Need help and advice with OCing my i5 2500K to 4.0GHz

[yayap7]

Hey there, I recently completed my first PC build and I am happy with it .
I am wondering about the 4.0GHz overclock. At the moment, I am not ocing, but I want to try it out a little. I think the 4.5 GHz is too much for me at the moment, the heaviest thing I have been doing is Borderlands and some stuff like that from steam. For the moment, I do not have any other GPU other than just using the Intel HD 3000 graphics that come with the i5 2500K; so ocing(with my Z68 motherboard) might help the graphics a little as well. I'm doing some programming and game engine (UDK) editing as well, but no video editing(I have my Mac for that).

Anyways, I'm wondering if anybody has some good BIOS setting suggestions for a slight bump up to 4.0GHz? I know I can use the Gigabyte Turbo 3.7GHz settings, but I heard that the software doesnt work well..

Specs::

Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 motherboard
Intel i5 2500K Sandy Bridge CPU
OCZ 500Watt 80Plus modular power supply
8GB(2 x 4GB) Crucial DDR3 1333 RAM
Hyper 212+ cooler
HAF 912 case
1 TB -Hitachi


Also, if anybody knows of a good <$100 better-than-Intel HD 3000-GPU, I would appreciate the suggestion!

 

[gobes]

The good thing about Sandy Bridge K processor's (2500k, 2600k) is that the core frequency is set to 100mhz this means that (if your OC is below 4.5ghz) all you need to do is increase the multiplier to achieve a higher base clock. The stock multipler is x33 because 100mhz X 33 = 3300mhz or 3.3ghz. So all you have to do is go into your BIOS and increase the multiplier to x40 to get a 4ghz OC. Simple as that =D. Also, your cpu will only be at that frequency when it is under stress. So it will stay at stock, then OC itself when you're playing a game like Borderlands. If you plan on going past 4.5ghz it begins to get a little more complicated and requires some pretty good cooling. This is a great guide if you are interested: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/265056-29-2600k-2500k-overclocking-guide

About the graphics card, Intel HD 3000 kinda sucks, for under $100 a Radeon HD 6670 would be a good buy.

 

[jsc]

Select you budget and look here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html