Level of importance for PC parts (Overclockers)

[fatty4ksu]

1)CPU
2)Water cooling kit
3)Memory
4)Mobo
5)PSU
6)Case
7)Video Card
8)Hard Drive

 

[Hyperlite]

1)Memory
CPU
PSU
Mobo

2)vid card

3)Hard drive setup

4)Case

5)h2o cooling

 

[nick1985]

PSU is THE MOST IMPORTANT component of a PC. hands down

 

[imported_Kensai]

1: PSU
2: Mobo
3: RAM
4: CPU
5: VGA
6: HD
7: Case
8: Cooling system

 

[fatty4ksu]

cooling that low?

 

[Hyperlite]

yep, stock will do fine for pretty moderate overclocking (if your using an AMD anyway)

 

[GuitarDaddy]

1) CPU
2) Motherboard
3) PSU
4) Memory

Everything else doesn't matter


I agree that PSU is the most critical part of a PC system, but the question was which is the most important for overclocker. And if your CPU and or Motherboard don't overclock well PSU doesn't matter. You can overclock a good CPU on a bad PSU(you will be limited), but if you've got a bad CPU you can have the best PS in the world and it still won't overclock.

 

[xsilver]

1)mobo
getting a wrong mobo could mean zero overclocking -- eg. no bios features whatsoever
2)cpu
wrong cpu = very little headroom ---- high multiplier celerons, and maybe even the fx-55
3)psu
getting the worst psu doesn't guarantee you zero overclocking .... as long as the psu is working and can run stock

kensai - why is hdd (6)?? -- how does a better hdd help with overclocking?

 

[n7]

I would say it's a mistake to try to rate the importance of parts that are all important.

However, this list is the one i like if i had to rate them.

Originally posted by: Kensai
1: PSU
2: Mobo
3: RAM
4: CPU
5: VGA
6: HD
7: Case
8: Cooling system

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
1) CPU
2) Motherboard
3) PSU
4) Memory

Everything else doesn't matter


I agree that PSU is the most critical part of a PC system, but the question was which is the most important for overclocker. And if your CPU and or Motherboard don't overclock well PSU doesn't matter. You can overclock a good CPU on a bad PSU(you will be limited), but if you've got a bad CPU you can have the best PS in the world and it still won't overclock.

:thumbsup:

But I'm starting to think memory is falling in importance with the advent of the 64 bit CPU's. They seem to OC fine with cheap ram/dividers.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

As far as the actual overclocking potential goes:
MB
CPU
Heatsink (varies by CPU and what comes with it)
Memory
Vidcard
Power supply
Hard drive
Optical drives

As far as what gives the best actual PERFORMANCE, that varies greatly by what you're doing. Often day to day stuff stresses the HD more than alot of other components, games at low res stress the CPU, high res stress the videocard...

 

[theMan]

this is the importance for overclocking, so you dont need a good cpu, because you're gonna oc it.

1. psu
2. mobo
3. cooling
4. cpu
5. memory
6. video card
7. all that other junk

 

[Appledrop]

1. mobo
2. cpu
3. cooling
4. psu
5. memory
6. video card

 

[Big Lar]

It all matters/Period.
You need components that will work together and Not have software/Hardware conflicts.
Power Supplies have always been a Major issue, but not until of late has it come to the point where they have taken it seriously, I used to bark all the time about the PSU, but back then, noone listened. Next is the Mobo. It's where it all begins, if the board is a peice of crap, you are not going far with it.
Most Modern day Processors will overclock to some extent, some more than others.
Cooling.... well, I can't quite say enuff about that, so I will not, you get the hint.

 

[MobiusPizza]

CPU = Mobo = RAM = PSU

Any of that performs badly, you aren't going to be able to overclock at all even if other components are fine

 

[Concillian]

In terms of gaming performance:
1) Video card
2) Memory (size)
3) Mobo/CPU (together)
4) PSU
5) Memory (latency)
6) Memory (speed)
7) Hard Drive
50) Case

In terms of normal usage performance (browsing, email, Excel, minor multi-tasking, etc...)
1) Memory (size)
2) Memory (latency)
3) Hard Drive
4) Mobo/CPU (together)
5) Memory (speed)
6) PSU
7) Video Card

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Originally posted by: Concillian
In terms of gaming performance:
1) Video card
2) Memory (size)
3) Mobo/CPU (together)
4) PSU
5) Memory (latency)
6) Memory (speed)
7) Hard Drive
50) Case

In terms of normal usage performance (browsing, email, Excel, minor multi-tasking, etc...)
1) Memory (size)
2) Memory (latency)
3) Hard Drive
4) Mobo/CPU (together)
5) Memory (speed)
6) PSU
7) Video Card

Why the hell do you have PSU listed before teh video card.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy

Originally posted by: Concillian
In terms of gaming performance:
1) Video card
2) Memory (size)
3) Mobo/CPU (together)
4) PSU
5) Memory (latency)
6) Memory (speed)
7) Hard Drive
50) Case

In terms of normal usage performance (browsing, email, Excel, minor multi-tasking, etc...)
1) Memory (size)
2) Memory (latency)
3) Hard Drive
4) Mobo/CPU (together)
5) Memory (speed)
6) PSU
7) Video Card

Why the hell do you have PSU listed before teh video card.

The OP never stated what part was being overclocked. Most people I assumed have assumed that the CPU is the piece of hardware being overclocked. Therefore the Graphics Card makes very little difference to the overclockability of the CPU therefore PSU is more important.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: nick1985
PSU is THE MOST IMPORTANT component of a PC. hands down