Overclocking....Never done it before

[GZFant]

Lets just say I am building a new computer soon and I have never thought about overclocking until recently. It seems more effective to buy a slower processor which might cost hundreds of dollars less, then overclock it to something much higher.

I guess my question is: Is overclocking easy? I have never done it before. I know I will have the proper cooling but how taxing is it on a system to overclock?
Do i need special software to allow the biox options to do so or do most Motherboard manufacturers give you that option?
I know nothing about it so I am very curious. When i look at most people's rigs on Anand they usually have them overclocked. It seems like a norm nowadays.

Thanks again Anand forums..you guys are great it here

 

[MatthewF01]

yes, you are correct in buying a lower model processor. usually manufacturers will bin chips: If they dont pass tests at a certain speed with a certain factory voltage, they clock it down, re-mark it, and sell it as such. a potentially good overclocker is born.

For example, AMD's barton core comes to the market in the following flavors: 2500+ 2800+ 3000+ 3200+
rather than making different versions of barton, they just fab one core thats capable of running as a 3200+. Then they test the chips at 3200+ speed. If they dont perform to satisfaction, they change the multiplier (and if its a 3200+, lower the FSB to 333), then re-mark it and its a lower grade chip.
So all the chips are born as 3200+'s... so in this case, many Barton 2500+'s are overclocking beyond 3200+ speeds because they are manufactured with the ability to do so...

As far as overclocking being 'taxing' on your system, as you mentioned as long as your cooling is sufficient then you are in the clear. Just watch the temperatures, especially when you add voltage!


If you're building an AMD system, watch for FSB and Multiplier adjustment settings in the BIOS, and some advanced memory timing settings help a lot too. If its Intel, I guess you just have FSB options since they are multiplier-locked (I have no Intel experience).
Read up everything you can in these forums, soak it up like a sponge. See what people are up to, what problems they are running into. Thats how I learned everything!

 

[INemtsev]

Yep an Epox nforce2 Ultra board and a 2500+ Barton should keep u good company

 

[MDE]

Just don't do anything that you aren't sure of. Better to look like a fool and ask a question than to look like a fool and blow up a CPU, motherboard, or your entire PC.