Wanna overclock my system. Where do I start?

[MigAce312]

This is my system:
Asus A7M266
AMD T-Bird 1Ghz @266FSB
Vantec cooler (has a very loud, black label Delta fan)
PC2100 512MB DDR
Xstasy Geforce 4 Ti4600
80GB WD Special Edition (8MB cache) 7200RPM
35GB IBM 75GXP 7200RPM
Pioneer 16x DVD
Plextor 16/10/40A CD-RW

I think my cpu right now runs at 39 C when idle. I've had my system for about a year and I want to make it faster. I tried OCing already and when the cpu is running at 1.05 Ghz, it doesn't boot up anymore (could it be my PS?..its 350W I believe.) The only way I've tried OCing is by the jumperfree setting, from the BIOS in other words. What should I do? Please post up your system and the settings if you were able to overclock and keep it stable.

 

[VeggieMan]

Whats your +5v voltage rail running at? It should be at least 4.9 or so..

 

[sash1]

I doubt there is a problem with your PSU. I have a 300W, and it works fine. I mean, unless you have a generic POS power supply, you should be fine there. It is more probable that there is a problem with your voltages, so go check them.

 

[VeggieMan]

If your not sure or dont have a way of finding out, download MBM5 here.. and it will tell you.. (and other voltages and your fan RPMs..) Motherboard Monitor 5

 

[chizow]

MigAce,

Even though you do a nice job of listing out your components, its not real easy to tell whats holding you back. There's a lot of important details that would make troubleshooting a whole lot easier.

First thing I would do is run a search on your mobo in the mobo forum. Then, I'd open your computer up (if you don't know these things off-hand), and write down the following:

1. Mobo chipset, revision, and BIOS version
2. CPU stepping and date. (its on the core and would require you to take off your HSF, don't do this if you don't have AS2/3 or thermal paste sitting around!!!)
3. Your system and cpu temps from either Motherboard Monitor or some other windows program and temps from the BIOS
4. RAM details. Chip manu name (on the chip) as well as the PCB maker (usually the name you purchased it under). Speed ratings are helpful as well.
5. PSU maker and voltage readings from MBM or from BIOS.
6. Remaining components (USB cards, Sound, Ethernet, etc. as some add-in cards have been known to hinder OC'ing).

After finding this info out, others here will be able to identify similar components in their machines, and be able to give you ballpark estimates of what you might expect. Also, you can run more searches on your own to get an idea of what you should expect out of your components.

Welcome to the addicting hobby of overclocking.....it sure is fun

Chiz

 

[sash1]

"Welcome to the addicting hobby of overclocking.....it sure is fun"

very fun.... unless you break everything. While overclocking my Celeron 550 to 1.0+, I spent over $150 repurchasing parts.

And then while overclocking my Tbird 1Ghz, I managed to burn it, destroy the fan and the connection, thus requiring me to spend a bit over $100 to repair that.

Now I'm with my duron, which will hopefully last more than a few months without requiring me spending more money.

But you'd think I'd learn my lesson from all this money wasted.... hell know, on my SiS735, I practically destroyed my peripherals because my bus was so fast, causing my hard drive and ethernet card to die, costing me $90 to purchase new components.

The only thing I haven't destroyed is my Kyro II, which I have replaced the fan on and put on RAM sinks, thusly achieving a 215/215 clock speed making it around 15% faster.

But don't be afraid of overclocking because of my mistakes, it is definitely the best part of building computers!

 

[chizow]

LoL Aunix! Sup bro, yah I remember when you fried 3 processors in the span of 2 weeks or something like that

But you at least got 1 RMA'd right???

Anyway, glad to see you stuck with the game after that terrible few weeks

Chiz