I've never tried overclocking before... what options do I have?
I've never tried overclocking before... what options do I have?
I've never really felt the urge to change my character before, but lately I'm finding it a bit tricky with newer titles. All of them run fully on max/high settings, though some don't quite align with the expected performance numbers.
NumbrXerr0 :
Thank you all for the feedback. Regrettably, the CPU issue remains unresolved, but I did enable XMP in the BIOS and noticed some improvement. I’ll examine my GPU next. I typically run most games at 60fps on full settings, except for titles like Wildlands and other large open-world games where performance drops. I need to lower those numbers and still experience some frame fluctuations.
For emulation, I understand it’s problematic, yet I’ve seen people achieving 4k 60fps with Breath of the Wild. My setup clearly falls short, as the emulator demands high CPU and RAM usage. After activating XMP, I did see a modest increase in FPS, which is encouraging. However, I’m unlikely to push my GPU beyond its limits...
You won't be able to boost your CPU beyond its limits. For the GPU, you might be able to push it with tools like MSI Afterburner, but do some investigation first—you could potentially increase its performance. 16gb of RAM is usually enough for most users today, though pushing it to its capacity may require an upgrade.
You won't be able to increase your CPU's speed beyond its limits. RAM can be overclocked by enabling XMP in your BIOS, but expect only modest improvements. Intel CPUs typically don’t gain much from faster RAM. For GPU overclocking, you may notice some gains of 5-10%, and here’s a helpful guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUEMS-B1Siw. Your system is likely powerful enough for the latest games, so any performance drops should be due to other factors. If you want more details, you can share your results on userbenchmark.com. Also, emulating Wii U on a PC won’t run smoothly. How do you feel about your Windows games on Steam?
Besides what others have mentioned, you can build an aggressive fan profile for that 1070 and then raise the power limit. Nvidia GPU boost will automatically adjust the boost clock speed, which should add a few extra frames per second. It's not as thorough as a manual overclock, but it still performs well.
Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, the CPU isn't great, but I did enable XMP in the BIOS and noticed a slight improvement. I'll check the GPU next. I usually run most games at 60fps on full settings, except for some titles like Wildlands and other large open-world games where performance drops. I need to push them a bit more and even then I still experience some lag.
Regarding emulation, I know it's not ideal, but I've seen people achieve 4k at 60fps on Breath of the Wild. I realize my setup isn't up to that level—I'd expect more than an average of 22 FPS. The emulator uses a lot of CPU and RAM. After enabling XMP, I did see some FPS gains, which is a positive start. Overclocking the GPU probably won't help much, though it should work better for other games.
Check out my results here: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/6374695
There are my findings. It looks like my HDD and RAM are the main bottlenecks.
I believe you really should use an SSD to run Windows. Although it might not improve your gaming speed much, it will significantly boost your computer's responsiveness. And if you manage to get one, be sure to perform a clean installation of Windows.
Here’s a revised version of your text:
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Unfortunately, the CPU isn’t great, but I did enable XMP in the BIOS and noticed a slight improvement. I’ll check my GPU next. I usually run most games at 60 frames per second on full settings, except for some titles like Wildlands and other large open-world games. I need to lower those numbers and even then experience some stutters.
Regarding emulation, I understand it’s not ideal, but I’ve seen people achieve 4k at 60fps with Breath of the Wild. I realize my setup isn’t up to that level—I’d need more than an average of 22 FPS. The emulator is quite demanding on CPU and RAM. After switching on XMP, I did see a small boost, which is a positive start. However, I don’t think overclocking the GPU will help much, though it might work better for other titles.
I also noticed there are many background processes running. The userbenchmark data shows about 15% of CPU time spent on background tasks. This means roughly one in five cycles is being used by programs other than the game. When playing BotW, be sure to close those background processes via Task Manager.
Your RAM performance is also a concern, even without XMP enabled. I’d recommend updating your BIOS, as it could significantly improve RAM usage. Also, double-check your motherboard manual to confirm the RAM DIMMs are correctly seated—misalignment can cause single-channel operation instead of dual-channel.
I agree with the suggestion for an SSD. While it doesn’t always guarantee higher FPS, it will greatly enhance overall system performance. The Samsung 850 EVO is a popular and affordable option.
Lastly, consider running a scan with Malwarebytes and an antivirus. From what I see, there’s no virus affecting performance, but CEMU isn’t the only issue—keep your PC updated to stay protected.
Good luck!