What best describes your overclocking habits?

[CurseTheSky]

Just curious.

 

[Zensal]

For me it's about the bang for my buck.

E5200 2.5 --> 3.76

CPU cost me $70 and gets performance > E8600.

 

[RussianSensation]

1. When I get a new processor, I up the clocks and the voltage to a comfortable (stable) level for a decent performance increase.

2. I buy a lower-priced processor and overclock it to meet the performance of a higher-priced counterpart.

Both of these sounds more or less the same to me?

I am just waiting for Corsair H50 revision 1 compatible with 1156, or TRUE 1156 or something similar before I start ocing this time though. The stock cooling on 1156 can barely keep the 860 under 80*C at load.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
1. When I get a new processor, I up the clocks and the voltage to a comfortable (stable) level for a decent performance increase.

2. I buy a lower-priced processor and overclock it to meet the performance of a higher-priced counterpart.

Both of these sounds more or less the same to me?

I am just waiting for Corsair H50 revision 1 compatible with 1156, or TRUE 1156 or something similar before I start ocing this time though. The stock cooling on 1156 can barely keep the 860 under 80*C at load.

Yeah, they do seem a bit ambiguous. My intent was that one means no matter what processor you get, you squeeze a little more performance out of it. The other means you purposely buy a very cheap processor and overclock it to catch up with the test of the crowd. I'll change the wording - sorry if it screws up anyone's vote.

 

[Yukmouth]

VVV

 

[n7]

I always overclock CPUs as far i as i can get them within reason or within my desired objective.

For the main PC, that means right now, as far as stably possible, which is around 3 GHz -> 4.1 GHz.

For my 24/7 downloader/secondary system, that's E1200 from 1.6 -> 3 GHz.

For the Lian LAN (HTPC/mobile LAN system), that means fail...things get too warm, so i just run a Q6700 2.66 @ 2.7 GHz w/ Speedstep enabled.

Then there's my rarely turned on backup/fileserver, it's an Opteron 165 @ stock 1.8 GHz but undervolted to 1.0v.

RAM i always test for maximum clocks/max clocks @ certain timings, & then work that around the CPU's OC.

GPUs i don't find as much fun for OCing, or as useful, but i do OC the main PC's card usually.

 

[drizek]

When I get a new CPU, I overclock for fun to see what the max it will do, then I find a stable overclock that gives good temps/power consumption as well as performance. I spend more time trying to undervolt it at idle though so that it remains silent unless I am doing something intensive.

 

[sandorski]

I have done it in the past, but don't bother anymore.

 

[Schmide]

A combination of 1 and 5, but I voted for 1. Meh

 

[VirtualLarry]

I voted for 5. That applies mostly to my E2140s (1.6Ghz default, overclocked to 3.2Ghz), and my soon-to-be-installed E5200s, 2.5Ghz default, hopefully 3.75Ghz overclocked, like my friend's machine that I install an E5200 into and overclocked.

I don't know if I would vote 5 for my Q6600s though, because I overclocked (one of them) to 3.6Ghz, and Intel doesn't even offer a 3.6Ghz quad-core 775 chip.

 

[ShawnD1]

I generally leave things at stock until I need to overclock. When the system is old enough that it needs overclocking to run things, I can just let the system run at ridiculous temperatures since it doesn't matter if it dies on me. When it does, I'll buy a new one that doesn't need to be overclocked.

 

[Zap]

I voted on the first one, but really several of those apply to me because I do go for suicide runs on occasion and I do buy lowest end CPU on occasion, etc.

 

[Shmee]

mostly number one applies to me. I buy a good proc, like my Q6600 or my i7 920 D0, and OC it so that its faster than the fastest proc at stock. Q6600 @ 3.6, will go farther if I can get a better cooler, my i7 is at the chip limit pretty much, 4.2, needs way to much voltage for 4.3 (Vcore > 1.45). Either way, they are probably faster than just about ANY stock chip. Though I turned HT off for the i7, I don't need it yet.

