New to overclocking, halp!!

[Skittlez]

So I am, for the first time ever, going to try and over clock my system as I have read I can get a good improvement on visual quality for my games but I have absolutely ZERO idea how to do this properly and I don't want to fuck my computer up!

This brings me here, where I know a lot of you know how to do overclock successfully!

If anyone could give me some pointers/tips/just tell me what to do, I would be extremely, extremely grateful.

Here are my specs =) At the moment I have a program called ASUS GPU Tweak so I will assume that is all I need? I dunno, lol. My expertise with computers ends here.

EDIT: I didn't see my Mother Board listed in that info so here it is, I am using an ASUS M5A78L-M LX PLUS. A little out dated I know.. but it was free and unopened so who can say no to that?

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/1/2014, 10:47:11
Machine name: ELDIABLO
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 03/19/13 11:35:58 Ver: 13.03
Processor: AMD FX(tm)-6300 Six-Core Processor (6 CPUs), ~3.5GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8174MB RAM
Page File: 2303MB used, 14043MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 650 Ti
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11C6&SUBSYS_84341043&REV_A1
Display Memory: 4043 MB
Dedicated Memory: 971 MB
Shared Memory: 3072 MB
Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: VW32L HDTV40A
Monitor Id: VIZ0035
Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.815Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,n vwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.3523 (English)
Driver Version: 9.18.13.3523
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/4/2014 09:35:23, 17755424 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-5286-11CF-307E-39A41CC2C435}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x11C6
SubSys ID: 0x84341043
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Driver Strong Name: oem11.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section0 93:9.18.13.3523:pci\ven_10de&dev_11c6
Rank Of Driver: 00E02001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C



I am not sure what info is and isn't needed so sorry about that wall of text, just takin the safe route.

[LulzSect]

Overclocking is sooooo early 2000s. :P

[Nocsucow]

i think there is programs you can use that with automatically do it for you if im not mistaken

[Nuggie]

air cooled or water cooled?

d/l a program to monitor your temps. run it, look at it frequently while you're testing your o/c.

I use core temp.

[this user was banned]

Way back when, I used to do this in the BIOS by modifying the CPU's core multiplier and the front side bus (FSB) up until either your system didn't boot up or became too unstable (blue screens/shuts down more than you can handle.) This was only really doable with AMD processors because I believe Intel locked the core multiplier on you. I'm not sure how much has changed since then though and I question if this is even really worth it these days. As far as GPU overclocking goes, ATI has software that lets you tweak their video cards, but honestly their cards are usually pieces of shit. I'm sure NVIDIA has similar software.

Oh yeah, if you want a more powerful GPU, just get another one or two and connect them with SLI/Crossfire setup. Again, not sure if overclocking is really worth the trouble these days considering how fucking hot some of these video cards natively run let alone 3 of them in tandem without some serious cooling setup.

[ymw]

Not sure what game you're hoping to get any noticeable gains in by overclocking that system.

[Skittlez]

air cooled or water cooled?

d/l a program to monitor your temps. run it, look at it frequently while you're testing your o/c.

I use core temp.

It's just air cooled. Thanks for the info! I will do that and post back here when I tweak some things.

[quido]

I don't think it will do anything for you and just risks burning your stuff up.

[Skittlez]

Found a lot of good info tonight on what I need to do to overclock my system. If I am understanding it all correctly I should get about 12-18% of a boost overall. We will find out in the next hour or so.

[quido]

You realize the full force of your computer's processing power is probably never being used?

[Skittlez]

Do tell.. I don't know the hardware in depth, just really what's compatible with what, and if you know something I don't, I would love it if you'd share. =)

[quido]

Are you looking to overclock your CPU, your GPU, or both?

[Skittlez]

Both

[Skittlez]

Just got finished updating my bios and downloaded the software I will need from ASUS.

[Ambrotos]

The little bit you can squeeze out won't make a noticeable difference. If anything just upgrade your video card and you will be fine. By all means play with it and overclock it, but unless you are running 10+ different programs that are intensive you don't need to.

Worse case is you burn the cpu up and trash the mother board. It will give you an excuse to buy higher end stuff!

[Skittlez]

Well I definitely appreciate the advice. Looks like I will just do this again when I upgrade this summer.

[Scrooge]

Make sure your case has good ventilation before you start, good clean airflow is the first step before anything else. I'd also look through sites like overclock.net and Toms Hardware, and see if they have the same motherboard/cpu combination as you, as well as how far they were able to push it.

[Skittlez]

Indeed it does, made sure of that already. Even though my case is just air cooled, it's large so I have some extra fans to ensure it stays cool.

