Help me Overclock
Help me Overclock
Hey guys I’m working on making both my CPU and GPU stable at higher speeds.
I have an AMD Athlon 860k running at 4.2 GHz and a Zotac GTX 760 at stock settings.
My CPU handles benchmarks without issues, but it fails during AMD OverDrive tests. MSI Kombustor’s CPU stress test also causes crashes.
For the GPU, I’ve boosted fan speed, memory clock, and power usage, which improved performance in some cases. However, overclocking with MSI afterburner leads to drops in FPS when running certain benchmarks.
I’m using a 500W EVGA power supply—do you think it’s sufficient for these changes?
Any adjustments made to the CPU's clock speed may cause the graphics card to consume more power or draw additional current from the power supply unit. If your system already uses the minimum required power without any overclocking, avoid attempting further adjustments. Determine the maximum wattage the CPU draws and the maximum wattage the graphics card consumes. Also, check the power supply's capacity in amps for the 12V rails, since overclocking typically demands higher current. When you increase the CPU's clock speed or modify its multiplier setting in the BIOS, ensure it aligns with the system's capabilities.
When you adjust the clock speed of the CPU, the graphics card might need more power or draw more from the power supply unit in your setup.
If the existing power supply unit meets the minimum requirements without any overclocking, then avoid attempting to increase the clock speed.
Determine the maximum power usage of the CPU in watts and that of the graphics card.
Examine the power supply’s capacity for 12V rails, since overclocking often demands higher amperage than just increased wattage.
When you boost the CPU’s clock, especially if it has an unlocked multiplier like 200MHz, you must also raise its core voltage to maintain stability.
Increasing frequency or voltage helps the CPU function properly at higher speeds, but it also raises power consumption.
Making small adjustments—such as raising the core voltage by a few millivolts—is necessary.
Be mindful of CPU temperature during these changes, especially under demanding tasks.
Also verify the maximum allowable voltage for your CPU and stay within those limits.
Overclocking isn’t guaranteed to improve performance; in some cases it can harm it. A jump of 40MHz is excessive—consider starting at 10MHz instead.
After testing, proceed to fine-tuning the graphics card’s memory and clock speed.
Never change both simultaneously during overclocking; adjust one at a time to identify the exact issue causing crashes.
Just removed the overclock and simply used turbo mode, which gave me the same FPS. So those higher numbers were probably just a placebo. Thanks for the clarification. Going forward, if I decide to overclock, I’ll build my own computer if I have a very high budget. My current PC isn’t good enough.