Overclocking for Beginners

[landowindu]

These are my system properties:
Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

Dell DIMENSION DIM4700
Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
2.79 GHz, 3.25 GB of RAM

I want to play a game (Tron: Evolution) that requires a 3.0 GHz processor; all other system requirements are okay on my computer. I have read about a thing called overclocking on many forum sites and through Google. I am not a computer genius, and would really be happy if you could either use the system info above (not sure if it's enough) to tell me how to overclock my cpu, or if you could point me in the direction of a very helpful website or book to guide me.
Thanks!

[Saracen]

Thread moved to a more appropriate forum, and the other three duplucste threads removed, because really, landowindo, posting the same thing in four different forums isn't how things should be done.

[kalniel]

Sorry, you can't overclock that computer. But being only 200mhz short shouldn't make any reasonable difference. Your graphics card (or lack thereof) is more important.

256 MB DirectX® 9.0c-compatible, 3D video card supporting Shaders 3.0 (NVIDIA® GeForce® 7600 or better, ATI Radeon™ X1600 or better)
NOTE: Onboard (built-in) integrated chipsets are not supported (e.g., Intel® on-board 8xx/9xx series chipsets, SiS and S3 series, ATI® Mobility Radeon® 7500 & X1300)

[landowindu]

Thank you kalniel, i'll look into that. Also, I apologize to Saracen, and the other people on this forum. This is the first time I have ever used a forum site, so I wasn't sure at all where to put my post, or what to say, or anything. From now on, one thread per problem for me!

[landowindu]

Um, does anyone know where the thread got moved?

[landowindu]

Never mind, found it, gosh am I dumb.

[Bonebreaker777]

If you could reply back with your graphic card details we could address your fears about your PC performance vs. the Tron game more efficiently.
Secondly, the type of PC you have usually doesn't allow or supports ANY overclocking.

[Saracen]

.... Also, I apologize to Saracen, and the other people on this forum. This is the first time I have ever used a forum site, so I wasn't sure at all where to put my post, or what to say, or anything. From now on, one thread per problem for me!

I kind of guessed it might be that you weren't used to forums, and it's not a problem.

The logic is this. If everybody posts in several places, the whole place becomes a morass of duplicates, and the thread lists become rather useless. Also, each thread is often a discussion, with each reply likely to trigger a response, but if that's spread out all over the place, it breaks that up.

Just occasionally, though, there's a good reason for a thread in more than one place, and moderators can create copies when that happens. It is rare, though.

Welcome to HEXUS, by the way.

[Chadders87]

I really wouldn't recommend overclocking unless you know what you are doing.

It's never a simple one step process simply to increase the cpu clock speed. You need to consider the impact of the increased heat produced by the CPU and whether the cooler is enough to handle the extra load plus whether there is adequate airflow in the case to remove the excess heat quickly.

That's not even going into details around RAM / MOBO and CPU bus timing and Power Supply.

My advice is to leave it alone as you have no real Graphics Process (GPU) and you are using a P4 single core processor...so the game wouldn't run that well anyway. Wait until you know more about computers in general and have researched overclocking to some extent then look into building your own machine.

Good Luck!

[AndyG]

Hmm, don't see where OP says no GPU installed, and 3.25 GB available RAM suggests a GPU.

OP, if you have someone who knows what they're doing, a P4 570 (3.8 GHz) is the best CPU on Dell's supported list and could well be found for about £10-£15. Not particularly worth it for a 8 or 9 year old PC, but might as well if all other specs are actually met.

Ofc, you have the other problem that XP goes EOL in April and the machine is so old it doesn't even support Vista