I am looking to upgrade my computer's components without actually buying new components (aka I want to overclock) and I don't know (too) much about the process so I was looking for tips.
The GPU was pretty straightforward, I moved some sliders in Catalyst Control Center until i got my Radeon HD5770 GPU clocked at 960 MHz and memory clocked at 1355 MHz. Scored 1866 in FurMark benchmark and the stress test pushed the GPU to a max temp of 80 C. Idles at 43-45 C. Don't think I can do much more there.
For the CPU, I know pretty much nothing about overclocking so I'm planning on downloading an overclocking utility (specifically Gigabyte's EasyTune 6: mobo is Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3). I'll just be doing a similar thing to my GPU in that it'll just be some sliders to move until i can max them out with the system stable.
My CPU cores (quad core i5-750 lynnfield) idle at ~28-30 C, and at load with prime95 they run at ~53-56 C. I have not cleaned the dust out my computer in a year (yeah I know I'm behind schedule) and I haven't reapplied the thermal paste since I built the computer two years ago. I still have the tube with the paste and there's plenty left. My case (Antec 900) is very open and my fans are mostly on medium because I can't stand the sound of them on high (one of them is stuck on high because I cut the wire but that's a different story).
My main questions are
1) is it worth it? (will my cpu bottleneck my gpu or vice-versa)
2) Is it safe? (dunno if I should be pushing my cpu too hard with the temps they currently get to)
and 3)Any tips? I know my way around the BIOS and i can change settings there, I just don't want to change them myself because I've never overclocked and don't exactly know what to change them to.
I am looking to upgrade my computer's components without actually buying new components (aka I want to overclock) and I don't know (too) much about the process so I was looking for tips.
The GPU was pretty straightforward, I moved some sliders in Catalyst Control Center until i got my Radeon HD5770 GPU clocked at 960 MHz and memory clocked at 1355 MHz. Scored 1866 in FurMark benchmark and the stress test pushed the GPU to a max temp of 80 C. Idles at 43-45 C. Don't think I can do much more there.
For the CPU, I know pretty much nothing about overclocking so I'm planning on downloading an overclocking utility (specifically Gigabyte's EasyTune 6: mobo is Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3). I'll just be doing a similar thing to my GPU in that it'll just be some sliders to move until i can max them out with the system stable.
My CPU cores (quad core i5-750 lynnfield) idle at ~28-30 C, and at load with prime95 they run at ~53-56 C. I have not cleaned the dust out my computer in a year (yeah I know I'm behind schedule) and I haven't reapplied the thermal paste since I built the computer two years ago. I still have the tube with the paste and there's plenty left. My case (Antec 900) is very open and my fans are mostly on medium because I can't stand the sound of them on high (one of them is stuck on high because I cut the wire but that's a different story).
My main questions are
1) is it worth it? (will my cpu bottleneck my gpu or vice-versa)
2) Is it safe? (dunno if I should be pushing my cpu too hard with the temps they currently get to)
and 3)Any tips? I know my way around the BIOS and i can change settings there, I just don't want to change them myself because I've never overclocked and don't exactly know what to change them to.
http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/k33vz
Recommend reading that, get comfortable knowing what you're doing. I'd also recommend overclocking the CPU in BIOS.
If I recall correctly, most Intel chips can make it up to ~90 degrees. It's AMD chips that can't go past ~60/70. What cooler do you have? I think you should be fine overclocking with those current temps though, just check what your CPU's max temp is.
http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/k33vz
Recommend reading that, get comfortable knowing what you're doing. I'd also recommend overclocking the CPU in BIOS.
If I recall correctly, most Intel chips can make it up to ~90 degrees. It's AMD chips that can't go past ~60/70. What cooler do you have? I think you should be fine overclocking with those current temps though, just check what your CPU's max temp is.
#2 Don't quote me on this, but I believe the AMD Phenom II x6 (CPU I have) can hit up to around mid 70s before I should start being worried. I could be wrong.
#2 Don't quote me on this, but I believe the AMD Phenom II x6 (CPU I have) can hit up to around mid 70s before I should start being worried. I could be wrong.
90 degrees is way past the point where the BIOS will automatically shut off your computer and you will begin to be able to boil water on top of your CPU so 90 degrees is definitely not the safe range for the temperature. Intel chips are supposed to be around mid 50s for max load and getting into the mid 60s range is "a little too high"
90 degrees is way past the point where the BIOS will automatically shut off your computer and you will begin to be able to boil water on top of your CPU so 90 degrees is definitely not the safe range for the temperature. Intel chips are supposed to be around mid 50s for max load and getting into the mid 60s range is "a little too high"
Hutch90 degrees is way past the point where the BIOS will automatically shut off your computer and you will begin to be able to boil water on top of your CPU so 90 degrees is definitely not the safe range for the temperature. Intel chips are supposed to be around mid 50s for max load and getting into the mid 60s range is "a little too high"
Water boils at 100 though
[quote=Hutch]90 degrees is way past the point where the BIOS will automatically shut off your computer and you will begin to be able to boil water on top of your CPU so 90 degrees is definitely not the safe range for the temperature. Intel chips are supposed to be around mid 50s for max load and getting into the mid 60s range is "a little too high"[/quote]
Water boils at 100 though
I'd buy a new heatsink before really thinking about overclocking very high. The intel heatsink is pretty awful...
I'd buy a new heatsink before really thinking about overclocking very high. The intel heatsink is pretty awful...
#3 Yeah, my FX goes to 62 max, but I've read older AMD's do mid 70s.
