Overclocking
Overclocking
i am just starting out with overclocking and have a q6600 that i've configured to 9x 333 for 3.0 ghz, setting the memory clock at 2.0 with some budget ram. it seems to be running stable so far. is this safe? will i be okay? also, i only have a 250 wtt power supply and plan to upgrade to a 400 watt cit psu.
What type of Vcore are you employing? (If you've set it to AUTO, verify using a complimentary tool named CPU-Z).
What are your temperatures when operating below full load?
Have you performed stress tests on the overclock using applications such as Prime 95 or OCCT for extended periods?
between 45 and 50, "Everest" indicates you're 10 degrees lower than my system monitor for an unknown reason. No maximum stress test was performed; the test lasted 20 minutes and didn't exceed 50.
A stress test such as prime95 or occt will force your system to full capacity, which is the sign it's stable enough. I'd try one of those programs and see how I perform. A good PSU is essential for this, so check out the Corsairs Cx series and consider upgrading your cooling too.
I placed the Arctic cooler 7 Pro Rev 2 in already, and after checking the BIOS, the VCore is at 1.32500 v. I’m wondering if it’s safe to keep it overclocked. Also, I ran Prime yesterday for 22 minutes and didn’t exceed 50, which seems like my highest. The system is running at 31 idle.
50C is acceptable and the voltage is normal, but 22 minutes Prime is far from sufficient. I've experienced an overclock failure after 7 hours Prime. If you don't wish to invest time, be ready to lose any progress and prepare to reinstall programs and your operating system. Unstable overclocks can lead to program corruption and data loss.
Thanks in advance for your guidance—I’ll definitely look into letting Prime run a proper test. For my overclock and PSU, I’m thinking about bringing it back to stock once I have the 400-watt unit, and I’m wondering if that PSU will be sufficient at 3.0 GHz until I can afford a better one.
You're not relying on much voltage, but we still need to understand the rest of your system details, the PSU brand, and its age (approximately). I'd follow Moto's suggestion and buy a premium PSU, since it powers all your PC parts. A low-quality PSU could fail and damage other components. A Corsair model would cost around £40.
fsb 250 watt psu, gigabyte ga-g41m combo, intel core quad q6600 2.4 ghz, 4 gb budget ddr2 ram, 400 mhz fan, palit geforce gt430 1gb, cit vantage gamers case with 2 x 120mm side fans, 1x 120mm front fan and 1x 120 mm exhaust fan, arctic freezer 7 pro rev2 cpu cooler. I’m a bit tight on cash, so will the cit 400 watt psu work until I can afford the corsair in a few weeks? Also, am i okay leaving oc until i get the cit 1 in a few days? Thanks a lot for your advice and thanks ahead.
Don't purchase another PSU twice, just use the rig with the 250W for now and install Corsair right away. And definitely postpone any clocking goals until you have enough power. Moto