Is overclocking important?

[MrGreedy]

I accidently bought a i7 2600 without a "K", which means I'll be unable to make any major overclocking. How important is overclocking for demanding/upcoming demanding games if you want to max them out? Does overclocking by itself increase FPS or is overclocking all about the CPU working together with a relatively more demanding GPU? I have the GPU GTX 560Ti

 

[KNO3]

I would return it. CPU alone will boost frame rates.

 

[stickg1]

Overclocking is not important for high end CPUs like the one you have. FPS in games will be mostly determined by the level of graphics card you use anyway. Overclocking for your processor will not be needed for 2 years or so when newer CPUs come out that are much faster and you decide to overclock yours to keep up. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[KNO3]

Overclocking is not important for high end CPUs like the one you have. FPS in games will be mostly determined by the level of graphics card you use anyway. Overclocking for your processor will not be needed for 2 years or so when newer CPUs come out that are much faster and you decide to overclock yours to keep up. I wouldn't worry about it.

...so you're saying you would keep the locked processor? I'm skeptical.

 

[A Bad Day]

A locked i7? I'd return the i7, get a cheaper i5 K with very similar performance in gaming and use the leftover money on an aftermarket heatsink.

The i7's hyperthreading is mostly useless in current games, and the extra cache has little effect unless if you get close to 6 GHz range.

 

[stickg1]

He didn't ask if he should return it, he asked if it was important. He would be better off with an i5 2500k but he asked about overclocking so I answered his question.

 

[KNO3]

He didn't ask if he should return it, he asked if it was important. He would be better off with an i5 2500k but he asked about overclocking so I answered his question.

Valid point. I wasn't disputing the validity of your answer, I was just skeptical that you would keep the processor lol

 

[legendkiller]

It's important to OC your CPU and GPU and any possible part but dont OC too far, just OC it where it is completely stable and recommended by other tester/OCer... OC is very important to those who want superior performance especially if your doing video encoding or 3d graphic design or stuff that uses hardware.. If your just a plain gamer than OCing the video card is fine and leave CPU alone which should last at least 5 years before it slows down(where newer games comes out) to the point you would want to OC...

 

[Onus]

I agree with stickg1. Overclocking adds performance. If that performance is not [yet] needed, it doesn't matter.

 

[MrGreedy]

The i7 2600 was transported in my newly shop-built computer. I am still allowed to send it back and have it changed to i7 2600k. However, the upgrade and extra transport cost will cost me an additional $100. Would it be worth it so I can overclock?

To be noted: My sole purpose of this computer is gaming. Do you agree with LegendKiller that overclocking a good CPU isn't quite needed for gaming?

 

[stickg1]

The i7 2600 was transported in my newly shop-built computer. I am still allowed to send it back and have it changed to i7 2600k. However, the upgrade and extra transport cost will cost me an additional $100. Would it be worth it so I can overclock?

To be noted: My sole purpose of this computer is gaming. Do you agree with LegendKiller that overclocking a good CPU isn't quite needed for gaming?

Yes you are fine, don't spend $100 just to get an unlocked multiplier. That CPU will do fine for gaming and so will your GTX 560ti, if you want even more performance get a 2nd 560ti or an even better GPU but you don't need it.

 

[Guest]

your fine with a i7-2600; there is some *minor* overclocking you can do with the turbo boost settings.

but if your going to spend any more money for "upgrading" anything it would be better spent on the GPU side to increase your gaming performance.

 

[MrGreedy]

Wouldn't you say spending the extra $100 to unluck it is a good investment for the future?

 

[legendkiller]

Wouldn't you say spending the extra $100 to unluck it is a good investment for the future?

For me, I think it's not even worth the extra $100 for an unlock processor... All he does is games so why should it matter? After 5 years, the processor would start to seem slow in games because games is ganna get more intense later in future which should support multi core/threads...

 

[noob2222]

I wouldn't. truthfully for gaming, you really need sli 580s or higher to see much benefit for overclocking.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/intel_core_i7_3960/12.htm

Even with a 6970, at low resolutions, there is 2 fps gained by overclocking at 1680 x 1050, and at 1900X1080 ... 4 fps gained. That being a $100 value is up to you, but the difference will be even smaller with a 560ti.