My Q6600 has more promise I think. The chips are supposedly fine up to 1.5 V, and I think I can get the chip stable with less than 1.4 for the 3.6 GHz. Right now I have a crude push pull on my dark knight, and with the current 1.425 Vcore, the chip gets too hot too quick with linx, so I will continue to tweak it. I may need another 6 Heat pipe cooler or even water if I want to maximize my Q6600. Its VID is only 1.25, so its a pretty great chip. G0 of course.

 

[pctwo]

I think I OC so I can justify building my own rather than just getting a Dell when they have one of their outrageous deals.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I guess I'd say something that is within reason of staying stable below excessive temps while staying within a safe vcore.

I liked the idea of joining the 4ghz club. I knew it would take better cooling given my situation which brought me to dabbling with h20 cooling and that paid off in the experience. I was able to do it but didn't really find too much improvement in my particular games. I then went searching for a max fsb overclock. Again, I think I liked using clean numbers e.g. 500fsb x 8multi which is totally an ill way of thinking about it, but none-the-less it lead the way of the adventure. I currently am running one machine totally stock for my daily machine. I see no need for a 4ghz email, forum, social network machine. Maybe for ripping stuff but that's what i'll use my AVCHD/NLE machine for which is in the state of transition. It's my 3.8Ghz Q9550 machine which I am having trouble jumping ship from. I bought a new platform for it. I was getting alot of side-jobs at work... we, in 2 weeks pulled in over 2k in side-work while on the job and are still pricing jobs out So, a new platform came in before I stabilized 3.8Ghz (475fsb x 8) with 8gb of ram on my Q9550 machine and I am in the midst of trouble leaving such a nice 775 quad rig (sig Rig 2)

 

[palladium]

Mostly 1, but a little of 5, I guess (I was seriously contemplating the i7 940 before deciding to spend the extra on video card and RAM instead). 920 was the cheapest i7 series, after all.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

"lowest priced processor in a series and overclock it to meet the performance of a higher-priced counterpart"

This.

 

[ExcaliburMM]

E2140 @ 3.2GHz here. I usually don't have a lot of money to throw into a system, and so budget performers are the lifeblood of all my builds. That's why you wont see me upgrading till Sandy Bridge.

 

[aigomorla]

W3580
W3570
i7 975
i7 965
i7 920
X5570

My i7 fiasco looking for my perfect chip... :X

 

[bobross419]

You left off the option for guys like me...

When I get a new chip, I attempt to overclock it, but I fail miserably or am not comfortable with the heat levels... so I just set it back to stock clocks and run it as is.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I used to be one of those "suicide runs" kinda guys in the socket A days

Had to give that up tho
I still overclock everything I buy that can be oc'd (don't buy things that can't be in most cases)

 

[Gillbot]

I crank it up as high as I can as soon as I open the box, then try for a few notches more!

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: bobross419
You left off the option for guys like me...

When I get a new chip, I attempt to overclock it, but I fail miserably or am not comfortable with the heat levels... so I just set it back to stock clocks and run it as is.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a little in the bobross 419 camp, but I can't say I have miserably failed at my Overclock.
Partly due to the fact I have a newer 45 NM chip that can take some overclocking without having to bump voltages.

The point being, I simply now opt to run a stock clock because I have no present need for speed.
But If I ever need the speed on a regular basis, I know how to change my bios, and know I can put in pretested numbers that will work. And if I need the speed on a temporary basis,
I can input pretested software overclocking numbers also.

As it is, I know, no matter what I do with my pretested overclocks, and whatever sustained load I put on the cpu, I will never exceed 60C. But if I ever decide to get serious about overclocking, the first investment will be in a better HSF.

 

[PCTC2]

When I get a new chip, I overclock it to the max stable and leave it there. Always the best cooling. If it is not overclocked, then it must be underclocked or at least undervolted. No exceptions. I think my sig is proof enough (except the i7 860... which is a server).

 

[kami]

I tend to buy those sweet spot chips that come out every couple years. Starting way back with the Celeron 300a (SL32A Malaysian core if i remember right) which overclocked effortlessly to 512mhz, up to the more recent D0 stepping i7 920 which goes from 2.66ghz to 4ghz with little to no effort.