Overclocking Limits...

[tofumonster]

Ok. so i've got a Asus P5B-E motherboard with a E6400 Conroe 2.13 Ghz processor. I've got 2x 120 mm fans that can go Low Medium or High. The idling CPU temperature is at 37 degrees with the fans turned medium. And the Motherboard idling temperature is at 32 degrees with fans on medium. About how far (i'm using the AI Suite provided with my motherboard to overclock) can i go?

PS. i'm using the stock fan on the E6400 Processor..

 

[DrMrLordX]

First off, I would recommend not using the AI Suite. Overclock by hand in the BIOS.

Secondly, there is no hard and fast limit to how far you can go . . . it depends on a lot of factors. To determine how far you should go, given your cooling situation, I'd recommend pushing your CPU as far as it can go without raising vcore and without passing a load temperature of 65-70c. What's your load temp at stock?

 

[tcG]

With either the Tuniq Tower T-120, Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme/Thermalright Ultra 120, or the Enzotech Ultra 120, you'll be looking at around 3.4-3.5GHz, depending upon your RAM, motherboard, power supply, and ambient temperatures.

Get rid of stock cooling if you want to overclock.

 

[DrMrLordX]

He can overclock with stock cooling. It just won't take him as far, nor will he have as many safe overvolting options.

 

[tofumonster]

actually. i only plan on doing small increments of overclocking like from 2.13 to 2.4 ghz. and i changed my 1.9v of vmem to 2.0v..not TOO big of a difference...

and can someone explain to me what Front Side Bus (FSB) is?

 

[tofumonster]

and at about 2.36 Ghz i'm idling around a 43 C temperature...with my fans on low..i can change the fan speeds though.

 

[DrMrLordX]

FSB = Front Side Bus. It's the communication link between the CPU and the motherboard's chipset (Northbridge), more or less.

Your CPU speed is based off the FSB and a CPU multiplier. That E6400 you have there has a maximum CPU multiplier of 8x.

Also, you should be less concerned with your idle temperature and more concerned with your load temperature. Use something like TAT and/or Orthos to find out what your CPU temps are at full load.