OC My Potato!

Terrapin2190

Prominent
May 7, 2017
15
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520
Hello readers of the Tom!

I'm looking to unlock the full (potato) potential of my desktop PC. I'd like to overclock my RAM and CPU if it will provide any marginal boost as far as moderate gaming is concerned, and if it's possible with my mobo's BIOS. Anything else I could do to increase performance that anyone could recommend would be helpful as well. That said, I would be open to graphics card suggestions as well with my current setup.

I've read that OC'ing my current GPU is rather useless, so I'll skip that. I'd like to update my BIOS as well, as there have been several updates to the version running on my mobo, but I can't figure out a safe way (that includes backing up the current version via flash drive) to do it. From what I remember, it asks for a CD, but the method it uses might be locked to IDE input and I can't get it to recognize a flash drive at the BIOS flash screen. I may start a separate thread for that.

Back to OC'ing - I think I can work out RAM timings and voltage on my own, but I read somewhere that oc'in memory has the potential to negatively impact the longevity of a GPU. I'd like to know if this is true before deciding to fiddle with oc'ing my RAM.

My specs are as follows:
Foxconn M61PMV (Mobo)
BIOS v.P05
-Nvidia GeForce 6100 (or 6150?) NForce 400-430 (Onboard GPU [DISABLED]-
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core 2.7Ghz (Brisbane AM2 CPU)
2*2GB Kingston DDR2 PC2-6400 800Mhz (RAM)
+CPU-Z states they are running at 400Mhz per slot. Also, they are not matching serial numbers. I +read that could be important for oc'ing?
Nvidia GeForce 9400GT DDR2 128-bit DX10 1GB (Dedicated PCIe x16 GPU)
Windows 7 64-bit

My mobo's BIOS has some useful settings. I've found pages with settings for RAM, CPU, and GPU. Rather limited on settings for CPU and GPU though. I'll take note of any settings and post further details of my specs and settings if needed.
I have CPU-Z, PCI-Z, GPU-Z, and HWiNFO readily available.


PS: My computer has had a sleep issue since I received it as a gift last year. I finally fixed it VIA BIOS USB wake settings last night! Problem is, that I can't wake it with keyboard (or mouse) input with the setting marked as disabled. But it sleeps! Yay!
 
Solution
Nobody will be able to advise you here and it’s in your interest. What you have is museum stuff there and trying to change stuff there can result in you having no PC at all, which is simply not worth it because you won’t get any sort of noticeable benefit there at all.

Motherboard is little known, PSU probably just like that. Trying to push clocks with that setup and without any info can result in you blowing up your PC for good.

Best advice is to leave it as is, because otherwise you risk too much for nothing.
Pointless. Build new.
You'll probably just gonna kill it anyway.

 

Terrapin2190

Prominent
May 7, 2017
15
0
520


I do not see the option available to build or buy a new computer in the near future, which is why I'm posting this.

Furthermore, a recommendation for a decent graphics card my current build can utilize (even if not to it's full potential) may be a 'futureproof' option for whenever I can build new.

Is it correct for my BIOS to be reporting Memory Clock Value Limit as DDR400 when I have 800Mhz RAM installed?
 

urbancamper

Distinguished


Save your money this guy is 100% correrct.

 

Terrapin2190

Prominent
May 7, 2017
15
0
520


Yeah, I can't deny that. I would like to know though, how much of an increase in performance I may be able to squeeze out of my current setup with my CPU and RAM. I'm not looking to play GTA5 with this PC by any means, but I have a few lower spec games I enjoy that run, but still lag a bit and I'd like to know if I have all my BIOS settings dialed in correctly so I can enjoy the performance that is possible with this PC.

I have all diagnostic software ready at my disposal along with all BIOS settings written down for reference. I've been digging in to RAM and CPU overclocking tutorials and guides, but a lot of it is very confusing to me and my brain just can't seem to commit most info to memory.

If only I could overclock my own internal memory. :)
 

Gaidax

Distinguished
Nobody will be able to advise you here and it’s in your interest. What you have is museum stuff there and trying to change stuff there can result in you having no PC at all, which is simply not worth it because you won’t get any sort of noticeable benefit there at all.

Motherboard is little known, PSU probably just like that. Trying to push clocks with that setup and without any info can result in you blowing up your PC for good.

Best advice is to leave it as is, because otherwise you risk too much for nothing.
 
Solution