I just overclokced my CPU. Need advice.

[Castout]

Hi everyone,

I have the following system specs

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz
DDR2 800MHz 4x2Gb RAM Memory
Nvidia 9800GTX+ 512Mb GPU

with the above specs I had a Vista experience index of 4.8 which was capped by the CPU. Core 2 duo didn't come cheap when I built my PC then as it was just released.

CPU : 4.8
Memory : 5.3
Graphics : 5.9
3D gaming : 5.9
HDD : 5.9


Now instead of buying another CPU I overclocked my CPU from BIOS.
So now I have an equivalent of Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz CPU. That is a 20% increase.

This boosted my Vista experience index from 4.8 to 5.3 out of the maximum 5.9.

CPU : 5.3
Memory : 5.3
Graphics : 5.9
3D gaming : 5.9
HDD : 5.9

My question is: Is it safe to overclock my CPU for as much as 20% without installing additional cooling hardware?

Thanks

[Castout]

Doh after further testing it seems the overclocking was not that stable. I revert back to default clock but set the enhance performance in BIOS setting to extreme and got the same Vista index of 5.3.

Hmmm I don't think I want to spend money on getting a new CPU for now. This will have to do until I decide to get a new rig in some distant future.

while overclocking I monitored my CPU and GPU temperature.
with overclocking CPU temperature at idle is about 50-55.
Without overclocking CPU temperature at idle is about 37-42.
So there's a big difference there and not to mention I use my PC in a tropical climate in a room without aircon being turned on most of the time.

Anyway I'm getting the same Vista index increase by just changing a BIOS setting without having to resort to overclocking and without having to worry about the increase CPU temperature so for now I say no no to overclocking.

Thanks anyway.

[Seth8530]

Try running Super Pi on the highest setting and see if any errors come up, if its clean ur stable and clear

Any overclocking may cause the system unstability and deffinetly will shorten its lifetime..

[Castout]

I don't dare to give overclocking a second try after I found out that without additional CPU cooler, the temperature would go at least 10 degree celcius hotter. No way. And I can't add a CPU cooler since I've used all the power cables!! Thanks to that 9800GTX+ which needed 4 power cable plugs!!!

Anyway I'm not planning to start WWIII from my PC or to launch and track a space shuttle so...it will do just fine for a couple years.

[CaptainHaplo]

Just remember - vista maxed out initially at 5.0 - then with the sp the max is 5.9

5.3 aint shabby on that scale.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Just remember - vista maxed out initially at 5.0 - then with the sp the max is 5.9

5.3 aint shabby on that scale.

Yes 5.3 is acceptable to me. I'm aware that when first released the Vista index topped out at 4.9 but you wrote 5.0 that should be close enough.

Just that when playing medieval 2 total war on almost max out setting I still sometimes notice that the fps would drop to lower 20s or even higher 10s then go back up to 50s or more (topped at 60 because I synced the game). I'm suspicious that something is bottle necking my PC. I suspect the CPU.

And larger battles with SB Pro PE is unacceptable at all. Dropping to below 10 fps. Where's that pulling hair smiley?

[Arclight]

IMHO if you're gonna OC the CPU, put a third party cooler on there. The stock one does only a half decent job at normal clock.

For my E6750 @2.66GHZ, temps were between 50 and 55C idle. Now it's between 35 and 40C.

Also, overclocking requires a bit of knowhow; CPU and RAM clocks are tied together. If you increase the FSB, both CPU and RAM clock go up. It can be dangerous unless you know exactly what you're doing.

[Seth8530]

I woudln't say dangerous, most of the time the PC will just reboot itself if you do anything too stupid ... (;

[Arclight]

Unless you double the voltage by accident.

Let me rephrase it; Most of the time you're fine, but it can be dangerous, so it doesn't hurt if you know what you're doing.

[Seth8530]

Of course, the most u really got to worry about is having an unstable OC corrupting your operating system, which is why its important to run Prime or Super pi even if it seems stable

[Castout]

Hi guys thanks for all the input but

I've decided to upgrade my CPU altogether. So there is no more neeed for this topic to be continued.

[Arclight]

Do you know what you're gonna get yet?