Overclocking: Tips, Tricks, and Advice

[laywill]

I have just been reading some threads on the www.HWBot.org forum about people using a variety of methods to greatly improve their overclocking point scores, but many of which I either cannot fathom out, or have no idea how to impement.

There are a bunch of obvious points which I consider when doing a bench run, such as:

• OS chocie (Xp vs Vista vs 7RC)
• OS skimming (shutting down as many background apps and services as possible)
• Find whether a test runs best on a lower clocked stable system or a higher clocked unstable system (with particular reference to wPrime here - however I don't actually know the answer to this one :s)
• Set your RAM timings to wither as fast as they go or the most stable or the most suitable for a benchmark (again, I have read that wPrime likes CAS4 latencies...)

However, there are a number of things which I do not understand at all, such as what is bios flashing on VGA cards, and whether I am better to adjust my FSB/Bus Speed or my multiplier (when available) when overclocking my CPU.

If anybody can offer me some advice I would be much obliged. However, I am aware that many overclockers like to keep their tips and tricks secret so as to avoid anybody else pinching their top spot in the tables.

Many thanks!

EDIT: more info below:

I currently have my Phenom II X4 940 running 200*17.5 = 3500MHz @ 1.485 Volts running stable 24/7 under an AKASA Nero air cooler.

My temps are:
idle: ~45-50oC
Load: ~60oC
CPU fan is the one shipped with the cooler, and set to "Q-Fan" mode in the BIOS to respond to CPU temp. Could be run at 100% 24/7 because very quiet, but does not shift a huge amount of air.

I wondered if there was a better way to overclock my Phenom, while keeping it stable 24/7 and preferably without ruining it by overvolting it too much.

[stevie lee]

theres a couple of guides on these forums - handily linked at the end on my signature.

just wish someone would do one for AMD phenom II's on these forums.

[laywill]

just wish someone would do one for AMD phenom II's on these forums

I agree!

I could probably knock one together but it wouldn't be as good as the 2 linked in your signature.

[MadduckUK]

there is a brilliant PhenomII oc "guide" in the official xtremesystems thread, i suggest you start there. got me from 3.7/3.8 to 3.9/3.9 and its all so obvious when you think about it

[laywill]

Where is said thread?

[jim]

However, there are a number of things which I do not understand at all, such as what is bios flashing on VGA cards, and whether I am better to adjust my FSB/Bus Speed or my multiplier (when available) when overclocking my CPU

With regard to the latter, I would say that when it comes to benching, increasing FSB speed is better because then it speeds up the RAM and general connection between the RAM and CPU, as opposed to just the CPU on its own. I'm not sure that applies on AMD/Core i* in the same way though.

[laywill]

Thanks snootyjim, currently I have my Phenom II X4 940 running 200*17.5 = 3500MHz @ 1.485 Volts running stable 24/7 under an AKASA Nero air cooler.

My temps are:
idle: ~45-50oC
Load: ~60oC
CPU fan is the one shipped with the cooler, and set to "Q-Fan" mode in the BIOS to respond to CPU temp. Could be run at 100% 24/7 because very quiet, but does not shift a huge amount of air.

I wondered if there was a better way to overclock my Phenom, while keeping it stable 24/7 and preferably without ruining it by overvolting it too much.

[JackFrost]

Hell-o.
I'm a bit of a luddite... so bare with me. I want to OVERCLOCK my dual Xeon audio PC.
Had this machine for a good few years now... its just not cutting it anymore.

'mainboard'
Intel Canterwood A1
chipset = i875P
southbridge = 6300ESB(ICH-S)

CPU 2x
Intel Xeon Nocona 3.00Ghz
socket 604 mPGA
tech. 90nm core voltage 1.359V(ish)
cores 1 threads 2

clocks-
core speed 3000mhz
multiplier x15.0
bus speed 200.0 mhz
rated FSB 800.0 mhz

memory -
DDR channels#Dual
2048 mbytes....

any advice at possiblities or lack of for overclocking this system in any ways please !

cheers
J