it make be close to max capacity. Ill list out all my parts. If you all think its worth doing, then ill go and start taking temp readings and stress tests and stuff.

ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W (with a Rosewill RCX-Z775-EX 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler)
Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W ATX12V v2.01
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200
GeForce GTX 275 FTW Edition
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1

my case has
1 x 120mm Black Front Fan, 1 x 120mm Black rear Fan
side 1 x 140mm Blue LED Fan

hope i didnt miss anything. thanks for the help!

Mcninjaguy · 06-30-2009, 09:27 PM

You should have this PSU.

Its most likely twice as good as your current PSU and it will last a long time even with overclocked components

Corsair 850w
$140
after rebate $120
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817139009

This PSU out performs PSU's at the $200+ range.

redenvy · 06-30-2009, 09:37 PM

hmm okay i will definitely keep that in mind

HD_Monkey · 06-30-2009, 10:55 PM

Definitely echo Mcninjaguy. I would replace the psu, the one recommended maybe a little overkill for now, but future proofing too. Rosewill is low quality and wouldn't recommend it for stock much less overclocking.

If you really want to oc. Start with a quality psu. Otherwise, forget about it.

redenvy · 07-01-2009, 10:03 AM

alright I definitely will buy a new PSU if i overclock. how about all my other components?

redenvy · 07-01-2009, 01:17 PM

also how long would a nice power supply like that last? and how future-proof can i expect it to be?

**greenbrucelee** · 07-01-2009, 01:35 PM

A good power supply like the corsair one will last along time and can be pushed hard.

Unlike the one you have now a mere rumbling of a fart would destroy it. Those rosewills are one of the worst PSUs you can get so you definetly need to replace it.

When it comes to power supplies you should not skimp on it's quality as you can have all manner of faults that are hard to trace back to crap PSU.

I personally prefer seasonic but they are expensive but when it comes to power supplies you get what you pay for.

In my opinion anything less than £65 then your asking for trouble, unless its a special offer.

redenvy · 07-01-2009, 05:01 PM

haha okay okay im sold ill buy that corsair. this is my first build so im still learning. almost two years old now. recently updated the ram and gfx card. with the new PSU would i even see much performance increase through overlocking? i've read that you can get my CPU up to 4ghz.... but even if i got it up to 3.5, would i notice anything? i use my computer for gaming and graphic design

Mcninjaguy · 07-01-2009, 06:01 PM

You could over clock your GPU to whatever its stable at. The PSU is not a limiting factor anymore with the corsair you should be worried about heat instead.

**Tyree** · 07-02-2009, 06:26 AM

You "can" OC but be aware that OC'ing voids CPU warranty.

DEFINITELY replace the Rosewill PSU.

redenvy · 07-02-2009, 08:44 AM

oh yeah i will definitely go through all the guides and replace my PSU before i do anything. thanks a lot

Mcninjaguy · 07-02-2009, 12:30 PM

Keep us informed ok!

**greenbrucelee** · 07-02-2009, 03:40 PM

you will notice a difference from stock 3GHz to 3.6 or 3.7GHz but after that you would probably only get to 4GHz and from 3.7 - 4GHz isn't really that noticeable unless your a benchmark freak and difference of 1 point makes you happy :)

**linderman** · 07-02-2009, 05:38 PM

your cpu twisted up to 3.6 should take off the hobbles on that 275 GTX !

redenvy · 07-02-2009, 08:58 PM

kk I ordered the PSU and some cable ties. I will post again when im all setup

redenvy · 07-28-2009, 05:18 PM

alright sorry this took me so long! i ordered the psu and a new case, but the case came with a dent in it so i sent it back. with all my same specs plus the corsair 850w...

My temps are (in c):

Idle for about 1 hour: ~33

Prime95 for 9 hours Max Temp: ~60

am i safe to go ahead and push my cpu?

Phædrus2401 · 07-28-2009, 05:23 PM

Sure, you can push it a bit. Start by going into BIOS and increase the FSB by 10, then reboot and see if Windows comes up successfully. Repeat until Windows fails to boot, then increase your VCore (could also be labeled CPU voltage) by .02 or so and try again. When Windows successfully boots check your temperatures. If your idle temp is under 55-60C try running Prime95 to see if it's stable. If you get an error in Prime95 within an hour of starting it up go back to BIOS and increase your voltage another .02V. If it still fails Prime95 go back and decrease your FSB by 10-20 and your vcore by .02. Then try Prime95 again.

When Prime95 runs one hour with no errors, and your temperatures during Prime95 don't exceed 65C then you're probably stable at that clock.

redenvy · 07-28-2009, 08:54 PM

well i didnt need to bump any voltages and i got it to 3.5ghz from 3.0 and i ran a stress test with prime 95 and i got an error with worker #1. My temps are pretty low.. high 50's. do i need to lower the FSB?

Phædrus2401 · 07-28-2009, 08:58 PM

I would slightly raise the VCore first, by .01 and see if you can run Prime95 with no errors then. You ideally want to be able to run Prime95 overnight with no errors.

redenvy · 07-28-2009, 09:09 PM

still getting an error pretty quick into the test :( should i keep upping the voltage or go down on the FSB?

