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Is it worth overclocking for game performance?

Last response: in CPUs
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June 5, 2013 6:08:20 AM

Hi,

I have a pretty ancient PC:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ at 2.3ghz
2gb (2x1gb) PC2-6400 (400mhz) each stick
HD Radeon 4850 512mb
Asrock N68C-GS FX motherboard
430W corsair builder series PSU

I use this PC for casual browsing and playing dota2/csgo. Right now my FPS in dota2 is stable at 40fps, and for CSGO it's at 60-80FPS. If I put at high resolution, or low resolution or change from high settings to low settings the FPS is always the same, so I'm assuming the CPU is bottlenecking the graphics card. Right now, I don't have money to upgrade the CPU so I'm wondering if overclocking the CPU will boost performance in Dota 2 at all?

Here is the overclocking tool from my motherboard app:
http://gyazo.com/b32e0556dc2d4e0190a7deee8ee6318c

I experience blue screens if I put the frequency to above 220, if I put it below 220 I will experience blue screens when underload. So right now I have left it as it is.

What can I do to overclock it, and will it at all boost performance or is it not worth it? I would rather not blow the CPU as I need the computer for work also.

Thank you

More about : worth overclocking game performance

June 5, 2013 6:17:50 AM

I wouldn't overclock. The 4850 produces so much heat you'd have a hard time keeping your CPU at decent temps.
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June 5, 2013 6:18:12 AM

Of course it would, but minimally, and you'll need upgraded cooling most likely. Don't use overclocking tools, use the bios.

In all honesty, you need an upgrade. You could get a H77, Pentium G2020, and 8GB of DDR3 for about $150 and it would run circles around that thing while using a lot less power. Even so, you'll still be limited by the graphics card at that point.

I'll be selling my HD 5850 for cheap in a couple months, PM me if your interested. It has a transferable lifetime warranty.
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June 5, 2013 6:20:54 AM

There are guides online for overclocking those old dual-cores - you probably need to up the voltage, but you're getting playable performance out of that PC, so I say no, it's not worth it. You're right about being CPU-bound - almost all online games are, especially MOBAs and RTSs. Be happy with playability for now, and consider upgrading to an LGA 1150 platform and a DX11 video card within the next year or two.
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June 5, 2013 6:23:03 AM

Hm thank you

yes 40fps is playable in dota 2 and I'm happy with that
and csgo is verymuch playable also and they are the only 2 games I play

I guess I'll wait and upgrade to a intel based system in the future.
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June 5, 2013 6:31:55 AM

dont use a program to overclock use the bios if possible, and what your raising is the fsb which wount boost you a whole lot and causes stability problems, you really want to raise the multiplier if possible and raise the voltage a hair
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June 6, 2013 6:45:28 AM

I'll sell you a XFX HD5850 w/lifetime warranty for $60 if your interested. We can use PayPal.
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!