[Tiggles]

More so then temperature is power consumption, when you OC your GPU and CPU they will both take more power you must make sure your Power Supply can provide enough juice/rails to keep them running.

Probably the most common problem I see with OC is they go past the PSU.

[Skittlez]

More so then temperature is power consumption, when you OC your GPU and CPU they will both take more power you must make sure your Power Supply can provide enough juice/rails to keep them running.

Probably the most common problem I see with OC is they go past the PSU.

I have a 750w power supply, can get the brand when I am off work if that's useful at all. Pretty sure it's one of. The leading brands though. Can't remember who but, I was suggested to spare no expense on a good power supply.

[r00t]

I like Intel processors cause they have this program called XTU that you can overclock from userland, don't gotta fiddle with BIOS settings or anything, and you can download profiles of people with the same exact hardware to get the fastest and most stable overclock.

Also never overclock with stock cooling they are piles of garbage. I got a cooler master and sit at a max of ~28C overclocked, versus stock fan of like ~75C stock clock.

You realize the full force of your computer's processing power is probably never being used?

I agree with this statement. The only time I notice a big benefit from overclocking is when doing big compiles, overclocking speeds up builds a considerable amount. I guess if you have a terrible CPU that is bottlenecking your graphics card its good too.

[Skittlez]

I like Intel processors cause they have this program called XTU that you can overclock from userland, don't gotta fiddle with BIOS settings or anything, and you can download profiles of people with the same exact hardware to get the fastest and most stable overclock.

Also never overclock with stock cooling they are piles of garbage. I got a cooler master and sit at a max of ~28C overclocked, versus stock fan of like ~75C stock clock.



I agree with this statement. The only time I notice a big benefit from overclocking is when doing big compiles, overclocking speeds up builds a considerable amount. I guess if you have a terrible CPU that is bottlenecking your graphics card its good too.

Having to change my BIOS settings is making me so uncomfortable. I feel like I am gonna check something off just be totally fucked. I am certainly more knowledgable than your avg joe with Windows based computers, but BIOS is uncharted territory for me and it's making me anxious as all hell going through it. I still am trying to figure this shit out so I can be ready when I upgrade, and I wouldn't mind a bonus 5-10 FPS if I could manage it.

[Scrooge]

Having to change my BIOS settings is making me so uncomfortable. I feel like I am gonna check something off just be totally fucked. I am certainly more knowledgable than your avg joe with Windows based computers, but BIOS is uncharted territory for me and it's making me anxious as all hell going through it. I still am trying to figure this shit out so I can be ready when I upgrade, and I wouldn't mind a bonus 5-10 FPS if I could manage it.

It may be a good idea to dl a manual for your motherboard, which will explain all the BIOS settings in detail, so there won't be any "accidents." Also, if you do decide to OC through the BIOS, and this is important, be sure that the PCI Express clock is never set above 100!

Check out those forums I recommended in my previous post, at www.overclock.net, they're bound to have the info you're looking for. While it's true that you may receive some generic info on overclocking from this thread, it won't answer your questions in as much detail as the ones at overclock.net, pertaining to your specific hardware combination of motherboard and cpu, as well as ram timings.

Also, if you can, post your CPU-Z verification image here, and when asking questions at the other forums. It makes it much easier for people to help you with your inquiries, when they see those technical details. Here's one, of my old PC, http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=327627.

CPU-Z site: http://www.cpuid.com.

After verification of your system details, mainly Motherboard, CPU and Ram, it will give you your own unique link where anyone you share it with, will see all that detailed info, like so:

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/screenshot/327627.png

[Skittlez]

It may be a good idea to dl a manual for your motherboard, which will explain all the BIOS settings in detail, so there won't be any "accidents." Also, if you do decide to OC through the BIOS, and this is important, be sure that the PCI Express clock is never set above 100!

Check out those forums I recommended in my previous post, at www.overclock.net, they're bound to have the info you're looking for. While it's true that you may receive some generic info on overclocking from this thread, it won't answer your questions in as much detail as the ones at overclock.net, pertaining to your specific hardware combination of motherboard and cpu, as well as ram timings.

Also, if you can, post your CPU-Z verification image here, and when asking questions at the other forums. It makes it much easier for people to help you with your inquiries, when they see those technical details. Here's one, of my old PC, http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=327627.

CPU-Z site: http://www.cpuid.com.

After verification of your system details, mainly Motherboard, CPU and Ram, it will give you your own unique link where anyone you share it with, will see all that detailed info, like so:

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/screenshot/327627.png

Man I am such a tard. Forgot entirely about my motherboards booklet. That would have been helpful last night, lol. I will post my stuff tonight. I got that program last night along with a couple others.