I am trying to overclock my E8400, originally at 3.0 GHz. People all over the internet are boasting that this is one of the easiest processors to overclock and they can get get a whole extra GHz without increasing voltage at all. As for me, I can't get it past 3.08 GHz and have it POST unless I pump it full of volts, which leads to an exponential heat increase. About how much voltage is too much and how much do you think I would need to go to somewhere like 3.5 GHz? And should I be adding voltage to my northbridge?

Can you post your specs here mate I aint looking in your bio .....mobo, RAM and PSu along with what HSF and GPU you have.....dont worry we get you flying soon.

Remember that a PC is only as fast as its slowest component!

First of all, not all CPU's are created equal, some OC better than others while being the same model.

With that said, make sure your ram isn't limiting the CPU. You ram is supposed to run at 1066? When OC'ing the CPU use the memory divider to keep the ram clocks down, that way you will be 100% sure that if the system locks up, it's the CPU.

Ram is usually the worst part to OC, yet one of the most important ones for a high CPU OC. Even the 1800 mhz DDR3 struggles to get to 2ghz so it's not a big surprise if that was the limitation.

If you're 100% sure it's not the ram and your cpu doesn't go up any further, try upping the voltage. Just make sure you find out what voltages are acceptable for it first so that you don't fry it.

Corsair 450w PSU? I think that's the culprit here. I know Corsair psu's are very good quality but considering that is only 450w and equipped with an already overclocked 9600gt which draws about the same power as an 8800gt I think you're overloading the system trying to overclock.

Honestly, is either that or you have a lemon.

Soviet,

While that is very true not all CPU's are equal....a chimp with a yeast infection could clock even the poorest CPU from that range at least 500mhz easy......Even with a bad PSu he should be well able the clock it but it would not be stable.

He just needs a few pointers.....

I haven't heard anything about the E series so I can be wrong. I saw he upped it to 3.75 from stock and I didn't know the OC capacity of that CPU, though he says its 1 gig ez oc.

I was just giving out general guidelines more or less

in M.I.T. (if that board has it) set the "Performance Boost" level to standard. then raise the FSB slowly

Well since the author of the post has not posted back I aint wasting my lunch time helping, when he gets back I will "Do my magic"

Meats_Of_Evil said:

I dont think its the psu. i have a 480w codegen psu, with 2 9600gt's in sli, and my 6750 is clocked at 3,6ghz rock solid. no probs at all.

I have been busy guys sorry I couldn't post back. For PnP who wanted my specs, here is a link with my CPU, MB, BIOS, and Memory info:
http://www.geocities.com/nathanscottdaniels/cpuz.htm
As for the PSU, I got a CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W V2.2 80 PLUS
and the GPU is an EVGA 512-P3-N862-AR GeForce 9600GT Superclocked 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16.
And, for what it's worth, my CPU fan is an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro 92mm.

Yes my MB has M.I.T. and I have the performance setting at standard. I am pretty sure the RAM is ok. Whenever I raise the FSB, I try to get as close to 1066 on the RAM without going over, which is hard given the limited multiplier choices so I usually end up around 800Mhz.

Its all good mate I was not having a go at you....your bio says you have your CPU running at over 3.5Ghz did you get sorted or is that your wish list?

Let me know mate.

One thing about gigabyte boards disable any auto overclocking .Get an i7 you wont need to OC..lol

I had it going 3.5 for a while but it was very hot and unstable and once it randomly failed to POST and reset itself, I just kept it at the default 3.0. I forgot to update by bio. My problem is just that, I can put a ton of voltage, far more than I think is necessary, in it and it still is unstable.