Overclocking.

[Locke]

I just overclocked my AMD Athlon 3000+ from 2.01 to 2.2GHz. How far can I take it over? I have a heat sink, but Im not sure how hot is too hot for it to run...anyone have any experience they would like to share?

[Lord Kelvin]

There are several variables to take into mind.

The first thing that you want to keep an eye on are your core temp, case temp, and GPU temp, since you don't want to melt anything in your computer; there are several programs that let you do this.

Once you can monitor your temps, the next step is to make sure that your computer can run in a stable condition at load for extended periods of time; I recommend getting Prime95. Ideally, you'll want to run it for 24 hours to make sure that your computer's actually stable, though that's for 100% stability (ie, if you want to continuously use your processor at its maximum potential for 24 hours straight). Needless to say, you should probably test at full load only when you have a setup that you think is really good but are sure that it'll be stable for 24 hours, since running this test each time you overclock your processor a bit more isn't exactly feasible.

So, once you can run your processor at load for 24 hours at manageable temperatures, you're good to go for that setting, and if you want you can try to increase it a bit more.

[Locke]

What though, is a good tempature for the computer to be running at? And is there any good software to find out the temp of your cpu/everything else from the windows screen?

[Lord Kelvin]

Generally I think that the mid 50s (Celsius) is ideal for load temps, and the high 20s to mid 30s are ideal for rest temp. As for an actual program for monitoring the temps, there are several out there, though none come immediately to my mind.

-e- A couple that my brother used, though, include CPU-Z 123 and MBM5.

[Locke]

Ok, as of now its running at 34 degrees.

[Lord Kelvin]

Seeing as how you've only overclocked it 100 MHz it's probably running stable, but if you want to take it higher you'll probably want to use Prime95 to test it both for stability issues and to check what temp it maxes out at. If it goes over the mid 50s at load, then you'll probably want to underclock it a bit; if it runs into stability problems you'll want to underclock it. Just remember that since it's producing more heat, it'll die faster, so I'm assuming that you're planning to upgrade/buy a new computer in a few years.

[Captain Colon]

Mine idles at 45C with CPUIdle (nice program if high idle temperatures are a problem for you, it just replaces the windows idle thread which is majorly shitty and inefficient, my idle temps drop 10-15C with it on) and maxes out at like 75C under full load in the middle of summer.

[Enforcer]

Mine idles at 45C with CPUIdle (nice program if high idle temperatures are a problem for you, it just replaces the windows idle thread which is majorly shitty and inefficient, my idle temps drop 10-15C with it on) and maxes out at like 75C under full load in the middle of summer.

65C is melting point :kak:

The "SUCKED OFF BY NEWSBOT" CPU can very hot, I hear.

[siddy]

for an athlon, keep it under 50 celcius.

best way to test an overclock, is to run prime95, or at least SuperPi (google 'em)

now, I assume you know how to overclock, but for a quick description, it's best to keep raising the FSB by 2-5 mhz. when it becomes unstable, raise the vcore by a little bit (remember, voltage kills the processor, so try to keep it as low as possible).

keep on going, just make sure it runs stable (job of prime95 and superpi), and keep an eye on your temps.

[StandingCow]

Why are you overclocking anyway? Just to try it? Or performance?

[Locke]

just to try it out, but if it gives me better performance... :)

[StandingCow]

just to try it out, but if it gives me better performance... :)

You see thats toms hardware video where they OCed a processor to like 5.2 GHZ? Crazy.

[Lord Kelvin]

Yeah, he's the one who made that thread :p

[StandingCow]

Yeah, he's the one who made that thread :p

ahhh.. touche salesman..

[Captain Colon]

65C is melting point :kak:

The "SUCKED OFF BY NEWSBOT" CPU can very hot, I hear.
:confused:

Everyone always told me that 80C was the "ohfuckturnitoff" temperature for athlons D: I've never had any stability problems even with the ridiculous temperatures this thing hits, just a hot-ass room.

[StandingCow]

:confused:

Everyone always told me that 80C was the "ohfuckturnitoff" temperature for athlons D: I've never had any stability problems even with the ridiculous temperatures this thing hits, just a hot-ass room.

The Die temp of most of the AMD CPUs is 85C.

[siddy]

if you're going over 60, you're certainly destroying your CPU. Keep it under 50, because the temperature diode isn't 100% accurate.

edit: the 85C might be for Athlon XP's (made in a 130 nm process, needs more voltage (1.7volts) whereas the Athlon 64s, only need (135-1.4V)

[Enforcer]

I was thinking Intel, Athlon XP's run a little hot (I've heard up to 135C). Yeah, you should be fine. But if you ever change it, be careful :F

[Somedude]

edit: the 85C might be for Athlon XP's (made in a 130 nm process, needs more voltage (1.7volts) whereas the Athlon 64s, only need (135-1.4V)

Some of the older Athlon 64s are 130nm. The ClawHammer core, I know for sure is 130, as I have one. Even with that, I've made sure that my temp runs at 45c max.

[siddy]

Some of the older Athlon 64s are 130nm. The ClawHammer core, I know for sure is 130, as I have one. Even with that, I've made sure that my temp runs at 45c max.

that is true, and i forgot to mention that. However, for the most part, 64's are 90nm based.

45C max is a little over the top. although lower heat, the better, if you're in the 50C zone, under extreme load, you're fine.

[Somedude]

that is true, and i forgot to mention that. However, for the most part, 64's are 90nm based.

45C max is a little over the top. although lower heat, the better, if you're in the 50C zone, under extreme load, you're fine.

Oh, I'm saying under extreme load I only hit 45c. At idle on a cold morning I can sometimes hit in the mid to low 20s :D

My biggest heat problem is the southbridge... It hits temperatures way higher than the CPU. Under heavy load, it'll hit 55-65c. :/