Some tips on OC`ing please..

[groovesection]

So i built my new budget rig last week...

Gigabyte MA78LMT-USH
Atholon X3 445 @3.1ghz
8GB of XMS3 Corsair 1600mhz (bought 4GB elsewhere on special for £40 next day delivery!)

I was hoping to be able to unlock the 4th core gaining a Quad Atholon, This did not go to plan, I set AAC to auto and upon rebooting the system did not even POST, the fan on the HS was running @ 100% and i had to power off the system.
This left me with the only option of clearing the CMOS,
Which incidentally Gigabyte have decided to locate bang in between the PCI-E & PCI slots,
So i had to remove my TV card just to get a screwdriver in to contact the pins and clear the CMOS
(****ing dumb design)

Anyway, have i done everything correctly to unlock the 4th core? Am i missing something?

I knew it was a gamble relying on the 4th core unlocking, so now i am thinking i might as well just push this chip to see what i can get out of it.
(i plan on getting a hex core later this year anyway)

Anyway, i have not been an overclocker since the Socket A days when all you could really change where the FSB & Multiplier.
Now it is all core voltages and NB voltages and i am a bit lost,
Any pointers to help me squeeze some more mhz out of this chip will be greatly appreciated

 

[groovesection]

Cheers bud

I did have a brief read through some of the sticky`s and it appears that the HT is really only the other setting i need to worry about (apart from Vcore & NB voltage)
Suppose i should just start in 2mhz increments on the FSB and see where i can get to
Apparently the Athlon X3`s have a good bit of headroom for OC`ing.
I will be happy if i can squeeze 10-20% on the stock taking me to over 3.5ghz.

I should have just spent the extra £60 and got a Phenom X4 965 as i doubt my MB will support the 8 cores when they finally arrive later this year.

 

[groovesection]

Cheers mate,
I have removed my sig as i was unaware it was in contradiction of the rules (does anyone actually read the rules?)

I would rather not have to spend any money on another HSF, i am currently getting about 20c idle and 48c under full load (Prime95) so i am thinking i could possibly squeeze a few extra mhz for no more investment.
I actually ran an Athlon socket A (on stock HSF) @ 2.4ghz (200 x 12) instead of the rated 166 X 12.
I ran that for a couple of years with no problems.
But that was years ago on a GB 7400N Pro MB with just 512mb of 667mhz DDR2.
I also use no case cooling, i have my Tower with the sides off (that`s my cooling lol)

I will certainly have a read up, thanks