What do I need to know?

J

Jramsay61

New Member
Hello guys, I've been researching documents online for some time now, and still dont grasp how to overclock my pc. Perhaps this community could help me out. First ill show screenshots to show you what processor I have (P4 3.0ghz Northwood), my mobo, ram (1gb x2 pc2700 DIMM SDRAM), and video card.

CPU
cpu.jpg

Mobo
motherboard.jpg

Video card
videocard.jpg


What do I need to know before overclocking my pc?

What do I have to do, to make this work?

How much of a performance increase would an overclock usually yield?

Is it true if I invest in a really nice cooling system, I could overclock this system quite a bit?
 
Jramsay61 said:
Hello guys, I've been researching documents online for some time now, and still dont grasp how to overclock my pc. Perhaps this community could help me out. First ill show screenshots to show you what processor I have (P4 3.0ghz Northwood), my mobo, ram (1gb x2 pc2700 DIMM SDRAM), and video card.

What do I need to know before overclocking my pc?

What do I have to do, to make this work?

How much of a performance increase would an overclock usually yield?

Is it true if I invest in a really nice cooling system, I could overclock this system quite a bit?
Click to expand...

Do you have any overclocking setting in your BIOS? Also, take a look at the Overclocking 101 sticky.
 
So basically just raise the FSB by 3-5Mhz at a time, until it won't boot anymore. Then you can up the voltage by a very small amount, etc.

Before you overclock, download Speedfan and check your temperatures.
 
Jramsay61 said:
I do have speedfan, although im not positive how to read it. I believe temp 2 is my cpu. what are the other 3?

fan.jpg
Click to expand...

Either temp 2 or 3 is your CPU. Try loading a program like Prime95 and loading your processor. You don't want to overclock if your temperatures are over 60C or so during 100% load.
 
I see. Ill download that program now, but what you said about CPU usage makes me ask another question. When I do run games such as WoW, my cpu usage according to windows task manager is at times 100% as seen in this ss:
cpuusage.jpg
 
When I go into my BIOS, my first thought is to increase the fsb by small increments. However, when I highlight over the bus speed, it does not allow me to press enter, so I can edit it.

As shown here:
Lockedfsb.jpg


Secondly, im not entirely sure what CPU ratio selection means. But when I do press enter, it pops up a screen, however im not allowed to scroll up, or down to edit and unlock the feature.

As shown here:
Picture002.jpg


Picture003.jpg
 
Jramsay61 said:
When I go into my BIOS, my first thought is to increase the fsb by small increments. However, when I highlight over the bus speed, it does not allow me to press enter, so I can edit it.

As shown here:
Lockedfsb.jpg


Secondly, im not entirely sure what CPU ratio selection means. But when I do press enter, it pops up a screen, however im not allowed to scroll up, or down to edit and unlock the feature.

As shown here:
Picture002.jpg


Picture003.jpg
Click to expand...

Can you select a Performance mode like "Advanced"?
 
I actually just set it on normal. The problem was you had to adjust the fsb with: + or -. Now im running at roughly 3.2 ghz, but my cpu reached 76 degrees c. Is the answer to my problem, buy a better power supply?
 
Jramsay61 said:
I actually just set it on normal. The problem was you had to adjust the fsb with: + or -. Now im running at roughly 3.2 ghz, but my cpu reached 76 degrees c. Is the answer to my problem, buy a better power supply?
Click to expand...

Your answer is to get a better cooler..

Post a picture of speedfan when you are running Prime95.
 
Now I raised the FSB about 13 mhz x 15 (multiplier) which yielded me an extra 195 mhz. Ran prime95 and something is telling me, its TOO hot.

burning-1.jpg


If for instance, I bought liquid cooling, is there any limit on how fast I can make my CPU? is it possible to get 3.4 ghz, if stock is 3.0 depending on cooling?
 
There will be a limit; either it will be your cooling, or your processor will need too much voltage. And please remove that screenshot...
 
Hmm. So even if I had great cool air flow in my tower, or liquid cooling, there comes a limit based on what processor im using? or power supply?
 
Jramsay61 said:
Hmm. So even if I had great cool air flow in my tower, or liquid cooling, there comes a limit based on what processor im using? or power supply?
Click to expand...

The processor, or the memory, or the motherboard. If there was no limit, than no one would buy a top-of-the-line processor.
 
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