Overclock monitoring programs?

[GUI|LoBo]

So I've finally gotten around to doing the whole overclock thing with my system. I already got my 8800 Ultras x 2 SLI OC'd using EVGA Precision which does provide markedly improved 3DMark scores, but now I'm looking to OC my CPU and RAM as well to give my system even more of a boost. Of course, OC'ing these components is a little bit trickier than with graphics cards. Lots of potential for system instability or even damaged components. So before I go tweaking shit I want to make sure I have a good program that I can use to monitor temps, voltages, timings, clock speeds, etc. in real time to make sure everything is good and stable.

So, any recommendations? Preferably something that is all-in-one.

Thanks

[Froberg]

You should tweak via BIOS only.

I can recommend, however, that you run Prime 95 for 24 hours after finding a configuration.

Any errors, and it'll find 'em.

[GUI|LoBo]

You should tweak via BIOS only.

I can recommend, however, that you run Prime 95 for 24 hours after finding a configuration.

Yes, I plan to (on both counts). What I'm looking for is a good monitoring program so I can keep an eye on everything. Mostly I want to be able to check temperatures and compare them to all the voltage settings and shit without having to go back to the BIOS everytime for reference. But of course I would make any adjustments in the BIOS. I didn't even think it was possible to change voltages outside of the BIOS.

And chances are I'll be running Prime95 several times to find something stable. Gonna be a tedious trial and error type thing. Everytime you adjust any voltages (and best to only change one value at a time) you should be running Prime95. Rinse and repeat until you find the optimal settings. Chances are I'll only do 4-8 hour tests at first until I find something that doesn't give any errors and then do a final 24 hour test when I think I've nailed it just to be sure. Hopefully it won't take me longer than a week. :p

[Froberg]

Yeah it does take a while.

I did manage to OC my 3.16 GHz dual core CPU to a 4.2 GHz though, totally worth it.

I usually get ASUS motherboards, and that has a monitoring tool available which is excellent.

For those times when I cannot use that, I prefer speedfan. It can give you S.M.A.R.T reports, temperatures and voltages.

[GUI|LoBo]

Yeah, thankfully I have a Q6600 (Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 GHz) with G0 stepping which is one of the best CPUs in recent years for overclocking. I've read of people getting it to 3.0 GHz with stock cooling and without even touching voltages. Only adjusting the FSB with everything else at stock. So maybe I'll get lucky and have a chip capable of that. I've also heard of people who easily got their Q6600 to 3.6+ GHz without issue, but that required aftermarket cooling (and voltage adjustments of coursee). And as great as it would be to push the limits with this thing, I really don't feel like buying new hardware and then going through the hassle to install it all. Maybe sometime later down the road I'll feel more motivated. But in all honesty as long as I can get 3.0 GHz I'm happy. 3.0 GHz would provide a noticeable performance boost I'm sure.

So I'm pretty confident the CPU won't be too difficult to get stable. What I'm unsure about is the RAM. I'm not quite sure how that fits into this equation. More specifically, I wouldn't even know where to start trying to mess with timings and such. Oh well, should make for a fun experiment I guess. ;)

[Psycho Xeno]

I use Speedfan, CPUz and GPUz to monitor my hardware.

I just put together my i7 quadcore and I'm itching to start OCing. I hear I can take this CPU from 3.02 to 4.2. I may skip out on it altogether, but I really want to OC it.

[GUI|LoBo]

I just put together my i7 quadcore and I'm itching to start OCing. I hear I can take this CPU from 3.02 to 4.2. I may skip out on it altogether, but I really want to OC it.

Yeah, I read that the i7's are also really great for OC'ing as well. I think you could reach 4.2 GHz without too much issue. Seems to be a commonly achieved frequency for the i7-950 (which by the looks of it is what you have). Might take a little bit of work and would likely require some aftermarket cooling, but it's definitely reasonable from what I've seen. Hell, I've even heard of people achieving a stable 4.5-4.6 GHz on air. But you'd have to be really lucky to pull that off I think. But you never know. You may have a superhero chip. ;)

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I will look into them for sure.

[Froberg]

Yeah the reason I never got one of the older quads is because of clock freq per core... I'd rather have two fast cores than four slow ones for games n' the applications I use.

[Psycho Xeno]

Yeah, I read that the i7's are also really great for OC'ing as well. I think you could reach 4.2 GHz without too much issue. Seems to be a commonly achieved frequency for the i7-950 (which by the looks of it is what you have). Might take a little bit of work and would likely require some aftermarket cooling, but it's definitely reasonable from what I've seen. Hell, I've even heard of people achieving a stable 4.5-4.6 GHz on air. But you'd have to be really lucky to pull that off I think. But you never know. You may have a superhero chip. ;)

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I will look into them for sure.


Your right, its a 950 Bloomfield. I wouldnt be caught dead with a stock cooler. The aftermarket one I have keeps at 50c idle and about 72c under 100% load. Id say it works pretty well considering Intel says the chips easily go to 90c-100c under load.

[GUI|LoBo]

Wow, really? 100°C? Damn. That is one hot chip. That's how hot my 8800 Ultras run!

[Psycho Xeno]

Sorry 80-90c. 100 is the absolute most apparently.

[GUI|LoBo]

Still though, that's some serious heat for a CPU. If mine hits 70°C I'd be shopping for a new processor before too long. :p

Good to know they are making them more resilient these days.

[Froberg]

Christ, I get worried if mine passes 40-50.