Hey all! First post here, though I have been an avid reader for years!
I have a Dell XPS 8000 (i5-750, 4gb ddr 1033), and recently went on an upgrade bonanza, I caught the bug and cannot stop. In retrospect, I should have just built my own pc, but nevertheless let me tell you my story, and I hope to get some advice on what to do next.
About 2 months ago, after constantly reading up on tech/games, etc..., why not try to speed up my computer. I was quite content at that point, but I have this problem, where I just can't stand not having the most use out of whatever device I have (car-now I have a souped up audio system/video, home-nice arcam components etc..), so I began with the prospect of overclocking my PC.
Ah, it's a Dell, after reading numerous posts, I thought that for sure there was just no way to overclock this comp. without a new motherboard or flashing a new bios.
I stumbled upon a link on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-n83xgh4pA
Gave it a try, and surely enough it worked.
I loaded up core temp and verified that my FSB was actually increased.
Then I started looking at the temperatures, even before overclocking, my temps would easily hit 74 on a light load, this is with a ati 4350 at the time. Well, if I want to overclock, I better my temps down...
Purchased a (arctic cooling freezer pro 7) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=arctic%20cooling%20freezer%207%20pro.
Temps def. dropped, now with a overclocked cpu i'm hitting under 65 load.
Well, if i overclocked my cpu, I figure I should just go ahead and upgrade my gpu to try and maximize what i have. The dell is a tight fit, with an anemic 350watt PSU with one 6 pin PCI-E cable, and only one PCI-E 16 slot I wanted an effecient graphics card, decided on sapphire 6850 (in retrospect should have gotten a gtx 260, you'll see why later...)
So after tinkering, why not maximize the 6850? Lets overclock it! At this point I realize that overclocking a cpu and gpu on a 350 psu probably not a good idea.
Let's upgrade.
Purchased a Corsair HX650W. Absolutely LOVE IT! Fits right in the stock case, modular design gives me flexibility as the dell mobo is a mini-atx design, with cramped internal space.
So let's overclock both cpu/gpu now, temps too high, ok lets go ahead an add a new fan (arctic F9pwm) to the cpu heatsink for push-pull effect. Temps at 69 on full load.
Kind of dissapointed in temps. I do an experiment, I noticed temps creep up when gpu is being pushed, using the sapphire trixx, I put my fan speed to 60%, and BOOM.No, my computer did not explode, but my temps dropped to 64 max!
Realizing I need more cooling, I change the 92mm case fan out with a arctic tri-cool 92mm fan, w/ fan control, set it to high speed, temps max hitting 60 now with the GPU on auto-fan (have not tried to keep gpu fan up yet with this set up, as it was completed about 1 hr ago
Ok, I feel good about system now, idel temps around 22C, load in low 60's. I still have the bug, what else can I do to improve the system.
Here is a profile of my system using various utilities: http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0231.jpg
Here is my system.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0225.jpg
1: Is replacing ram a worthwhile idea? I have fairly slow ram, yet somehow with my high FSB overclock it seems to run, I wonder if purchasing higher speed ram would increase chances of overclocking FSb more? (any FSB approaching 160 is not stable)
2. Is the ram safe to run at such a high speed?
3. Any utility in adding a new intake fan? Note how there are really only 2.5 areas of intake (one on the front bottom of the case, on the side panel). I open up an empty drive bay to expose more area for intake.
Look here: http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0227.jpg
and here: http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0228.jpg
4. SSD drive a worthy investment?
Any other thoughts?
Would happily answer any questions about my system,
thanks!!
I have a Dell XPS 8000 (i5-750, 4gb ddr 1033), and recently went on an upgrade bonanza, I caught the bug and cannot stop. In retrospect, I should have just built my own pc, but nevertheless let me tell you my story, and I hope to get some advice on what to do next.
About 2 months ago, after constantly reading up on tech/games, etc..., why not try to speed up my computer. I was quite content at that point, but I have this problem, where I just can't stand not having the most use out of whatever device I have (car-now I have a souped up audio system/video, home-nice arcam components etc..), so I began with the prospect of overclocking my PC.
Ah, it's a Dell, after reading numerous posts, I thought that for sure there was just no way to overclock this comp. without a new motherboard or flashing a new bios.
I stumbled upon a link on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-n83xgh4pA
Gave it a try, and surely enough it worked.
I loaded up core temp and verified that my FSB was actually increased.
Then I started looking at the temperatures, even before overclocking, my temps would easily hit 74 on a light load, this is with a ati 4350 at the time. Well, if I want to overclock, I better my temps down...
Purchased a (arctic cooling freezer pro 7) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=arctic%20cooling%20freezer%207%20pro.
Temps def. dropped, now with a overclocked cpu i'm hitting under 65 load.
Well, if i overclocked my cpu, I figure I should just go ahead and upgrade my gpu to try and maximize what i have. The dell is a tight fit, with an anemic 350watt PSU with one 6 pin PCI-E cable, and only one PCI-E 16 slot I wanted an effecient graphics card, decided on sapphire 6850 (in retrospect should have gotten a gtx 260, you'll see why later...)
So after tinkering, why not maximize the 6850? Lets overclock it! At this point I realize that overclocking a cpu and gpu on a 350 psu probably not a good idea.
Let's upgrade.
Purchased a Corsair HX650W. Absolutely LOVE IT! Fits right in the stock case, modular design gives me flexibility as the dell mobo is a mini-atx design, with cramped internal space.
So let's overclock both cpu/gpu now, temps too high, ok lets go ahead an add a new fan (arctic F9pwm) to the cpu heatsink for push-pull effect. Temps at 69 on full load.
Kind of dissapointed in temps. I do an experiment, I noticed temps creep up when gpu is being pushed, using the sapphire trixx, I put my fan speed to 60%, and BOOM.No, my computer did not explode, but my temps dropped to 64 max!
Realizing I need more cooling, I change the 92mm case fan out with a arctic tri-cool 92mm fan, w/ fan control, set it to high speed, temps max hitting 60 now with the GPU on auto-fan (have not tried to keep gpu fan up yet with this set up, as it was completed about 1 hr ago
Ok, I feel good about system now, idel temps around 22C, load in low 60's. I still have the bug, what else can I do to improve the system.
Here is a profile of my system using various utilities: http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0231.jpg
Here is my system.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0225.jpg
1: Is replacing ram a worthwhile idea? I have fairly slow ram, yet somehow with my high FSB overclock it seems to run, I wonder if purchasing higher speed ram would increase chances of overclocking FSb more? (any FSB approaching 160 is not stable)
2. Is the ram safe to run at such a high speed?
3. Any utility in adding a new intake fan? Note how there are really only 2.5 areas of intake (one on the front bottom of the case, on the side panel). I open up an empty drive bay to expose more area for intake.
Look here: http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0227.jpg
and here: http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/mrhdream/IMG_0228.jpg
4. SSD drive a worthy investment?
Any other thoughts?
Would happily answer any questions about my system,
thanks!!
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