Is overclocking really worth a damn?

[Manzelle]

Stock System
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AMD Athlon XP-M 2600+ @ 2.0GHz 266FSB
EPoX 8RDA3+ Revision 3.2
Koolance Exos-Al
1GB OCZ PC3700 Platinum EB @ DDR400
Gainward Golden Sample 6800GT @ 350/1000 - 61.77 Drivers
USB Audigy2 NX
200GB Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 SATA HDD - 8MB 7.2K
120GB Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 PATA HDD - 8MB 7.2K
Plextor 708A DVD+/-RW
Lite-On 52x32x52x16 Combo Drive
Dell 2100FP 20.1" LCD
Windows XP Professional SP2
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Sandra 2004 Results:

CPU Dhrystone: 8283
CPU Whetstone: 3151

Memory Bandwidth Int: 2051MB
Memory Bandwidth Float: 1976

AquaMark3 Results:

GFX: 7215
CPU: 5986
Total: 45021

3DMark2001 Results:

15390 3DMarks

3DMark03 Results:

9996 3DMarks

Doom 3 Results:

1600x1200 HQ 0xAA 8xAF - 61.9fps
1280x1024 HQ 0xAA 8xAF - 66.9fps
1024x768 HQ 0xAA 8xAF - 68.0fps

1600x1200 UQ 2xAA 8xAF - 55.3fps
1280x1024 UQ 2xAA 8xAF - 62.4fps
1024x768 UQ 2xAA 8xAF - 67.1fps

1600x1200 HQ 4xAA 16xAF - 41.8fps
1280x1024 HQ 4xAA 16xAF - 52.3fps
1024x768 HQ 4xAA 16xAF - 63.1fps

1600x1200 UQ 8xAA 16xAF - 10.2fps

1600x1200 UQ 16xAA 16xAF - 10.1fps

Overclocked System
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AMD Athlon XP-M 2600+ @ 2.6GHz 400FSB +23.1%
EPoX 8RDA3+ Revision 3.2
Koolance Exos-Al
1GB OCZ PC3700 Platinum EB @ DDR400
Gainward Golden Sample 6800GT @ 420/1200 - 61.77 Drivers +16.9% Core/Mem
USB Audigy2 NX
200GB Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 SATA HDD - 8MB 7.2K
120GB Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 PATA HDD - 8MB 7.2K
Plextor 708A DVD+/-RW
Lite-On 52x32x52x16 Combo Drive
Dell 2100FP 20.1" LCD
Windows XP Professional SP2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sandra 2004 Results:

CPU Dhrystone: 10779 +23.2%
CPU Whetstone: 4059 +22.4%

Memory Bandwidth Int: 3059MB +33.04%
Memory Bandwidth Float: 2914MB +32.2%

AquaMark3 Results:

GFX: 9408 +23.3%
CPU: 8435 +29.3%
Total: 60458 +24.6%

3DMark2001 Results:

20786 3DMarks +26%

3DMark03 Results:

12335 3DMarks +19%

Doom 3 Results:

1600x1200 HQ 0xAA 8xAF - 79.1fps +21.8%
1280x1024 HQ 0xAA 8xAF - 88.6fps +24.5%
1024x768 HQ 0xAA 8xAF - 93.1fps +26.97%

1600x1200 UQ 2xAA 8xAF - 69.0fps +19.9%
1280x1024 UQ 2xAA 8xAF - 80.4fps +23.4%
1024x768 UQ 2xAA 8xAF - 89.9fps +25.4%

1600x1200 HQ 4xAA 16xAF - 43.8fps +4.6%
1280x1024 HQ 4xAA 16xAF - 64.2fps +18.6%
1024x768 HQ 4xAA 16xAF - 80.1fps +21.3%

1600x1200 UQ 8xAA 16xAF - 12.0fps +15.0%

1600x1200 UQ 16xAA 16xAF - 12.0fps +15.9%


By these results you can see that in this particular case overclocking benefits tremendously on every benchmark. To me, the weirdest result was 1600x1200 HQ 4xAA 16xAF and the fact that there was only a 4.6% increase in performance. You can take these results for what they are worth but if you are having any doubts on whether or not overclocking your system is beneficial I hope this sheds some light. Of course every system overclocks differently and your results will definitely differ from mine. I will add additional games and other benchmarks when I have the time.

 

[Mik3y]

beautiful....here, have a !

 

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
beautiful....here, have a !

 

[sandorski]

If you have a good overclocking CPU/GPU, overclocking is usually worth it. If not, it's not worth it, as shocking as that might seem.

 

[Manzelle]

Originally posted by: sandorski
If you have a good overclocking CPU/GPU, overclocking is usually worth it. If not, it's not worth it, as shocking as that might seem.

Yeah, but I have seen a lot of "does overclocking really help" threads recently so I decided to do a little experiment...maybe someone will find this beneficial...

 

[caz67]

I think its handy just to see how far you can go with your gear.

 

[trexpesto]

and does overclocking worth on a A64?

 

[NewBlackDak]

Some of those gains look significant.

The reason the 1600x1220 test only shows small difference is it's video card limited at those settings.

 

[Tiamat]

Excellent comparison. Seeing numbers side by side on a system that is hardware identical is a great help.

 

[Brickster]

Originally posted by: trexpesto
and does overclocking worth on a A64?

Um, if you mean "work", then yes it does...

I haven't personally witnessed results with the FX chips, but have with the 3500+ and the 3800+. Both I have seen examples of, with air cooling only, to reach 0.4GHz over the stock clock and be very stable and maintain relatively cool temperatures.

With HT Frequency lowered to 4x, VDIMM to 2.7V, VCORE to 1.6V, I have been able to push the 3500+ to 2.6Ghz(236x11) and stable on stock cooling.

