shaner

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I thought I would write an in depth guide to overclocking so that even computer noobs will be able to overclock their systems.

First, we need to take a look at what overclocking is.

Overclocking is defined as:
Any adjustments made to computer hardware (or
software) to make its CPU run at a higher clock frequency
than intended by the original manufacturers.

Or in plain English, overclocking causes your computer to run faster than it was originally intended.


Before you even consider overclocking, you must first understand the side effects of it.

Overclocking can and will cause your system to become hotter. Heat is the worst thing for a computer and can cause permanent damage to your system. With that said, it's not often that someone destroys their CPU by overheating it. Most motherboards have a built in feature that will shut off the computer before the CPU gets damaged, although precautions must still be taken.


The second danger of overclocking is that you are breaking down the molecular structure of the CPU faster than you would normally. Everything on earth breaks down eventually, including the human body. Compare your CPU to yourself. If you do drugs and drink all your life, you are likely to die earlier than someone who lives a healthy life.
Well, if you overclock your CPU, your reducing the life span of it even more so than if you were running it at stock speeds. However, there will likely be such a insignificant decrease in its life span that you would never notice anyway.

Ok, now that we got that out of the way, lets do some overclocking.


Overclocking is always done in the BIOS, which you can get to by hitting "Delete", F1 or F2 (and sometimes other keys) while the computer is starting up.
It is possible to overclock from within Windows with such programs as SoftFSB 1.7; however, I do not recommend this method as I have no personal experience with it and don't want to send someone blindly through it.

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RAM
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The following discusses the speed at which your RAM (memory) operates.

pc2100 - 266 MHz
pc2700 - 333 MHz
pc3200 - 400 MHz
pc3500 - 434 MHz
pc3700 - 466 MHz
pc4000 - 500 MHz
pc4200 - 533 MHz
pc4400 - 550 MHz

Remember that DDR = double data rate and really works at only half the speed it says.
For example, PC3200 RAM is said to run at 400 MHZ, but it's actually running at 200 MHZ (2 x 200).

CPU's on the other hand are the opposite.
AMD CPU's are double pumped, which means an AMD that is said to be running at 400 FSB is actually only running at 200 FSB.
AMD CPU's are 266 fsb, 333 fsb and 400 fsb, which is really 133, 166 and 200 fsb respectively.

Intel CPU's are quad pumped, meaning an Intel P4 rated at 800 fsb is really operating at 200 FSB.
Intel CPU's are as follows:
2.4a = 400fsb
2.4b = 533fsb
2.4c = 800fsb


So then how fast is my CPU really running???????

The speed of your CPU is made up of the FSB times the MULTIPLIER, which is found in the bios.
For example, 200 fsb times a multiplier of 15 equals 3000mhz, or 3ghz.
To change the speed of your CPU, you can change the FSB and/or the multiplier, however, if you are still unsure, I recommend reading the rest of this guide before attempting that.

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Ratio
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The ratio of your RAM to your FSB on your CPU is a very important piece of overclocking. To get a maximum overclock, you need quality RAM that won't limit your CPU. Say you have DDR400 RAM (200mhz) and a P4 with a 800fsb (200mhz), then the stock speeds for both of those components match each other perfectly. They are both running at 200mhz, which means there is a 1:1 ratio. But, if you raise the FSB of the CPU to 250mhz, that means the RAM needs to be able to handle operating at a higher speed in order to keep up with the CPU. If the RAM can't handle the higher speed, your system probably won't boot and you will need to clear the CMOS (which I will discuss later).

If your RAM can't handle the increased FSB of the CPU, then that's where the ratio, or divider comes into effect. For example, if your CPU is running at 250mhz, and you have DDR400 RAM (200mhz) then change the ratio to 5/4. 250 / 5 * 4 = 200mhz. So your RAM will operate at stock speed while you can still overclock your CPU. The ratio is the FSB divided by the first number, then times the second number.


So how do I actually overclock????????

You overclock by increasing the FSB and/or multiplier. If your motherboard supports overclocking, then go into the BIOS and very slowly raise the FSB. I recommend a 5mhz increase at a time. If your MB doesn't support overclocking, you may want to consider flashing the BIOS to the newest version. You'll have to contact your MB manufacturer for help with this as it varies from model to model.

A 5mhz increase of the FSB can be anywhere from a 50mhz to a 100mhz increase, depending on your multiplier. I recommend getting a program called CPU-Z to accurately judge the speed increase.

If after raising the FSB by 5mhz you can still boot into windows normally, consider increasing it by another 5mhz. If you can still boot normally, try another 5mhz. Once you get to the point where your computer will not boot normally, then drop the FSB back down to a level where it will boot.
Relax, you will not harm your system by increasing the FSB.
Once you have the FSB to the maximum level it will go, start increasing the multiplier. Try increasing it by .5 at a time and if it boots normally, continue raising it. Once your system no longer boots normally, drop the multiplier back down to a level where the system will boot.

You have now come close to achieving your maximum overclock, but you're still a few steps away. The next thing to do is get a program called Prime95 and run a Torture Test. Prime95 will test your system for stability. Let it run for at least 24 hours and if it doesn't give you any errors, then you should be able to increase the FSB and/or multiplier even more.

If it does give you errors (which it likely will and should, since your system is to the point where it barely boots) then go into your BIOS and start raising the vcore. The vcore is the amount of voltage that you are pumping into the CPU. As your CPU becomes faster, it requires more voltage (power) for it to run. Very slowly increase the vcore, then go back into windows and run Prime95 again. If it gives you more errors, then raise the vcore again.

WARNING!!!
Do not raise the vcore above 1.8 unless you know what you're doing and have a serious cooling system in place. If your system isn't stable at 1.8, it's not going to be stable at 1.9 either.

Once you get to a point where Prime95 doesn't give you any errors before it hits 24 hours, then you can go back into the BIOS and raise the FSB and/or multiplier again. Run Prime95 again and check for stability.

The goal of overclocking for most people is to find the maximum stable overclock possible. To do this, you are constantly changing the FSB, multiplier and vcore to find the maximum speed you can run your system at, without Prime95 giving you any errors.

However, if you just want your system to run a bit faster. Find the settings that are good for you and are stable in Prime95 and go from there. The choices are all yours.

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Cooling
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There is no definitive guide to cooling, but you must remember that proper cooling is crucial for computers to run effectively and properly. It's a good idea to purchase an aftermarket heatsink and fan for your CPU if you want to do major overclocking. The stock heatsink and fan might be good enough though, depending on your system.
Case fans are also a good idea to have. Generally speaking, having an intake fan in the front of your case and an outtake fan in the back of your case is the best setup possible. Remember, hot air rises. It's also a good idea to have a case fan in the side which blows air directly into the CPU.

Remember, an AMD CPU should not go over 60c and an Intel should not go over 50c. If it does, you're asking for trouble.

A great program to monitor the temperature of your CPU is Motherboard Monitor 5.

That's all for now.
Good luck!