How much performance benefit really gained by OCing?

[bovinda]

1.) At this point, can you reliably OC and still have it be stable and quiet? Does OCing increase noise?

2.) Is OCing really cost effective? (Since I seem to keep reading you need specific components - mobo, memory)

3.) What are some ideas of real world, tangible gains by OCing? Ex - Q6600 from stock to, say, 3.0 GHz.

I'm getting close to new system build-time and I've never OC'd, though I'm always tempted. I'm considering doing it this time because I seem to keep reading how the Q6600 is so easy to OC.

But I feel that I've read elsewhere that OCing doesn't really equate to a huge performance benefit. I can certainly understand the challenge/fun factor of doing it, but I want to get some sense of what kind of performance gains it really gives. Is it really cost-effective and stable? Does it make a noisier computer?

Since I'm short on time these days, and I trust AT'ers as a whole, can anyone give me a real world, tangible sense of what kind of performance gains are achieved by moderate OCing? If you provide a link, I will read it soon, just don't have a moment to search for one myself (currently working well over 85 hrs a week).

I'd be using the system to do pretty much standard fare - some music/video encoding, game playing (when my schedule lightens up ).

Any and all constructive feedback is appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: bovinda
3.) What are some ideas of real world, tangible gains by OCing? Ex - Q6600 from stock to, say, 3.0 GHz.

Let's see here 3.0 - 2.4 = .6, .6/2.4 =.25 Looks like 25%!!!

How that for Rocket Science!?!

 

[jeffw2767602]

I have a q6600 OC'd to 3.6, so that would be a 50% increase in clock speed. There is a huge tangible difference between stock and 3.6.

 

[trOver]

1. System will feel a lot zippier
2. You will most likely get those "other components" required for overclocking even if you arnt going to overclock, so its all good

 

[QueBert]

I oc'ed my 6550 to 3.0 with stock cooling, as for challenge all I did was set my memory timing and bump the FSB up. System seems a bit more responsive I wouldn't say 25% should play a game and see if I can raise up the graphic settings. I am pretty shocked how easy it was to OC this puppy, I think I spent all of 4 minutes and 90% of that was poking around looking at options and settings. If your system's going to be stable and not run too hot I don't see a reason not to OC.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: bovinda
I'd be using the system to do pretty much standard fare - some music/video encoding, game playing (when my schedule lightens up ).

Sorry if I was flippant earlier.

If I were you, sounds as if you have more money than time, I'd just be sure to get a P35 chipset MB and run it stock. That Q6600 is a monster at video encoding, multi-threaded. Then a year from now when it seems slow, and it will. Then the P35 will allow you to OC 50% or more and it'll be like a new PC.

FWIW
Hermit

 

[Markfw]

1.) At this point, can you reliably OC and still have it be stable and quiet? Does OCing increase noise?

If you get the correct parts (aftermafket good HSF and fan) then it can be quieter than stock !

2.) Is OCing really cost effective? (Since I seem to keep reading you need specific components - mobo, memory)

If you need the speed, the parts required are cheaper than QX6800 or whatever....So yes.

3.) What are some ideas of real world, tangible gains by OCing? Ex - Q6600 from stock to, say, 3.0 GHz.

As said, depends. I have 2 at 3.3 or better, and for F@H, it makes a huge difference.

 

[zorrt]

Overclocking to me really doesnt make much difference. I think its all in your head. But then again for me, going from a 2.2ghz - 2.6ghz (not overclocking) cpu really doesn't feel much faster. Unless your encoding etc etc might be like 10seconds faster in some instances.

Game wise its hardly a big jump unless you overclock your GPU also. Lets see, bioshock, with an e6750 @ 3.2ghz its like 2 or 3 frames difference or there abouts. 7900gs @ 608/890 is about 4 frames difference.

I mainly use my machine for games, and if an overclock doesnt turn the game from night to day then its nothing fantastic to me. I don't use my machine to crunch useless numbers.

