To overclock, or not to overclock?

[darksidedragon]

Hi people,

I'm looking to build a new PC in the next couple of months, and am undecided as to whether I should overclock or not. I mainly use my computer for gaming, as well as the usual word processing and web browsing. Although I can probably stretch my budget to the overclocked machine, do you guys think it's value for money? It seems to me like it is, as the difference between the two builds below mainly comes from me not needing a new PSU if I don't overclock.

Overclock build specs:

NZXT Lexa Case - £83.91
Samsung SM204BW 20" widescreen monitor - £187.99
WD 120GB External HDD (for backup purposes) - £55.99
WD 150GB Raptor - £138.30
NEC 7173A DVD writer w/ labelflash - £19.77
Sony floppy drive - £4.08
Corsair TWIN2X2048-5400C4 2x1GB RAM - £82.24
DFI Infinity 975X/G mobo - £82.25
E6600 C2D processor - £184.47
EVGA 8800GTS 640MB KO graphics - £284.93
Corsair HX 620W PSU - £86.52
Zalman CNPS9700 cooler - £34.00
Zalman fan controller - £20.00
Logitech MXR mouse - £51.99
Saitek Eclipse keyboard - £22.84
-------------------------------------------
TOTAL - £1339.28


Standard build specs:

NZXT Lexa Case - £83.91
Samsung SM204BW 20" widescreen monitor - £187.99
WD 120GB External HDD (for backup purposes) - £55.99
WD 150GB Raptor - £138.30
NEC 7173A DVD writer w/ labelflash - £19.77
Sony floppy drive - £4.08
Crucial 2GB PC4200 C4 RAM - £79.99
Gigabyte GA-965GM mobo - £67.65
E6600 C2D processor - £184.47
EVGA 8800GTS 640MB KO graphics - £284.93
Zalman fan controller - £20.00
Logitech MXR mouse - £51.99
Saitek Eclipse keyboard - £22.84
Hiper Type-R 580W PSU (already owned) - £0.00
---------------------------------------------
TOTAL - £1201.91


Also, do people think the Corsair PSU will be enough for the overclocked system. Going by wattage on the extreme power calculator, it meets up, but I'm not sure about the amperage. It has three 12V rails, each with 18A. The total amperage is 50A.
Any comments on any of the stuff listed are welcome. This system was put together on ebuyer.com. I still need to check scan.co.uk in case it is cheaper.

 

[akhilles]

I can't tell you whether to o/c or not. You make up your mind.

The Corsair HX has 620w & 50a. The Hiper has 580w & 30a. The amperage is on the combined +12v rails. 400W 26A is the minimal for an 8800GTS PC. Yes, either one will be more than enough. I'd say even the Hiper can o/c. That wouldn't be my concern. It'd be the mobo & ram.

May I ask why you chose the DFI mobo & not one of the proven overclockers such as S3, DS3, P5B-E, etc.? Since you're getting a video card, may as well get a mobo w/o integrated video. You get more PCI slots & a larger & easier-to-work-with layout. Plus, you have the option to o/c.

I'm not a big fan of zalman hsf & corsair ram. I have 'em cuz my buddy sold 'em to me. If you ask me, I'd get Sycthe Ninja, Thermaltake Big Typhoon, or even Gigabyte Geminii + 2 120mm fans. As for ram, I'd get G.Skill or Buffalo. It'd be best if you get the 800mhz/6400 memory frequency cuz it gives you the option to overclock higher.

Lastly, wait for the price drops on the 22nd:

http://www.guru3d.com/newsitem.php?id=5086

 

[darksidedragon]

The reason I'm not getting better RAM is because I don't intend to overclock beyond 333 (which will work best with 667MHz RAM). The Hiper PSU is now a year old, so it'd be pretty tight for it with the overclocking due to capacitor aging. I've heard pretty good things about the G.Skill RAM, but I've only been able to get hold of it on overclockers.co.uk, and they're pretty expensive.

I chose the DFI as it was the cheapest mobo I could get from the list on the C2D overclocking guide in the forum. I would have gotten the DS3, but it's not listed on ebuyer any more.

Finally, I've heard good things about the Ninja Scythe. Will consider getting that - only reason I chose the Zalman was because I think it's quieter (am I right in thinking it's been used before on a THG article about overclocking?)

 

[GherkinPekul]

Your performance will be good if you don't OC your rig. Enjoy it.
I overclocked my rig because I couldn't afford a faster cpu at the time. I only overclocked it a modest amount because I also need it to last. It opens you to a world of frustration for a little more performance. It's up to you to decide if the hassle is worth it.

 

[andybird123]

stick with the hiper R 580W PSU, it'll be fine

get an e6300 and get DDR800 memory instead, then overclock as per the following link;

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=606&p=2

 

[rammedstein]

good choice, i like it all, seems pretty sturdy, there isnt any real need to change the psu..

 

[darksidedragon]

Cheers for the comments guys.

RE using an e6300 and 800MHz RAM:

I don't intend to massively overclock, as I don't want a really noisy system, so 800MHz RAM isn't necessary. Sticking to a 1:1 ratio between RAM and CPU, 667MHz RAM will be sufficient. I'm still not sure about the Hiper PSU though. When I ran the calculator, it came up with 602W (the Hiper is 580W), and when I asked in the Power Supply forum, I was told that the amperage wasn't quite enough.

RE: GherkinPekul
I've overclocked before without any problems, and I trust the C2D oc'ing guide on here. As you say though, it's still some hassle doing it, and I'm still unsure whether the extra hassle and extra cost are worth it.

What sort of performance gains do you guys reckon I'd get from oc'ing to 333 clock (i.e. 2.4GHz E6600 to about 3.2GHz E6600)?

 

[proof]

Overclock it. Get the Corsair 620W PSU. OCZ DDR2 667 is good.

 

[AdamBomb42]

Overclocking is well worth the money.

 

[darksidedragon]

Wow, that seems definitive. On the motherboard front, what are 650i boards like for overclocking? I'm asking as there is an Asus 650i around on ebuyer that's not too expensive.

 

[jeff_2087]

Pretty decent, not quite in the league of the P965 and 680i, but still pretty good.

 

[miribus]

That processor is easily sufficient for the "now" of gaming.
In a year or so, then decide it can buy some time before an upgrade.

 

[darksidedragon]

Cheers for that heads up, jeff. I've just looked through scan.co.uk and managed to get my total price down to £1320 by buying certain parts from scan and others from ebuyer (which means I can get the DS3 mobo). However, I'm at least going to wait until the price slash on the 22nd, maybe longer (a new PC just before my exams might be a bad idea!!)

 

[Eviltwin17]

overclocking = awesome

 

[darksidedragon]

lol

 

[darksidedragon]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm carrying over my current HDD's - 2x 200GB Maxtor SATA drives and 1x 300GB Maxtor IDE drive. With this stuff added in, do people still thinking my Hiper 580W PSU is enough?

 

[jeff_2087]

Yeah, hard drives use relatively little power, 3 drives shouldn't be a problem.

 

[darksidedragon]

Hmm, ok. I know that's the case for IDE, but I was under the impression SATA drives used more? (can't remember where I got that idea from though)

 

[miribus]

I think HDDs are like 7w a piece, peak.
The Power calculator doesn't take into effect the efficiency of the PSU itself or the layout of it's power rails. It's a decent guide but be sure you have 2 12v rails, 3 is even better at close to 18A.

I have a Vantec TP2.0 550w with 4 hdds, 2gb memory OC'd (bot not overvolted) Opty 170, DVDR and a X1950XTX.

I have enough power, but the x1950 tends to electrically squeal once and a while. I suspect the efficiency isn't up to snuff, though mathematically i have plenty of power overall.

 

[darksidedragon]

Cool. With the power calculator, it says 582W when I add in 25% capacitor aging (that's based on the fact that my Hiper PSU is a year old and I'd want it to at least last another year in my next build). The manual says minimum of 70% efficiency, and it has 20A on +12V1 and 18A on +12V2.

 

[darksidedragon]

Also, I was just looking at the article about the Intel price drops. The main reason I was getting an E6600 was because of the 4MB cache. However, with the new prices, I'm wondering whether to get an E6320 and overclock that? How much do you guys think I'd be able to overclock that without the system getting very loud? (bearing in mind it looks to have the same specs as the E6300 just with the added 2MB cache)

 

[Dahak]

The first system will oc better.As for the psu,make sure it has sufficient amps on the 12volt rail.Should have around 30amps to be safe.Goodluck.

Dahak

AMD X2-4400+@2.6 TOLEDO
EVGA NF4 SLI MB
2X EVGA 7950GT KO IN SLI
4X 512MB CRUCIAL BALLISTIX DDR500
WD300GIG HD/SAMSUNG 250GIG HD
ACER 22IN WIDESCREEN LCD 1600X1200
THERMALTAKE TOUGHPOWER 850WATT PSU
COOLERMASTER MINI R120
3DMARK05 13,471

 

[darksidedragon]

I know that the E6600 has a higher multiplier than the E6320, but looking at the OC'ing THG, I should be able to comfortably oc the E6320 to around 3GHz (obviously this would mean getting 800MHz RAM). Anyone know how noisy this would be though?

 

[akhilles]

The important combined amps on the +12v rails is what you should look at. & I already said the Hiper has 580w & 30a.

When you o/c, you have to max out the fan speeds or your o/c will be severely limited by heat.

 

[darksidedragon]

Ah, ok. I take it your E6300 running at 3.16GHz is quite noisy then?