Can only OC CPU to a Certain Point...

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JESSE1408

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While using my computer is fun and all, I noticed that while playing Battlefield 4 that it lagged a lot due to the processor (and probably RAM too, since I'm only using 2GB), so I OC'D the processor (Core2 Quad Q9650) from 3.Ghz to 3.61Ghz.. Battlefield 4 plays much better now as does everything else.

However, I find anything over the 3.61Ghz mark and the motherboard will fail to detect any of my SATA connected devices (namely my hard drives and DVD drive) but the machine DOES boot... Any ideas or suggestions on how to fix or get past this?

Hardware
MB ASUS P5KPL-AM
GPU GTX 1070 8GB
CPU Intel Core2 Quad Q9650 @ 3.0Ghz (OC'D to 3.61Ghz) (as mentioned)
Cooler Cooler Master Hyper EVO 212
RAM 2GB DDR2
 
Solution
USAFRet


That might only help if the system is actually being throttled due to temperature.
As in 90C+ for an Intel CPU.

If it is currently running at .....70C for instance...a liquid cooler bringing that to 60-65C does absolutely nothing for greater performance.
Because the temperature was not the problem.
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shrapnel_indie

shrapnel_indie

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Jan 21, 2010
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How to get a better overclock:

1) Replace the 212 EVO with a much better cooler... even then no guaranties as you may have hit the limit of that CPU.
2) Upgrade to a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM that has a higher rated speed... you're only limited to what the new CPU can then reach... 4.5Ghz? Higher? lower? Depends on which CPU and the silicone lottery. (The same lottery that has let you hit 3.6 Ghz on a cheap, and even then not the best in its class currently, HSF cooler.)

The Core2 Quad is getting a little long in the tooth and your current RAM is too little. If you want more speed... see #2 above. DDR2 is getting pretty hard to find too. If you can find it, you can get a system speed-up with adding more RAM to your current setup, but not nearly as much as upgrading CPU, MoBo, and RAM.

8GB of RAM for your GPU isn't necessarily too much. (it depends on the game, whether the game can take advantage of more than 4GB of video RAM, what video resolution you play at, etc.) Yeah, today 4GB handles the vast majority of games at high to ultra graphics levels, Tomorrow may be another story. Some games won't even let you go above high settings without having more than 4GB of graphics memory.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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The max overclock is that point where everything works with that specific collection of parts.
You seem to have found your max.


How to get more performance from your system?
More RAM, much better CPU (which requires a new motherboard and different RAM).
Basically, most of a new system.
 
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J

JESSE1408

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I see and can understand that everyone suggests I get new hardware... Well my answer to that is I actually do have a newer system (that I'm getting) however this current build is still worth having because it can still do things like play games.

Granted when I get my new motherboard, I'll most definitely be putting the 1070 in it, but for the one I currently bestow I'd probably get a GTX 1050 Ti or something similar and keep the overclocked CPU where it is, and add another stick of RAM to get it to 4GB.

Another route might be - pertaining to a secondary rig - to buy a motherboard for my i5-3570 and stick my DDR3 RAM into it (also 4GB).

My future rig (What's with "RIG"? Haha, sounds funny to me) will consist of (at first and will add on later)
MB MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition
VIDEO CARD GTX 1070 8GB (Who would've ever guessed that...!?)
PROCESSOR i5-4690K (Probably overclock the son of a gun)
COOLER (cough)... Cooler Master Hyper EVO 212 (I know, I know... I need a water cooler to stay cool ...tehe)
RAM 8GB DDR3 (Potentially 12GB providing an experiment works)
 
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shrapnel_indie

shrapnel_indie

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All things considered, with that Haswell based motherboard and CPU end-of-lined, you're better off with Skylake or Kaby-Lake right now on the Intel side of things. (Ryzen on the AMD side)

I wouldn't go as far as saying you need a water cooler, but I will say for the same price range as that 212 EVO there are better alternatives. (i.e. DeepCool Gammaxx 400, Cryorig H7) I'd also strongly recommend that any new gaming rig have 8 or 16GB of RAM, especially with modern AAA titles, like you mention in your list.
 
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J

JESSE1408

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Although it would be nice to have 6th or 7th gen, I cannot afford the pricing of it. Maybe later in life, but not right now.

The Haswell is just at the 'end of its life' because Intel and AMD are pushing their new tech onto the gaming community as a business ploy; that does not mean that Haswell or even anything before it automatically turns to dust.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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That might only help if the system is actually being throttled due to temperature.
As in 90C+ for an Intel CPU.

If it is currently running at .....70C for instance...a liquid cooler bringing that to 60-65C does absolutely nothing for greater performance.
Because the temperature was not the problem.
 
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Solution
R

razamatraz

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The Q9650 can generally get above 4.0 but not all of them could even when new. That's a 9+ year old chip so getting more than 3.6 out of now might be impossible, more likely due to the board (which tend to degrade faster than the CPU) than due to the CPU itself. Looking at reviews of that board it had overclocking trouble at launch (bad voltage regulation and let's face it a budget board) so expecting something impressive now might be asking too much. You say it loses SATA controllers when overclocked? Are you trying to bump the voltage way up or letting the PCI-X bus clocks come up with your overclock? The latter could mess with the controllers, voltage shouldn't but if it's rippling it might cause a non-detect.

RAM is your best bet for an improvement. 2 GB of RAM really is too little even for BF4 and adding 2 more would help a lot, especially if you are currently running 1 stick and not getting the dual channel advantage. If you can find 8 I'd say go with 8. A QXXXX is getting pretty long in the tooth but I got a Q6600 to run Ghost Recon Wildlands just fine once I put 8GB in it so they are not dead yet. That said, that Q6600 used to hit 3.8 all day and now breaking 3.0 is tough for it.
 
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J

JESSE1408

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I could put another stick of ram in it for 4GB (supports up to 4GB) but the ram slot doesn't matter (even though it has worked for 5+ years, it suddenly doesn't).

As for voltages, I don't touch that - computer does (okay.. to be fair I tried a few but nothing worked).
 
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