First computer build and first overclock!

[phatboyfat101]

Hi all, recently just built my first computer (yesterday) and to my delight and surprise it started up first time and I installed Windows 7 today without a hitch I'm using an i7 920 with a gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 motherboard. My processor is idling at about 36 degrees with a H50-1 cooler, my heating in my house is on but I dont know the ambient temp, does this seem ok to start overclocking? I've never ever even come close to overclocking anything, but you guys convinced me when picking components to give it a whirl under your guidance! I've been reading a guide going to 4ghz but I thought it safer to go for 3.8, as I'm not looking for an unstable system. Here are the steps that I've compiled that seem to be a good start:

Advanced CPU features-> Intel Turbo Boost Disabled, CPU Cores Enabled (ALL), CPU Multi-threading (Enabled), all following disabled
MB Intelligent Tweaker-> QPI Link Speed to x36
MB Intelligent Tweaker-> BCLK Freq to 180
MB Intelligent Tweaker->System Memory Multiplier to 8x to make Memory Freq 1600
Uncore and QPI Features-> Uncore Freq set to x17 (to fit the ratio of 2x+1 compared to memory speed)-> makes uncore frequency 3.4ghz
MB Intelligent Tweaker-> CPU Vcore set to 1.35v
MB Intelligent Tweaker-> QPI/Vtt Voltage set to 1.35v

The guide I've been reading is going to 4ghz, so I've attempted to adapt that guide to 3.8ghz, however that guide recommends higher voltages (the voltages I've picked are what another guide recommends as the highest "safe" voltage, which I why I picked it!). I'm also not sure of the RAM, I have 6GB of Corsair XMS3 DDR3 PC3-12800C7 (1600MHz) Tri channel, but some other posts I've read say they can't get their memory to go higher than 1333, and I know the memory controller doesn't supposedly go up to 1600mhz.
As I've said, I've never done this before and really don't know what a lot of it means, have been reading as much as I can though! Any corrections or guidance will be greatly appreciated
Also, if it all goes wrong, do I just press and hold the clear CMOS switch on the back to go back to defaults? cheers!

 

[Devrij]

Don't worry dude, it's less risky than you think. There's a great guide stickied in this forum. Just don't up the voltages too much and you'll be fine

 

[Andrew G]

I take the view if I can afford to replace it I can over clock it which is why I leave the gpu alone, although fairly safe in this day and age you can still do some damage if your not careful, use the guide and test stability after each speed rise, also remember some mobo have a limit to how well they clock and a "black hole" such as stable at 3.5ghz and 3.7ghz but will refuse at 3.6ghz. My 2p worth.