I am waiting for better air cooling, so I have the 3500+ only raised from 2.2 to 2.4 very stable @ 218x11...I wanted to it back down to 2.4Ghz for now on stock HSF.

If you have an A64, I highly suggest an OC.

3dMark03 - 11300 (before) 12150 (after)

Should be interesting to see what happens when I OC my 6800 GT!

Enjoy!

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Manzelle
To me, the weirdest result was 1600x1200 HQ 4xAA 16xAF and the fact that there was only a 4.6% increase in performance.

video card limited... you're lucky to get a gain at all...

 

[Atodd]

The only problem I see with it is that it wears down parts in the long run. However, for people like me who upgrade on a year to year basis, it doesn't really concern me. So enjoy that performance boost, nice post Manzelle!

 

[PsharkJF]

Yes, I am a necromancer

The only problem I see with it is that it wears down parts in the long run.

Which is why I personally don't overclock, most of the PCs I end up not using are used by someone else. I prefer to give them working parts.

 

[kenny2004]

I wonder though if whether overclocking is really noticable at all....I really can't tell the difference -- maybe it's just me? I know that the benchmark numbers do tell that it does, but do the results of these benchmark numbers show when one is using their system? BTW: I have an Athlon A64 3500+ - it's quick enough as it is, so is OC really signficant...hmmm.

Brickster: you're OCing using the Stock HSF -- what kind of temperatures are you getting for the System and CPU? :frown:

 

[Mullzy]

Originally posted by: kenny2004
I wonder though if whether overclocking is really noticable at all....I really can't tell the difference -- maybe it's just me? I know that the benchmark numbers do tell that it does, but do the results of these benchmark numbers show when one is using their system? BTW: I have an Athlon A64 3500+ - it's quick enough as it is, so is OC really signficant...hmmm.

Brickster: you're OCing using the Stock HSF -- what kind of temperatures are you getting for the System and CPU? :frown:

*Feeling* the effects of your successful overclock is really game-dependant. Obviously if you're crunching some numbers you'll see the effects, but you probably won't feel a day to day change using normal apps. Older games you really don't notice at all either (hard to tell the difference between 90 and 130 FPS). Newer games where you're often dipping down around 30FPS can really show your OC is working. Going from 30 to 40 FPS is a noticable jump which your eyes and brain will thank you for.

Or maybe you can run at one resolution higher than you could before and get basically the same fps... it all depends. There's also a certain amount of intangible satisfaction that comes from knowing your system is operating at is maximum potential.

 

[Brickster]

Originally posted by: kenny2004
I wonder though if whether overclocking is really noticable at all....I really can't tell the difference -- maybe it's just me? I know that the benchmark numbers do tell that it does, but do the results of these benchmark numbers show when one is using their system? BTW: I have an Athlon A64 3500+ - it's quick enough as it is, so is OC really signficant...hmmm.

Brickster: you're OCing using the Stock HSF -- what kind of temperatures are you getting for the System and CPU? :frown:

I can tell the differencein FarCry. Levels where I may have had noticeable frame lag, I have much less if any at all. IT is true, I cannot tell the difference between OC and stock with MS Word or Internet Explorer.

For temps...I am just beginning to measure.

For CPU, all I have is a front panel temp guage sitting on the other side of the Heatsink from the CPU (back side of plate). That measures about 120 F during gameplay (48.88 Celcius). My guess is that is off since it's not directly on the CPU. Anyone know a better way to accurately monitor CPU temps?

For my 6800GT, it reads around 64C during idle, and 75C during load.

Ambient temperature inside the case is 92 degrees F.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Atodd
The only problem I see with it is that it wears down parts in the long run. However, for people like me who upgrade on a year to year basis, it doesn't really concern me. So enjoy that performance boost, nice post Manzelle!

if my CPU only lasts 10 years instead of 15, i could care less.

 

[nitromullet]

So, how much did you spend in all your cooling gear? An EXOS and a bunch of water blocks isn't exactly cheap. How "free" is this additional performance, really?

 

[Atodd]

You don't have to buy water cooling gear in order to overclock. You can get very decent overclocks using regular air cooling. But if you are a crazy enthusiast....like many people here, you can seriously squeeze out a lot of performance using water cooling.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Ahh, but a good watercooling setup is usually an investment that you keep when you upgrade parts. Get a new motherboard and processor? All you need is a different block to put in your current setup. The price delta between a water block and high-end air-cooling isn't that great anymore. Want more flow, just replace the pump. Want to move to a new case? Maybe mod it, or maybe just by a new radiator.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: Atodd
The only problem I see with it is that it wears down parts in the long run. However, for people like me who upgrade on a year to year basis, it doesn't really concern me. So enjoy that performance boost, nice post Manzelle!

if my CPU only lasts 10 years instead of 15, i could care less.

Sometimes that time is cut significantly shorter. I've seen and read of many Celeron 300As that ran at 450MHz that were previously stable, aren't anymore.

Granted, those were usually after the next generation CPUs came out. But I personally pass down my PC to other family members and build a whole new system so I would like to hope that my CPU can last maybe even 10 years.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: NewBlackDak
Ahh, but a good watercooling setup is usually an investment that you keep when you upgrade parts. Get a new motherboard and processor? All you need is a different block to put in your current setup. The price delta between a water block and high-end air-cooling isn't that great anymore. Want more flow, just replace the pump. Want to move to a new case? Maybe mod it, or maybe just by a new radiator.

http://www.dangerden.com/mall2..._block3.asp?fmmore=237

but, wouldn't I just be better off with a 6800 Ultra than getting that and a 6800 GT to overclock? Chances are, this thing won't be re-usable with a next gen card.