i7 Overclocking for Beginners

[rsmarsha]

Nice post.

Regarding the pci-e clock, how do you know what value to set that at or should it always be 100mhz as you mentioned?

I'm thinking of upgrading my PC as I'm running an e6700 and 8800gtx atm.

I was looking at an i7 950 but the 920 is much cheaper and if using your guide I can overlock to past the 950 stock speed I'll be happy.

I'm still a bit scared at the thought of it all though.

I'm looking at the i7 920, 6gb of 1600 corsair xms3 and the p6t deluxe v2, the cpu cooler I'm looking at is the coolIT domino closed loop watercooler.

Does that sound a good system for an OC?

[nightkhaos]

Nice post.

Regarding the pci-e clock, how do you know what value to set that at or should it always be 100mhz as you mentioned?

I'm thinking of upgrading my PC as I'm running an e6700 and 8800gtx atm.

I was looking at an i7 950 but the 920 is much cheaper and if using your guide I can overlock to past the 950 stock speed I'll be happy.

I'm still a bit scared at the thought of it all though.

I'm looking at the i7 920, 6gb of 1600 corsair xms3 and the p6t deluxe v2, the cpu cooler I'm looking at is the coolIT domino closed loop watercooler.

Does that sound a good system for an OC?

The reason I set PCIe to 100MHz is that is the standard for PCIe buses, and unfortunately some of the older systems, Core 2, used to droop slightly. Call it force of habit.

Yes that system you mentioned seems fine, except instead of the CoolIT I would get a Corsair H50.

[Pob255]

Note about turboboost and cstates

not having i7 I cannot test this, it's all theory

Turboboost increases the multiplier by one but only with cstates off
What cstates does is that when something is loading some of the cores but not all of them it shuts down the unused cores and thruver increases the multiplier on the used ones.
(actual cores not the virtual cores)
So if only one core is active it can shut down the other 3 and boost the remaining one by 4. (x20, +1 for turbo mode, +1 per shutdown core = x24 multiplier)

However this jump when overclocking can resault in instability, so dissableing cstates when overclocking with turbo mode on is generally seen as best.

[marshalex]

thanks for the guide, after having a read through this i've managed to squeeze a few more MHz out of my i7. fantastic guide for anyone looking to OC

[Gaming Computer]

Excellent post

[MJBrooky]

Great guide, I shall be putting into practice the teachings when I get the final few bits for my new i7 920 build this week. Tidy nice

[ernestlai]

thank you was most helpful this guide... now i got my SSD and W7 on the way, im thinking about an upgrade ^_^ or maybe waiting for the next big thing. Decisions decisions...

[rsmarsha]

The time has arrived, I'm in the process of ordering the new pc.

I've gone for the 920 (to overclock, hopefully past the 960 speed) and the Asus P6T Deluxe V2 as it was one of the boards mentioned in this guide.

I've asked the place I'm ordering the pc from if their 920's are DO rather than CO stepping, so will wait to find out.

When I get it I'll be installing my copy of windows 7 and trying the overclock. I initially want to get it to beat the 960 as I said therefore saving myself a good bit of cash and getting the same speed out of my 920.

I'll be reading and going through this guide very carefully.

[rsmarsha]

Got the new PC.

Attempting the overclock in the next day or so.

I have a domino watercooler on the cpu, was going to go for 3.2ghz, do you guys reckon I should try for 3.5ghz instead? Or just go for 3.2?

[nightkhaos]

Got the new PC.

Attempting the overclock in the next day or so.

I have a domino watercooler on the cpu, was going to go for 3.2ghz, do you guys reckon I should try for 3.5ghz instead? Or just go for 3.2?

With a Domino I would expect 3.6GHz easily.

[rsmarsha]

Do you think I'd have to up it's setting? It's currently on the lowest fan setting without an OC.

It's my first OC so I'm a bit nevous.

I have the p6t deluxe v2 mobo. It has an in windows utility to do the overclocking, but I'm thinking I might be better doing it myself in the bios using your guide.

[nightkhaos]

Do you think I'd have to up it's setting? It's currently on the lowest fan setting without an OC.

It's my first OC so I'm a bit nevous.

I have the p6t deluxe v2 mobo. It has an in windows utility to do the overclocking, but I'm thinking I might be better doing it myself in the bios using your guide.

You will need it on the medium setting at least.

Don't worry about being nervous I was too. Just take it slow... move up to 3, the 3.2.

I'm confident enough to go to 3.6 off the bat, but I understand that that's cause I have experience.

You will be better off to do it in BIOS as you have greater freedom.

[rsmarsha]

Thanks for the info.

My RAM is corsair XMS3 1600 which has timings of 9-9-9-24, I notice you recommend 8-8-8-24 ram. Is the RAM I have still ok?

[nightkhaos]

Thanks for the info.

My RAM is corsair XMS3 1600 which has timings of 9-9-9-24, I notice you recommend 8-8-8-24 ram. Is the RAM I have still ok?

It's fine! Seriously, RAM isn't important. The reason I recommend CL 8 is because it was, at the time of writing, best performance per pound, and also was a decent spec. Faster RAM is good, but not a requriement for Overclocking.

[rsmarsha]

I can't see to find my ram command rate atm on the p6t deluxe v2.

There is a hell of a lot of ram settings, lol.

I've also noticed when i first loaded up occt that my cpu keeps underclocking itself to 1.7.

[rsmarsha]

I think I have the command rate the next one down after CAS latency, tRCD,tRP,tRAS. The next one is RAS to RAS delay, is that the same as command rate?

Is there a program to see what my ram's set at? I can't see to find the RAM multiplier, though I do have an option to set RAM frequency, there is a 1604 option there. Should I set that?

Sorry for all the questions but as my board isn't the one in the guide it's a bit confusing for me.

I'm currently at 3.2 btw with domino on middle mode (adjusts fan as it needs to), turbo boost is still on though so it's moving it up to 3.4 a lot on OCCT. 20 mins into an OCCT test and max temp recorded is 68 degree's on coretemp.

Turned turbo boost off and max cpu temp atm is 72 degree's with the domino on low speed. I set the ram to 1604 as I said above at 1.65v, cpu v is 1.2.

Temp drops down to low 60's max at 3.2 with domino on middle settings.

I also tried at 3g and max is 58 degree's.