Overclocking AMD Phenom II x2 550/555 and MSI HD 5770 Hawk...

[MagnetsNextToMotherboard]

So soon I will be getting a new motherboard in the mail, along with a graphics card, CPU heatsink and a few fans. I was wondering if you guys could help me figure out how far I should overclock my CPU so there's no bottleneck between CPU and GPU, but as far overclocked as I can go, I'll start by telling you what I'm working with. My CPU is a Phenom II x2 550/555, I cant remember exactly which one it is but there is no major difference but for the sake of this article we will say it is a 555 just because the 555 probably gets hotter then the other. (My computer is not in operating condition to see what CPU it is, and the CPU itself is covered in thermal paste that I will remove once I get my supplies in the mail, but yes I do know it was a Phenom II x2 I bought it last year so I remember enough about it.) My power supply is large enough to overclock its a 550w Antec True Power.. I'm going to use Biostar Diamond thermal paste.

The motherboard I'm using is this MSI 870U-G55 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130310)

I am going to be using a Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU Cooler/Heatsink (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065)

I am going to add two Xigmatek 120mm fans one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233048) will go on the Hyper 212 and the other on the side panel of my Antec 300 Illusion case. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066)

I will also add this video card but there really isn't much to say about it, MSI Twin Frozr HD 5770. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=MSI_R5770-_-14-127-490-_-Product).

I have modified my case for better airflow via cable management holes and ventilation holes as you can see in these pictures on my photobucket album I have managed to make holes with limited tools, so I am aware those are very ugly holes but they're functional. In the front you will notice from looking at the stock pictures of my case on newegg that those two bottom drive covers have been modified for ventilation at the cost of losing them for later use if I want to use them but I don't really need the extra bays. The ventilation holes in the front will help provide my CPU with a little bit of extra air, by letting my CPU cooler pull air in from the front. You will also notice my horribly ugly paint job.

http://s1084.photobucket.com/albums/j402/RomanClovenPhotos/?previewTheme=203&track=interstitial&previewCancelUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fs1084.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj402%2FRomanClovenPhotos%2F

So basically all I want to know is how high I should overclock my CPU and GPU and do you think I could get to 4.0ghz with my CPU? What should I set my GPU clocks to? I think I have all of the hardware aspects covered, maybe I don't I would like any good tips really. (Maybe 4.0Ghz really high goal but I'm not experienced with overclocking yet, and I am using a dual core.)

 

[henydiah]

for twin forsa 5770 balance with min 3core oc to 4ghz. I don't know maximum your cpu can get max clock speed. But you can try .. Unlock core your cpu to quad core (unlock core make cpu hot, becarefull always control temp below 60c ) if succes test it wit prime95. If not succes oc step by step till get max clock speed but still dual core.

 

[MagnetsNextToMotherboard]

I'm definitely going to try to unlock it, I tried it with the same CPU on another motherboard and it said it had four cores but when I looked at the threads there were only 2 cores... So hopefully the two extra cores aren't just completely dead... I'm trying both unlocking to 3 cores and 4 cores... But I'm buying an MSI board so I will be able to overclock easily if not, and the games I'm playing wont need much power, Minecraft,CoD Black Ops, WoW, Homefront when it comes out... I have a 20" monitor as well so hopefully at least WoW will run at 1920 x 1080 resolution.