Over Clocking questions from a n00b

[Turtlewrench]

Hi,
Since I am new to OC I thought I would post some questions I have here. I have an Acer Aspire E380. I have looked over a few other posts, but I am still not clear on a few things. If more info is needed on my system then what is on my system profile then please ask me to post them and I will be more than happy to get the needed info. I am tinkering with my system to get my system optimized for my WWIIOL gaming. I know there are several forums for all the questions I am going to be asking but I thought i would throw them all together in one. Also I am sure I could build a new system but my passion is tinkering.

A) I run Vista Home premium, with 2GB of Apacer 2Rx8 PC2 5300u 555-12 E3 DDR2 667 memory. Now I have read several places that I can put up to 4GB of memory in there, but only 3.5 will be seen. I would like to upgrade the memory to 800/ From my limited understanding I would have to be able to go into my BIOS and change my clock speed. There is a post with a updated/moded BIOS. So if I load this I should be able to achive this and OC my AMD Atholon 64 x2 Dual Core 4800+. Also Acer will not provide me with any kind of manual on their MOBO MC61PM-AM. I would love to throw a new processor in but I am not sure what would supported. I also understand I will need better heat sink for the processor ( any recommendations?) and I also plan running another fan on the top of the case and I can cut one in there and on the side if needed. My Antec trio 430 PS has wires for this . Should I also invest in a PS upgrade?

B) I have OC my PNY 8500gt, and I will be getting a BFG 8800 GTS in a few weeks, unless someone thinks another card would be a better choice, since the 9800 are coming out soon. The BFG 8800 GTS requires a 425 PS, so as stated above should I upgrade this also?

C) Is there a better exhaust fan I can install to help draw the hot air out? There is just a stock in there so any ideas would be great.

So in closing I thank you all for reading this and for any replies you can give to me.

 

[myocardia]

You'll be wasting your money buying an 8800GTS, with your system. Your CPU isn't anywhere near fast enough to keep up with it. If I were you, I'd look at either a 384MB 8800GS, or a 9600GT, although both will still be way faster than your CPU. And yes, you'll need a bigger power supply to be able to use any of those cards.

As far as overclocking your CPU, does your BIOS have all of the available options you'll need, like being able to lower your RAM speed, and being able to lower your HT multiplier, along with raising your vcore? If so, just use Zebo's A64 overclocking guide, but don't raise your vdimm, or change your RAM timings; everything else in it applies to your system. And which heatsink you'll be able to use depends on how wide your case happens to be. If it's fairly skinny, like most of the Acer cases I've seen, you'll be fairly limited in your choice of heatsinks, although I would guess that an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 will probably fit in it.