Basically, I want to increase the performance of my PC as much as safely possible, but I don't really want to have to buy any upgrades at the moment, except maybe a new mobo and some more memory.
What I'd really like to know is exactly how to safely overclock my system, and whether thats my best option.
I've never tried it and really don't want to mess up my system, so I'd really like if someone could lead me through this.
Not sure what else to say, so I'll just pop my system specs below and see what happens!
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5200+ 2.60Ghz (with Zalman CNPS9700 LED Copper CPU Cooler)
ASUS M2V-TVM
2Gb RAM(Not sure off hand, what make it is.)
Nvidia 8800 GTS 320Mb
WDC WD2500KS-00MJB0 ATA Device
Maxtor 3200 USB Device
Vista Home Premium 32 SP1
LG L1900R Monitor
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Basically, I want to increase the performance of my PC as much as safely possible, but I don't really want to have to buy any upgrades at the moment, except maybe a new mobo and some more memory.
What I'd really like to know is exactly how to safely overclock my system, and whether thats my best option.
I've never tried it and really don't want to mess up my system, so I'd really like if someone could lead me through this.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5200+ 2.60Ghz (with Zalman CNPS9700 LED Copper CPU Cooler)
ASUS M2V-TVM
2Gb RAM(Not sure off hand, what make it is.)
I've stripped you quote back the the relevent components.
You didn't mention a PSU, but I'll give generic information based upon what you've provided.
First rule of OC'ing: Watch those Tempuratures! Check for the max temps or TCaseMax listings for your particular processor, and make sure you don't go over them...period if you want to be safe.
Second rule of OC'ing: Make sure you have enough power.
As to the first rule, there are a multitude of applications out there that will permit for tempurature monitoring, and there are several that will permit for software/firmware based OC'ing based upon the MB defaults. PROBE II is provided with every ASUS MB. You can also dynamically OC the Processor through BIOS. If you want to manually OC, then you will always have to monitor the temps, under maximum loads. The safest way to OC a system is to use the Dynamics permitted by the MB, but this will not give you the maximum boost as this varies between different processors of the same type as well as the heat transference.
You could easily get to a 2.86 GHz performance without increasing any clocking external to the CPU by moving from a 10x multiplexor to a 11x multiplexor.
By tweeking the FSB you can get to 3.0GHz+ easily, and as far as 3.2GHz as well under air cooling, but you have to watch those temps closely.
In all actuallity it would be more prudent to ask what's running slow, and what's running while that process is slow. Sometimes just stopping applications you don't need will give you the boost you need without any OC being required at all.
This is not intended to be a recommendation for what you need to do to OC, but an indication of what you need to take into consideration BEFORE you OC.
Ad Astra Per Aspera
(A rough road leads to the Stars)
We all know what we know, and everyone else knows we are wrong.
System Specifications in BIO
The PSU is Thermaltake W0116 Toughpower 750W Modular.
The system doesn't really cause me any major issues, I just think it should run a little quicker than it is, or, could run a little quicker.
I'd just like games such as Bioshock etc. to run smoother at higher detail levels. I think my system has scope to be better. I don't don't know how to do it. :S
CPU is HUGE is games like Bioshock and anything above. I'm sorry but an x2 processor, no matter what the model, is simply not stong enough to play those sort of games on max settings. If you were to upgrade to a q6600 etc..you'd notice a huge difference. I didn't read Garritt's post btw.
Q6600 G0 @ 3.6ghz | 4GB OCZ Reaper PC8500 | BFG 9800GTX+ OC 512mb | ASUS P5Q Pro | 250GB HD | OCZ StealthStream 600
Not sure how much this will help you, but I noticed this post on the AMD forums talking about performance vs. stability:
The processor runs more stable, less propagation delay, if you increase the voltage core but the penalty is more heat dissipation.
Pd = Cpd * Vcore * Vcore * Frequency
Note:
Cpd = Capacitance power dissipation of the chip
Pd = Power dissipation
So for a voltage core of 1.40V the maximum case temperature is 63°C. At a voltage core of 1.35V you will get less heat dissipation but the rising temperature will increase propagation delay and at some moment the processor will run out of the timing specification and it will crash. So for a voltage core of 1.35V the maximum case temperature is 53°C at full speed.
There is also an AMD Athlon 64 x2 6000+ 89W version. This is a processor with a better timing specification, less propagation delay, and will run at a lower voltage core (1.30V - 1.35V) at full speed.
If you do decide to overclock anything, make sure you test the stability and monitor the temperatures. For testing, you can use Prime95 and for monitoring temperatures, you can use Everest or SpeedFan.
DsL.Dilbert
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.825GHz
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
G.Skill DDR2-1000 4GB Dual Channel Kit [Running at 425MHz 5-5-5-15 2T]
Diamond Radeon HD 4870
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