Overclocking - Need to knows

Before we get into the nitty gritty, there are things you know. Note only this applies to CPU/RAM Overclocking.

Overclocking is an art. It is also a simple to do yet complex art. The reason why?

Multipliers.

Biggest source of screw ups to beginners. A bunch of bus speeds and operating frequencies are derived from the Front Side Bus (known here after as "FSB"). Let's do an example (hey I did say this blog might utilize brainpower - this is a rare occurrence). Somethings to know is that a PCI bus speed is 33MHz, the old AGP is 66MHz, MOST modern motherboards have this thing called a PCI lock so this should not really matter (BUT CHECK!!!!). :o

For the purpose of simplicity, allow me to base it off of my set up.

CPU: Intel E8400 'SLAPL'. 3000MHZ, 9x CPU Multiplier, 333MHz physical CPU FSB. FSB x Multiplier = CPU speed (333x9= ~3000MHz).
Ram: OCZ PC8500 1066MHz (RAM capacity is a mute point for this). Now ram is DDR (Dual Data Rate). So 1066 divided by 2 = 533MHz (physical speed). How do we get the speed off of the FSB? By a ram divider. So 333MHz (CPU) using the 8:5 ram divider (1.6) we get the RAM speed of 533MHz. 333 x 8:5 (or 1.6) = 533MHz (DDR = 1066).

The RAM speed is the variable that you probably need to pay the most attention to. Why? Well most people are so fixated on cranking up the CPU speed, they don't really pay too much attention to the RAM speed. The thing about RAM is that they can OC decently well (depends on if they are binned highly or not). But the fact of the matter is that you will reach the ceiling on RAM a LOT faster than on the CPU.

So what do we do?

Well my approach is to keep bumping up the CPU speed and when the RAM speed hits its stock or just above, drop the divider down. My setup, at 3000MHz (300 FSB) via a 8:5 ram divider, my ram can run @ 533MHz (1066MHz effective DDR). At the same time, at 4000MHz (444 FSB) via a 6:5 divider, I can run @ 533MHz as well.

So keep this very important thing in mind when overclocking.

Next time, I will go over the steps on how to overclock (for real this time LMAO).

Stay tuned!

Overclocking - Intro

For those that may or may not know, Overclocking is a fine art that pushes a specific hardware component to exceed its 'rated' performance setting.

Any single piece of silicon is usually binned for performance as no two pieces are ever the same (even if they are cut from the same batch/wafer). These parts are binned to increase yield (by making the pieces incapable of meeting high end requirements for example, to be turned into lower priced components). (there are MORE criteria to binning though such as TDP, voltage requirements, etc so this is a VERY GENERALIZED look). However, even in the process of binning, the manufacturers must set an acceptable speed that the binned tiers can be guaranteed to run properly at.

What does overclocking do? It pushes the hardware above the guaranteed speed to fully maximize that piece of silicon. That's right, it allows it to maximize its potential. For example, my current processor (Intel E8400 - SLAPL). Stock speed is 3.0GHz at stock voltage. However, I pushed it all the way to 3.8GHz without even touching the voltage. 800MHz improvement right out the door.

So how come everyone doesn't just do this? Well overclocking as I mentioned, is a fine art. The moment you push it above and beyond, you no longer enjoy the safety net provided by the manufacturer (that it will run appropriately under all normal operating conditions). With that in mind, instability among other things (including outright hardware failure) becomes a very real threat (though there are ways to avoid and safely do this).

So why do people do this? Well, for a variety of reasons. I personally embarked on this art by wanting to have more performance so I could game better. At the time, I was still budget oriented (I still am to a certain extent). But at the current levels that I am at, budget oriented really is not a factor (I spend hundreds on cooling alone). I no longer really care about performance gain (well apart from increases in gaming that is). I just want to overclock the mofo (excuse the term). So it is more of a need I guess. A yearning/longing. I get itchy when I have a CPU/GPU/RAM in my system that is running at stock speeds.

Next I will write a bit on how to safely overclock. :)

Past 4GHz!

Actually at 4.3GHz right now... :D

Probably need to stop soon. Temperatures are really high now (and I am on water).

Let the overclocking commence!

Man...

Very unlike me, I have left my 2 month old E8400 processor at stock (and my even longer G92 8800GTS 512mb too).

But all is well for I am finally making amends.

The overclocking has commenced.

CPUz Validation.

Stock voltage (825MHz OC on stock volts - not shabby).

I have let it run through 10 grueling passes on IntelBurnTest. Now I am baking it overnight via Prime95 (FULLY expect it to pass as IntelBurnTest is far more rigorous).

Stay tuned to see how far I push this bad boy (4+GHz is looking to be a reality soon).