06-30-2009, 08:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	can i/should i overlock? I would like to overlock because it sounds like a fun challenge however i'm not sure wether it is possible or worth doing with my rig. I feel like my processor is the only thing holding me back, however i read that my particular processor has had a lot of overclocking success. My biggest concern is my powersupply.. i think it make be close to max capacity. Ill list out all my parts. If you all think its worth doing, then ill go and start taking temp readings and stress tests and stuff. ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W (with a Rosewill RCX-Z775-EX 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler) Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W ATX12V v2.01 Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 GeForce GTX 275 FTW Edition G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 my case has 1 x 120mm Black Front Fan, 1 x 120mm Black rear Fan side 1 x 140mm Blue LED Fan hope i didnt miss anything. thanks for the help!

06-30-2009, 09:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: can i/should i overlock? You should have this PSU. Its most likely twice as good as your current PSU and it will last a long time even with overclocked components Corsair 850w $140 after rebate $120 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817139009 This PSU out performs PSU's at the $200+ range.

06-30-2009, 09:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? hmm okay i will definitely keep that in mind

06-30-2009, 10:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
HD_Monkey Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 367 OS: XP x64 SP2 My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? Definitely echo Mcninjaguy. I would replace the psu, the one recommended maybe a little overkill for now, but future proofing too. Rosewill is low quality and wouldn't recommend it for stock much less overclocking. If you really want to oc. Start with a quality psu. Otherwise, forget about it. __________________

07-01-2009, 10:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? alright I definitely will buy a new PSU if i overclock. how about all my other components?

07-01-2009, 01:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? also how long would a nice power supply like that last? and how future-proof can i expect it to be?

07-01-2009, 01:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,930 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? A good power supply like the corsair one will last along time and can be pushed hard. Unlike the one you have now a mere rumbling of a fart would destroy it. Those rosewills are one of the worst PSUs you can get so you definetly need to replace it. When it comes to power supplies you should not skimp on it's quality as you can have all manner of faults that are hard to trace back to crap PSU. I personally prefer seasonic but they are expensive but when it comes to power supplies you get what you pay for. In my opinion anything less than £65 then your asking for trouble, unless its a special offer. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

07-01-2009, 05:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? haha okay okay im sold ill buy that corsair. this is my first build so im still learning. almost two years old now. recently updated the ram and gfx card. with the new PSU would i even see much performance increase through overlocking? i've read that you can get my CPU up to 4ghz.... but even if i got it up to 3.5, would i notice anything? i use my computer for gaming and graphic design Last edited by redenvy; 07-01-2009 at 05:02 PM.

07-01-2009, 06:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: can i/should i overlock? You could over clock your GPU to whatever its stable at. The PSU is not a limiting factor anymore with the corsair you should be worried about heat instead.

07-02-2009, 06:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,810 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? You "can" OC but be aware that OC'ing voids CPU warranty. DEFINITELY replace the Rosewill PSU. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

07-02-2009, 08:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? oh yeah i will definitely go through all the guides and replace my PSU before i do anything. thanks a lot

07-02-2009, 12:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: can i/should i overlock? Keep us informed ok!

07-02-2009, 03:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,930 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? you will notice a difference from stock 3GHz to 3.6 or 3.7GHz but after that you would probably only get to 4GHz and from 3.7 - 4GHz isn't really that noticeable unless your a benchmark freak and difference of 1 point makes you happy :) __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

07-02-2009, 05:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,442 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? your cpu twisted up to 3.6 should take off the hobbles on that 275 GTX ! __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

07-02-2009, 08:58 PM	#15 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? kk I ordered the PSU and some cable ties. I will post again when im all setup

07-28-2009, 05:18 PM	#16 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? alright sorry this took me so long! i ordered the psu and a new case, but the case came with a dent in it so i sent it back. with all my same specs plus the corsair 850w... My temps are (in c): Idle for about 1 hour: ~33 Prime95 for 9 hours Max Temp: ~60 am i safe to go ahead and push my cpu?

07-28-2009, 05:23 PM	#17 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,871 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? Sure, you can push it a bit. Start by going into BIOS and increase the FSB by 10, then reboot and see if Windows comes up successfully. Repeat until Windows fails to boot, then increase your VCore (could also be labeled CPU voltage) by .02 or so and try again. When Windows successfully boots check your temperatures. If your idle temp is under 55-60C try running Prime95 to see if it's stable. If you get an error in Prime95 within an hour of starting it up go back to BIOS and increase your voltage another .02V. If it still fails Prime95 go back and decrease your FSB by 10-20 and your vcore by .02. Then try Prime95 again. When Prime95 runs one hour with no errors, and your temperatures during Prime95 don't exceed 65C then you're probably stable at that clock. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

07-28-2009, 08:54 PM	#18 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? well i didnt need to bump any voltages and i got it to 3.5ghz from 3.0 and i ran a stress test with prime 95 and i got an error with worker #1. My temps are pretty low.. high 50's. do i need to lower the FSB? Last edited by redenvy; 07-28-2009 at 09:02 PM.

07-28-2009, 08:58 PM	#19 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,871 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? I would slightly raise the VCore first, by .01 and see if you can run Prime95 with no errors then. You ideally want to be able to run Prime95 overnight with no errors. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

07-28-2009, 09:09 PM	#20 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: can i/should i overlock? still getting an error pretty quick into the test :( should i keep upping the voltage or go down on the FSB? Last edited by redenvy; 07-28-2009 at 09:27 PM.