CPU Overclock (how much do you push it?)

[gu5t3r]

I just wondered do you overclock your CPU and how much do you push it?

I have AMD Phenom II x4 970 processor, at first I tried overclocking it through BIOS which was stupid idea because my BIOS does not allow to enter voltages for each step. My CPU has 4 steps, 800 (x4), 2200 (x11), 2800 (x14) and 3500 (x17,5). When I increased voltage trough BIOS voltage was increased for every step which resulted in much more heating then needed.

Second, I tried overclocking using AMD Overdrive which is better than BIOS, it allows smaller voltage steps. But when I push my CPU from 3500 to 4000 MHz, AMD Overdrive replaces last step 3500 (x17,5) with 4000 (x20). Then I get the following steps: 800 (x4), 2200 (x11), 2800 (x14) and 4000 (x20). It is better than BIOS overclocking because voltage is increased only for last step a thus reduced unneeded heating.
Then I wanted to overclock NorthBridge to speed up memory. But when I changed NorthBridge multiplier from x10 (2000) to x11 (2200) Cool 'n' Quiet (cpu stepping/scaling) stopped working.

Then I discovered this very good tool PhenomMsrTweaker (PhenomMsrTweaker: Cool & Quiet customized). This tool allowed me to use CPU stepping when C'n'Q is turned off and NB overclocked. Another thing it allowed me are 5 instead of 4 CPU steps. Steps I have now are: 800 (x4), 2200 (x11), 2800 (x14), 3500 (x17,5) 4000 (x20). Now I have maximum reduced heating with maximum speed. You can have 3 base power profiles, Balanced, High performance and Power saver. You can adjust them as you wish. For example, my Power saver profile is not even using 5th step and in power saving mode computer is acting like not overclocked. Profiles are changeable in PhenomMsrtweaker tray icon or like normally windows Power control panel. When installed, it installs service which automatically runs with windows and enables stepping when windows runs. Stepping is disabled while booting until windows runs, therefore it is booting faster. Another speedup.


CPU-Z Validator 3.1