My computer build

[mk-ultra]

So i just recently purchased computer. I built it installed windows and everything. So far its running great, i was just wondering if you guys could give it a quick comb over and tell me what you think.

CASE- HAF 922

MONITOR- 24" Asus

KEYBOARD- Razer Lycosa

MOUSE- Logitech G9x

Speakers- Logitech 540-X

HARDDRIVE- 500GB Samsung (the one that was always recomened)

DVD DRIVE- ASUS

MOTHERBOARD- MSI, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130235&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

CPU- AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz

HEATSINK- Spire Thermax Eclipse II

PSU- Corsair 500W, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

RAM- G.Skill Ripjaws 1333 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-


I have the CPU running at 3.0GHz as advertised (I turned off the "green power saving" feature, now it always runs at 3.0GHz). I would like to overclock it but am unsure as to how to do so. I am using CORE TEMP for tempreture readings, and the tempreture of my CPU is 13-15 Celsius constantly highest i'v ever seen it is 19 Celsius.


I have the ram running at 9-9-9-24 as appose to the advertised 8-8-8-24. I was wondering how to change that back, my bios has like 10 diffrent ram settings.

One more thing, what is the highest graphics card my system can take (other then Radeon HD 5570) with a power supply of 500W.

Many thanks,
Edvin

 

[jerreddredd]

First off, your PSU is a good solid 500W unit, with a 34A 12v rail. So it should be able to handle a GTX 560 Ti, or a HD 6950. some of the more overclocked cards might push it past its limits for power. as will some of the high end 400 series nVidia and 5000 Series ATI.

here is a chart of the power requirement of various GPU's stock and OC'd
http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264

Your PSU puts out a max of 408Watts on the 12v rail (12x34 (P=VxI)). as a rule you should only push the PSU at about 80 load= 326W. allowing 100W for other devices that us 12v also (fans, HD etc...) this leave you with 226W for a GPU. use this number when looking at that chart (your PSU should be able handle as high as 250w with out frying anything (10% fudge factor )

As the rest of you system goes, your CPU is that only thing that is questionable. The Propus cores don't have a L3 Cache, so this makes them slower than the Deneb core x4's, so your not getting all you can CPU wise, but it should be sufficient for most games.

on your ram... I'm not familiar with your MB, but you should be able to google how to change it the timings an what all of them mean.

If you need advice on the GPU, just let us know what your budget is and we can help. if $ isn't an issue go with a 560 Ti for gaming. if you are a little more constrained a GTX 460 or a HD 6850 would be a good choice.

 

[Dyers Eve]

The way you overclock is by first going into the BIOS when your computer first starts up and go into CPU settings or something (each motherboard has a different BIOS). I think the 640 is a locked multiplier chip but don't quote me on that. What you want to do is raise the FSB which is multiplied by the CPU multiplier to get your Ghz. So like a 640 is probably stock at a multi of 15 x 200 FSB = 3Ghz. Increasing the FSB by 10 will give you +150 Mhz. You just increase your FSB by 5 or 10 and run a stress test for a few hours to see if your computer is stable. Repeat this until you find a max OC that is stable. That's the basics of OC but you should read some guides and check out the toms overclocking forum sections.

 

[mk-ultra]

The way you overclock is by first going into the BIOS when your computer first starts up and go into CPU settings or something (each motherboard has a different BIOS). I think the 640 is a locked multiplier chip but don't quote me on that. What you want to do is raise the FSB which is multiplied by the CPU multiplier to get your Ghz. So like a 640 is probably stock at a multi of 15 x 200 FSB = 3Ghz. Increasing the FSB by 10 will give you +150 Mhz. You just increase your FSB by 5 or 10 and run a stress test for a few hours to see if your computer is stable. Repeat this until you find a max OC that is stable. That's the basics of OC but you should read some guides and check out the toms overclocking forum sections.

What about voltage? I overclocked it to 3.6 and didn't touch stock voltage (1.304). I ran prime35 at that and Intelburntest. I did the Intelburntest for 50 passes and prime95 endlessly. When i woke up Intelburntest told me I passed, but prime95 was closed out of :/.

 

[mk-ultra]

If you need advice on the GPU, just let us know what your budget is and we can help. if $ isn't an issue go with a 560 Ti for gaming. if you are a little more constrained a GTX 460 or a HD 6850 would be a good choice.

If i got the 560 Ti, would that be pushing my PSU to the limit?

 

[jerreddredd]

If i got the 560 Ti, would that be pushing my PSU to the limit?

nope, as long as you don't get one that OC to more than 960Mhz (=230Watts)

Suggest:

MSI Twin Frozer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565&cm_re=gtx_560_ti-_-14-127-565-_-Product

if you don't have Crysis2 yet:
EVGA Crisis edtion:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130628&cm_re=gtx_560_ti-_-14-130-628-_-Product

Sparkle:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187136&cm_re=gtx_560_ti-_-14-187-136-_-Product

the Sparkle is the least expensive, but is also not OC'd as much.

 

[mk-ultra]

Thanks for the help guys

 

[mk-ultra]

Best answer selected by mk-ultra.