overclocking i5 2500k on a gx 650w safe?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510
Hello,

So, I've had my i5 2500k rig for a while now (aprox. 3 years) and I want to overclock it because of bottlenecking. I have a cooler master gx 650w in my computer, and it has worked great for 3 years now, even though reviews says it's a horrible psu (http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/11/22/cooler_master_gx_650w_power_supply_review/9#.VdxwUPbtlbY), I never had any problems with it. So, now that I'm going to overclock my 2500k (I'm aiming for 4.5 ghz), should I keep on using this psu or should I replace it? Here are my full specs:

i5-2500k
msi gtx 970 4gb
8gb ram
crucial m4 128gb ssd
500 gb western digital hdd
2 tb seagate hdd
cooler master gx 650w
gigabyte z68x-ud3h-b3

If I should upgrade, to what should I upgrade then?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
migronesien

migronesien

Honorable
Jun 3, 2015
1,270
3
11,965
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Upgrade it when you feel like you want to upgrade it.
Choose any of the Tier 1 or Tier 2 PSUs. You can't go wrong with these. Just go for any PSU manufacturer you prefer or is cheaper.
Your system would need atleast a 500w PSU id say. If you want to be futureproof (maybe adding a second GTX970 next year or something like this) go for 700-850w. Probably just a couple bucks more.


Besides from that you're totally fine to OC your CPU now on your current PSU. OCing doesnt increase the needed watt amount that much and even if it would you still have plenty of space to go.

Have fun OCing. :)


Edit: An i5-2500k @stock clocks isnt bottlenecking a 970.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510


Well, yes it is in certain games. Playing bf4, on ultra settings my gpu usage is 60 to 70%, which isn't all that bad but not ideal, and it indicates that it is a bottleneck. Same thing with gta 5, the witcher and such, only that in those titles it bottlenecks a little less then in bf4. I'm assuming I'm gonna see the same effect on mgs 5 next week, so yeah.

As for the psu, so it's totally safe to overclock with that psu, even though that review doesn't really reccommend the psu?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
migronesien

migronesien

Honorable
Jun 3, 2015
1,270
3
11,965
Well you said that it worked totally fine for 3 years. A few more watt wont break it.
But make sure to get the new PSU if you can. If you got the money for a new one right now i would order it right away but still OC today.
Two or three days with a few watt more on a PSU which already worked fine for 3 years wont kill it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510


I see. Alright, well, I'm a student and don't have a lot of money, but my next payday is the 15th of september. Should I wait untill then with overclocking or am I safe overclocking now and buying a new psu then, in like 3 weeks?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
migronesien

migronesien

Honorable
Jun 3, 2015
1,270
3
11,965


I personally would just do it now (if i feel like OCing :D) But thats just me.
If you want to be 100% on the safe side just wait 3 weeks and get it then and then you're totally safe to do as much OC as you want. If the bottleneck isnt too bad i would probably wait. I mean it's just 3 weeks. :p
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510


Well, ok, I'll try it today. Any good guides? Never overclocked a cpu before, I'm not a noob with computers though.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
migronesien

migronesien

Honorable
Jun 3, 2015
1,270
3
11,965
Pretty easy since it's a "K" CPU. Just enter your Bios and in the CPU settings there will be a multiplier. Should be set at 34 for 34x100Mhz in your case. (stock clockrate). Just change the 34 to whatever you want. I would recommend aiming for 40 at first. So 3,4Ghz -> 4,0Ghz.
If your PC crashes under load enter your Bios again while restarting and increase the voltage a tiny little bit. Do it slowly until your PC runs stable on the new clock rate.

And also very important: never OC with the standard CPU cooler. If you dont have one: a very good budget one is the Cooler Master Evo 212. :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510


Yes, well, a few days ago I ordered an evo 212 for this, so I already have that :p
Now, how important is it that I have the latest version of my bios? I'm not quite sure which version I have, and neither do I know how to check this, really.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510
Upvote 0 Downvote
migronesien

migronesien

Honorable
Jun 3, 2015
1,270
3
11,965


Thats the exact same way i did it too. So you're fine to go for it. :)

" *Less than 5% of CPUs according to a published test by Asus will need more than 1.35V or refuse 4.5Ghz altogether. 80% need LESS than 1.35. "

I can confirm this. Im running 4,2Ghz @ 1,3V and was able to hit 4,5 with 1,35. Didnt try to go lower and went back to 4,2 anyway because i dont needed that much at the moment. Maybe going to 4,5 in the next couple days/weeks if i feel like doing it.

Have fun OCing! :)

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510


Thanks! Well, metal gear solid 5 does look like it is very cpu heavy according to the reccomended requirements (Core i7-4790 4-Core 3.6GHz), so therefore the 4.5 ghz. I'll try and see if it can reach that, but if it doesn't would 4.2 or 4.3 ghz be enough?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

magusviper

Reputable
Dec 21, 2014
19
0
4,510


Aight, again, thanks a lot :) I'm probably gonna do this in saturday or sunday, so I'll send you a private message then how it went :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom