I thought I'd run an unofficial poll of sorts. There are many software utilities that can be used for system monitoring and overclocking. Being new to the business, I'm not sure where to start. I've played a bit with NVidia's performance tools, I've looked at ATiTool, Rivatuner, and maybe one or two others. But I'd prefer to find one that works well and stick with it.
What, in your opinion, is the best OC software you've ever used, in terms of ease-of-use, features and functionality? Please list CPU and GPU software separately where applicable.
CPU:
Overclock in BIOS
Coretemp or Realtemp for Temp monitoring
Prime95 for stability testing
CPUz for information
RAM:
Overclock in BIOS
Memtest for stability testing
CPUz for information
GPU:
Rivatuner for basic overclocking
RBE for permanent ATI overclocking (through the cards BIOS)
ATI Tool, Crysis, 3dMark, etc. for stability testing
GPUz for temps and information
------------------------------If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
Reply to outlw6669
CPU:
Overclock in BIOS
SetFSB software overclocking for Notebooks if BIOS won't overclock
Hard Mod overclocking for Notebooks if SetFSB doesn't have the registered PLL
CPU-Z for information
Prime 95 for Stability Testing
RealTemp (for Intel CPU's)
CoreTemp (for AMD CPU's)
SpeedFan (for unlocked AMD CPU's)
GPU:
GPU-Z for information
FurMark for Stability and Benchmark testing
RivaTuner (latest graphics drivers won't work with it)
EVGA Precision (which will also work for MSI, but need to reboot for settings to take effect)
------------------------------Win 7 x64 | ASRock M3A780GXH/128M | Phenom II x720 BE 3.7GHz at 1.525V | 45C Idle - 61C Max | 4GB Crucial DDR3 1333 RAM at 1600 w/8-7-7-18 timings | GTS 250 512MB OC'd | $470 Total price of entire system.
Reply to El_Capitan
CPU & Memory:
OC in Bios
CPUz for info
CoreTemp for temps
Prime95 for stability
Memtest for ram stability
GPU:
CCC (I'm not aggressive enough to fool with the voltage)
HAWX menu screen for stability (I swear by it, as Furmark is too abusive to ATI cards for my tastes)
GPUz for monitoring temps
CPU:
CoreTemp to monitor temperatures
CPU-Z to monitor CPU freqs and so forth
Prime95 for stability testing.
GPU:
I do not OC GPU's. I rely on CPU-Z to monitor GPU temps.
I am starting to tinker with OCCT.
+1.
CoreTemp(AMD)/RealTemp(Intel) for CPU temps
CPUZ for CPU speed/voltage
GPUZ for GPU specs/temps
Prime95 Small FFT (6+hrs) and OCCT Linpack (6+hrs) are bothe quite accurate when it comes to system stability testing. I run both (6-7hrs each).
ATITool Scan Artifact for GPU stress testing along with OCCT GPU (Memtest). 3-4hrs each.
If all of them pass chances are it's a very stable system. These are my personal preferences. Some prefer to run P95 Small FFT for 24hrs to test stability and I think that's pointless.