How to overclock an i3 540?

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ARottenBoxOfCrayons

Commendable
Jun 7, 2016
10
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Hello, I wanted some help trying to overclock this i3 540(LGA 1156) to at around 4 GHz, my cooling system isn't the best, (I am still using the Generic Intel Fan that came with the CPU) but I am waiting on a new fan to come in. I am kinda shooting for just under 4 GHz. I am the noobiest of all noobs when it comes to overclocking, this being my first time, so please explain as simple as you could! Thanks in advance!
(And I am aware of the other guides available, but as previously stated I am a REAL beginner at this, so if someone could "dumb" it down for me, I would MUCH appreciate it)
Pc Specs:
CPU:Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU 540 @ 3.07GHz STOCK COOLER
RAM: 8GB DDR3
HDD: Seagate 750 GB
Motherboard: ASUS P7H55-M
Power Supply: 650W
Running Windows 7 Ultimate (64 Bit)
 
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Motherboard: Asus P7P55D-E LX

Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
Intel Speed Step: Enabled
BCLK: 160
DRAM: 1600 MHz (your RAM may be different)
QPI: 3841 MHz - yours will be lower

CPU
Fixed Voltage: 1.26250
IMC Voltage: 1.16
CPU Spread Spectrum: Enabled

C State: C1

The system has been stable since I overclocked it.
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simon12

simon12

Splendid
May 18, 2010
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Not an easy one to answer I suggest you explain what about the guides you don't understand and go from there. Ignore guides that talk about changing the multiplier as you need to do it on the frequency with those chips. Note they are the best overclocking chips possibly ever.
 
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A

ARottenBoxOfCrayons

Commendable
Jun 7, 2016
10
0
1,510


The main issue I am having is, most of these guides refer to attempting to achieve frequencies that I desire, but I don't really know how far I want to push this thing, because as previously stated, I do not have the best cooling situation. I kind of want to hit 3.6 GHz but I am afraid to go further than that on accident and ruin the CPU. I am told that using small tweaks until I reach my desired frequency is the way to go, but I am not sure what would be considered as "small". I don't really have the money to by a replacement CPU if this goes wrong.



I have skimmed and scammed, but haven't actually read it all. I only really did it because I was messing with the LED/Speaker wires and didn't remember what order they were in.
 
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GhislainG

Titan
Jul 16, 2008
23,962
5
74,965
3.6 GHz shouldn't be an issue with your i3-540; my i3-550 has been running stable at 3.83 GHz with the stock cooler and it stays cool enough. A replacement i3-540 should be rather inexpensive; unless you apply too much voltage, it will throttle if it gets too hot.
 
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A

ARottenBoxOfCrayons

Commendable
Jun 7, 2016
10
0
1,510


What settings did you have to change, and which of those would be applicable to my situation?
 
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simon12

simon12

Splendid
May 18, 2010
5,784
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26,460
On my totally different motherboard (AMD) its called "CPU frequency (Mhz)" so look for something similar. Foer the minor over clock you want changing this setting only will likely be fine but make sure you stress test it with prime 95 or intel burn test while keeping an eye on temps.
 
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G

GhislainG

Titan
Jul 16, 2008
23,962
5
74,965
Motherboard: Asus P7P55D-E LX

Ai Overclock Tuner: Manual
Intel Speed Step: Enabled
BCLK: 160
DRAM: 1600 MHz (your RAM may be different)
QPI: 3841 MHz - yours will be lower

CPU
Fixed Voltage: 1.26250
IMC Voltage: 1.16
CPU Spread Spectrum: Enabled

C State: C1

The system has been stable since I overclocked it.
 
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