New to overclocking - is this as simple as it looks?

[Mikey787878]

Hello,

So i'm new to this overclocking business. Have just built my first pc and want to add a little more zoom.

I have an i5 2500k with an asus p8p67 pro motherboard and 8gb corsair vegance ram.

Cooling is the thermalright mux120 in a fractal design r3 case.

I want to get some zooms but also be nice and stable and not need to worry about it. I will probably upgrade the computer in 4-5 years or so.

I suppose i'm wanting 4.2-4.5 ghz.

I tried the auto-tuning overclocking software and it popped it straight up to 4.3 but it was unstable and would sometimes not boot. Also because it changed the bclick the computer would post a few times and that annoyed me.

So I figured I an read up and do this myself. It turns out thats what everyone appears to recommend anyway.

So I have read many guides and think ~I am getting there with adjusting the cpu ratio up slowly till it fails and then slowly adjusting voltage up until it stops failing and is stable.

I may leave voltage alone in fact and just adjust the cpu mul

 

[slcmike]

So I have read many guides and think ~I am getting there with adjusting the cpu ratio up slowly till it fails and then slowly adjusting voltage up until it stops failing and is stable.

I may leave voltage alone in fact and just adjust the cpu mul

This is absolutely correct...either way.

You can opt to leave the voltage at stock and just blue screen then pull it back to the sweet spot. Otherwise keep doing what you are doing and you will end up with desirable results in no time.

Here are some tools that are useful:

CPUID: - cpu/hw monitoring program
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Prime95: - stress testing program
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/

Memtest: - RAM monitor/tester
http://www.memtest.org/

 

[Mikey787878]

But what about all the other random settings listed further down my post - I suppose essentially I am scared I will mess something up by not touching them...but also by touching them

 

[slcmike]

But what about all the other random settings listed further down my post - I suppose essentially I am scared I will mess something up by not touching them...but also by touching them

Do not use any auto tune prog!! You are on the right track by manually manipulating the bios. Do this....raise the multiplier until you blue screen (not stable) and dont touch the voltage. Pull the multiplier back now to just get it stable. You can get great results from this and wont have to sweat the scary stuff until you are comfortable raising the voltage. You can easily reach 4-4.2ghz like this but I suggest a aftermarket cooler for any thing higher. I think you could safely hit 4.5ghz on a HSF like this... COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 And you could hit 4.6 and higher with a cooler like this....Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

 

[jsc]

It is just about that simple. The Intel K's and AMD BE's are that easy to overclock. You can leave all the BIOS settings except the CPU multiplier and CPU voltage on AUTO.

I am uncomfortable running any Intel CPU past about 70 C. Intel's max recommended CPU voltage for the 32 nm CPU's is 1.52 volts, but you will bump into the thermal limits before you will reach the voltage limits using any kind of conventional cooler.

 

[Mikey787878]

Ah I forgot to say - I have a thermalright mux-120 aftermarket cooler.

Planning to have a go with the multiplier tonight - any estimations on what clock might be safe in terms of temp with a cooler like this?

 

[slcmike]

4.2 - 4.4 somewhere around there with that cooler. You'd be looking at idle temps around 25-28c and load temps around 50-55. If you choose to keep things cool dont touch the voltage just the multiplier.