End of day its a hobby for most people.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: zorrt
Overclocking to me really doesnt make much difference. I think its all in your head. But then again for me, going from a 2.2ghz - 2.6ghz (not overclocking) cpu really doesn't feel much faster. Unless your encoding etc etc might be like 10seconds faster in some instances.

Game wise its hardly a big jump unless you overclock your GPU also. Lets see, bioshock, with an e6750 @ 3.2ghz its like 2 or 3 frames difference or there abouts. 7900gs @ 608/890 is about 4 frames difference.

I mainly use my machine for games, and if an overclock doesnt turn the game from night to day then its nothing fantastic to me. I don't use my machine to crunch useless numbers.

End of day its a hobby for most people.

Well, I hate to disagree, but when I go from 1.86 ghz to 3.5 ghz, and my F@H unit takes one day instead of 2, its NOT in my head, or un-noticeable. (E6300 example)

With my quads, it makes more difference with 4 cores all getting OC'ed.

If you are crusing the internet or doing word processing, sure, but you can do that with a 486....

 

[WildHorse]

still have it be stable and quiet?

Inherent in oc-ing is proving stability with testing. I'd bet my OC'd rigs are more stable than just about any vanilla computer.

Noise: Not bad. Your case is essentially supposed to serve as an air duct, and you need fans to blow air through it. Where possible, using bigger 120mm fans can reduce db.

I seem to keep reading you need specific components - mobo, memory

Well you can't scrimp and buy cheap stuff. You'll want a QUALITY psu, mobo and ram. QUALITY! Not "value ram" or cheapie power supply. Watch the Anandtech "Hot Deals" forum.

Aside from a tad extra for better quality components, you'll also need an aftermarket cpu cooler, fan & thermal paste ($60 -range) and maybe an aftermarket chipset cooler ($10 range). That's about all.

What are some ideas of real world, tangible gains by OCing?

For ordinary daily use in my work, I run the OC's at approx 125% of stock. That's with humble air cooling. When probing for maximum achievable limits it goes faster, but I don't run it that way for daily use, because faster = hotter, which is bad.

Some guys get much higher oc's by spending a lot for fancier cooling like water, phase change, etc., but you don't need to do that. Why don't they just buy a faster cpu to begin with instead of spending hundreds of $ on phase change gear to supercool a cheaper cpu? I never understood that.

MAIN GAIN: is the knowledge you acqure by learning to get your OC right, i.e.; you learn how to mix a few variables to achieve a stable OC, and prove it out by testing.

Lots of OC guides are available on the web free. Read some relevant to your rig & go from there. In a sense it's easy, but it takes a LOT of patience and testing, tweaking, retesting.

Try it. It's sort of fun.

 

[zorrt]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Well, I hate to disagree, but when I go from 1.86 ghz to 3.5 ghz, and my F@H unit takes one day instead of 2, its NOT in my head, or un-noticeable. (E6300 example)

With my quads, it makes more difference with 4 cores all getting OC'ed.

If you are crusing the internet or doing word processing, sure, but you can do that with a 486....

You can't cruise the internet or word processor with a 486 by todays standard :] *I know you were joking*

Anyways, I should remove the in your head statement in my original post so sorry for offending anyone. My point only applies to people who doesn't crunch numbers eg the guy who posted the question. Sure it will affect his encoding time but not to the extent where he'll be dancing around his room.

 

[egale]

I took my q6600 and oc'd it from 2.4 stock to 3.0. The machine is noticeably faster in everyday tasks without doing any number crunching or heavy duty gaming.

It is not an extreme oc by any means but the machine is stable, just as quiet/noisy, and runs only a few degrees hotter.

 

[clarkey01]

I have gone from 2.4 to 2.6 to 2.8 to 3 Ghz ( I did this over the stage of a month, checked temps, ran Otherus for 12 hours on each setting).

It's faster (tiny bit) and it's nice to know you're getting more then you paid for. I noticed BF2 runs smoother online with the 600 Mhz +, but I play @ 1600x with full AA etc.

My temps idle are around 30C and 53C load after 6 hours of Otheus(spelling).


In a year reckon I'll swap out my GTS and get a Quad, may change MB if needs be.