Is it worth overclocking if ive already ordered a new PSU?

cklynx · 6 Sep 2011 at 20:53

I currently have a 450W PSU and an Intel Quad Core Q8300 at 2.5ghz.

Ive already overclocked it to 2.6ghz but just realised is it worth carrying on when i have already ordered a 700W PSU or shall i wait?

Also, how can i tell if my overclock was successful? In the Bios when i changed the FSB it said 2.6ghz but when i go into System Properties it still says 2.5ghz

Many Thanks,

CK

Surveyor · 6 Sep 2011 at 21:28

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Depending on the quality of the 450W PSU, and what other components you have, there should be enough headroom for some overclocking.

I hope you've ordered a quality 700W PSU.

To check the speed of your processor download CPU-Z and IntelBurnTest.

Have CPU-Z open while you run IntelBurnTest and you'll see the actual speed of the CPU.

cklynx · 6 Sep 2011 at 21:50

Hi Surveyor,

Thanks for the welcome and replying.

I just ran that IntelBurnTest and it was successful although i dont quite understand what it all means so here is a pic:

It would be very helpful if you could let me know if this is good or not.

Thanks.

Surveyor · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:16

IntelBurnTest is a way of testing the stability of your overclock so don't worry about the results as such as long as there are no errors.

Talking of overclocking you don't seem to have succeeded.

CPU-Z still shows the stock speed of 2.5GHz (7.5 x 333.3MHz).

Assuming you get an overclock established then keep an eye on the CPU temperatures. Ideally you want to go no higher than the mid 70's.

cklynx · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:21

Surveyor said:
IntelBurnTest is a way of testing the stability of your overclock so don't worry about the results as such as long as there are no errors.

Talking of overclocking you don't seem to have succeeded.

CPU-Z still shows the stock speed of 2.5GHz (7.5 x 333.3MHz).

Assuming you get an overclock established then keep an eye on the CPU temperatures. Ideally you want to go no higher than the mid 70's.

Well i have been keeping an eye on my temperatures.

I first started at 7 x 333.3 but now i have changed it and saved the settings as ( 7.5 x 400 ) which in the BIOS states 3.00GHz

My temps when it was at 7 x 333.3 was around 31c - 37c but now my temps show 50c - 62c but no increase in an overclock speed.

Any ideas?

Surveyor · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:24

cklynx said:
Well i have been keeping an eye on my temperatures.

I first started at 7 x 333.3 but now i have changed it and saved the settings as ( 7.5 x 400 ) which in the BIOS states 3.00GHz

My temps when it was at 7 x 333.3 was around 31c - 37c but now my temps show 50c - 62c but no increase in an overclock speed.

Any ideas?

So much for slow and steady

Are you checking CPU-Z while running IntelBurnTest at the same time?

cklynx · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:30

Surveyor said:
So much for slow and steady

Are you checking CPU-Z while running IntelBurnTest at the same time?

Oh i have been doing it steady dont worry, 333 - 343 - 353 - 363 - 380 - 400

Yes am checking CPU-Z whilst running IntelBurnTest and nothing seems to be changing, what could i have missed?

Surveyor · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:34

What motherboard are you using?

What RAM do you have?

On the memory tab in CPU-Z what speed does it say the RAM is running at?

If you'd successfully increased the Bus Speed to 400MHz then CPU-Z should show that.

Akagi · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:39

maybe your bios settings aren't saving.

cklynx · 6 Sep 2011 at 22:40

Motherboard: Gigabyte G41M - ES2L

RAM: Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory Kit CL5 1.8V

Here is a pic to show it more clearly

Surveyor · 6 Sep 2011 at 23:00

In the BIOS:

CPU Host Control to Manual
CPU Host Frequency to 350, 360, 370......

F10 to save changes.

You may need to increase voltages as you overclock.

You may need to change the DRAM frequency as you overclock. The speed of the RAM is increased as you increase the Bus Speed so you need to bring the RAM back down to a speed it can cope with.

cklynx · 6 Sep 2011 at 23:25

Surveyor said:
In the BIOS:

CPU Host Control to Manual
CPU Host Frequency to 350, 360, 370......

F10 to save changes.

You may need to increase voltages as you overclock.

You may need to change the DRAM frequency as you overclock. The speed of the RAM is increased as you increase the Bus Speed so you need to bring the RAM back down to a speed it can cope with.

This is what my settings were befor

Ive just reset the Frequency to 350

cklynx · 7 Sep 2011 at 07:06

Orcvader · 7 Sep 2011 at 12:50

Looks like it could be the memory holding it back. Change the System Memory Multiplier in the DRAM Performance Control so the overall speed stays less than 800mhz.

What CPU cooler do you have? And out of interest which 700w PSU did you order?