#4 I just looked it up a bit, and from what I'm reading you'll max out at 72-75ish. Hence why I told you to check what it should be. The max temp is different for every processor, not the same for every single Intel chip.
Still, that should definitely give you some room to overclock. If you are just playing TF2, keep in mind that (at least for me) TF2 will run about 10 degrees cooler than p95.
#3 Yeah, my FX goes to 62 max, but I've read older AMD's do mid 70s.
#4 I just looked it up a bit, and from what I'm reading you'll max out at 72-75ish. Hence why I told you to check what it should be. The max temp is different for every processor, not the same for every single Intel chip.
Still, that should definitely give you some room to overclock. If you are just playing TF2, keep in mind that (at least for me) TF2 will run about 10 degrees cooler than p95.
I'd say don't overclock. Although you may raise your future/3dmark score a couple points, those few points gained do not equate to a noticeable improvement to your gaming experience. The most likely outcome of overclocking is some part getting burnt out and tears shed trying to get your warranty to kick in. If you want an fps increase, you will gain more frames by simply fiddling with your config.
I'd say don't overclock. Although you may raise your future/3dmark score a couple points, those few points gained do not equate to a noticeable improvement to your gaming experience. The most likely outcome of overclocking is some part getting burnt out and tears shed trying to get your warranty to kick in. If you want an fps increase, you will gain more frames by simply fiddling with your config.
loljkloljk
I'll just read the reddit thing and follow along. I can definitely get a few more degrees out of cleaning out my heatsink and reapplying the thermal paste
[quote=loljk]loljk[/quote]
I'll just read the reddit thing and follow along. I can definitely get a few more degrees out of cleaning out my heatsink and reapplying the thermal paste
id say any ivy/sandybridge or recent intel chip is definitely worth it ESPECIALLY if you are streaming
with a 18 dollar fan my i5 2500k sits at 4.7ghz @ around 43 c, thats insane extra performance for free (barring shortening the life of the processor)
id say any ivy/sandybridge or recent intel chip is definitely worth it ESPECIALLY if you are streaming
with a 18 dollar fan my i5 2500k sits at 4.7ghz @ around 43 c, thats insane extra performance for free (barring shortening the life of the processor)
1. keep voltage the same and clock it to 5ghz.
2. run a prime 95 (CPU test I think)
3. if it's not stable clock it down .1ghz (to 4.9)
4. repeat #2 & #3 until stable.
5. if it's stable you have the option of increasing voltage and raising the clock up a bit, or just leaving it where it is. my i7 clocks to 3.9 without changing voltage and my friends new i5 (forgot the model) is at 4.4 with default voltage.
if it isn't stable all that will happen is your computer shuts off, do not touch voltage until you've read up on it, that's how you destroy your chip.
1. keep voltage the same and clock it to 5ghz.
2. run a prime 95 (CPU test I think)
3. if it's not stable clock it down .1ghz (to 4.9)
4. repeat #2 & #3 until stable.
5. if it's stable you have the option of increasing voltage and raising the clock up a bit, or just leaving it where it is. my i7 clocks to 3.9 without changing voltage and my friends new i5 (forgot the model) is at 4.4 with default voltage.
if it isn't stable all that will happen is your computer shuts off, [b]do not[/b] touch voltage until you've read up on it, that's how you destroy your chip.
Why would you do it that way?
Just start low and work your way up, rather than starting high and working your way down.
Why would you do it that way?
Just start low and work your way up, rather than starting high and working your way down.
i just overclocked my cpu yesterday. the way i did it was by boosting my clock ratio by .1 ghz through the bios and then running a 5min prime95 test while checking temps and making sure i didnt catch errors. once i started getting blue screens, i used turbo boost voltage (you might just have to boost the base voltage if your mobo doesnt have something like this) to make my system stable at the boosted speed. did that all the way from 3.3ghz to 4.4ghz and i'm still mainintaing <60 temps under load.
you're wrong about the temperatures thing, at least for intel cpus. sandy bridge generation are throttled down by the bios at 93 degrees and shut off at 98. you really can't cause damage until you hit around 90 is what i've gathered, but i'd say try to keep it beneath 75ish just to stay safe. the main thing is just find a shit ton of forum posts on your specific cpu and mobo and figure out what to do based on that.
when you're done, make sure you let prime95 run like an hour or two test before you get the idea that you're completely stable.
i just overclocked my cpu yesterday. the way i did it was by boosting my clock ratio by .1 ghz through the bios and then running a 5min prime95 test while checking temps and making sure i didnt catch errors. once i started getting blue screens, i used turbo boost voltage (you might just have to boost the base voltage if your mobo doesnt have something like this) to make my system stable at the boosted speed. did that all the way from 3.3ghz to 4.4ghz and i'm still mainintaing <60 temps under load.
you're wrong about the temperatures thing, at least for intel cpus. sandy bridge generation are throttled down by the bios at 93 degrees and shut off at 98. you really can't cause damage until you hit around 90 is what i've gathered, but i'd say try to keep it beneath 75ish just to stay safe. the main thing is just find a shit ton of forum posts on your specific cpu and mobo and figure out what to do based on that.
when you're done, make sure you let prime95 run like an hour or two test before you get the idea that you're completely stable.
reillyWhy would you do it that way?
Just start low and work your way up, rather than starting high and working your way down.
doesn't make a huge difference, mine just tends to give quicker results.
[quote=reilly]Why would you do it that way?
Just start low and work your way up, rather than starting high and working your way down.[/quote]
doesn't make a huge difference, mine just tends to give quicker results.