Safest clock rate using just fans for my system?

[markgerazzi]

I really don't want to get my comp water cooled so I can save some cash. I was wondering how high I can get using just better fans? I would like to reach over 4.

My system:

MOBO: GA MA 790XT UD4P
CPU: Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition


Also, will my comp now be loud as hell?

thanks!

 

[lowjack989]

That CPU is more than likely not gonna be able to ever reach 4 GHz on air and it would be lucky if it could reach those clocks with a LCS on it....

 

[markgerazzi]

so then what am I looking at? I've heard ppl go to 3.7

 

[lowjack989]

I think you will be lucky to get 3.4 GHz out of it...IMHO

 

[buzznut]

I really don't want to get my comp water cooled so I can save some cash. I was wondering how high I can get using just better fans? I would like to reach over 4.

My system:

MOBO: GA MA 790XT UD4P
CPU: Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition


Also, will my comp now be loud as hell?

thanks!

How loud your computer will be depends on what fans you use and especially which heatsink you use for your CPU. I am currently running my X3 720BE at 3.6 Ghz with 1.4V on the core. I played around a little earlier this evening with 3.7 and 3.8 Ghz, but wasn't able to achieve stability. But I didn't work very hard at it, there are a number of things I could have tried but didn't have the time to.

I am using a Biostar TA 790GX, which is a comparable motherboard. I have a Spire Thermax Eclipse II CPU cooler, which is one of the best for AM3. I have a little Vdroop, running at 1.392V actually.

Really, a 800Mhz overclock for this little CPU is not bad at all. I think you could attain that with a decent air cooler. Here's a link to some good heatsinks:

www.frostytech.com

 

[buzznut]

BTW, my core is idling at 32C. It usually goes to 39 load.