New to overclocking, need step-by-step help for Athlon II X4 640

[sapped]

Hello guys, I really want to overclock my Athlon 640 to get better performance while gaming.
I have never overclocked before so basically clueless at these sort of things.

my system spec is:
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6850
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 640 Processor (Quad Core), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 6142MB RAM

MOBO is GIGABYTE GA-M56S-S3
PSU is Cooler Master 460 RS-460-PCAR-A3

will it be decent enough for OC'ing?? my PSU is kinda at the limit already
my CPU cooler is still the stock fan, so my goal for it is something like 3.4ghz

appreciate any help!!!

 

[c12038]

Not really as you would have to O/C your memory inorder to O/C your CPU which is not a good idea if its not perfomance related memory.... Just google your request and there are many tutorials out on the web concerning this..

Hope this helps

check this out http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22916

 

[PsySc0rpi0n]

There is no such thing as a step-by-step guide that will work smoothly and perfect to your PC...

You'll have to do some reading.

I just can give you a couple of advices that should be followed as they are important.

With stock cooler you won't be able of a decent overclock. If you just want ro raise from 3.0Ghz to 3.4Ghz, maybe stock cooler is enough.

Anyway, install some software to monitor temps, such as RealTemp, CoreTemp, HWMonitor, then you should test the stability of your OverClock with SuperPI 32M, or IBT or Prime95 or all of them, one at a time...

then you can say your OC is stable...

 

[sapped]

ahh alright, but I need a more precise answer about the PSU,
as its the main thing that's worrying me atm

 

[PsySc0rpi0n]

Install Everest and it will say you the consumptions in cpu load/idle. Then compare them to this.

Cheers

 

[anoobarak]

I have the same CPU and a motherboard from the stone ages. Up the Northbridge voltage to +0.200V, up the BcLK to 227 (that will give you the frequency of 3405MHz). Hope the ram holds the increased frequency. What's their frequency? 667 or 800Mhz?
Stop shitting on his psu. It's being used, but definitely not to the limit. It's fine. Also the stock heatsink should do ONLY if your case has good airflow. Otherwise, leave it open. The psu will be fine.

 

[JrRacinFan]

I must ask, 6GB of memory? Let me guess 2x2GB + 2x1GB? Drop the 2x1GB, you won't notice a difference and you may be able to get a more stable overclock. Yes, 3.4Ghz is attainable on stock cooling with stock cpu voltage, as everyone else here pointed out you will be limited by the ram. May even need to bring it down to the next divider to allow the overclock.

 

[anoobarak]

That motherboard's BIOS doesn't have a memory divider option, if you're talking about that.

 

[JrRacinFan]

That motherboard's BIOS doesn't have a memory divider option, if you're talking about that.

Even if pushing Ctrl+F1 at main bios screen?

 

[Mussels]

with a weak/crap PSU like that, work on overclocking without raising voltages. see how far you can push it at stock volts.

 

[anoobarak]

With mine that doesn't work :/ I suppose that only works with AM2 CPU's. His is AM3.
Also responding to Mussels post, you can't raise CPU voltage on that board with AM3 cpu's either ^^

 

[Mussels]

With mine that doesn't work :/ I suppose that only works with AM2 CPU's. His is AM3.
Also responding to Mussels post, you can't raise CPU voltage on that board with AM3 cpu's either ^^

yeah i was just giving some generic advice as i skimmed the thread... sounds like he cant do anything with that motherboard anyway.

 

[PsySc0rpi0n]

Install Everest and it will say you the consumptions in cpu load/idle. Then compare them to this.

Cheers

Stop shitting on his psu. It's being used, but definitely not to the limit. It's fine. ... The psu will be fine.

If you were referring to me, i wasn't shitting on his PSU. I was just telling him how to check how voltages should react in the PSU rails on idle/load. I don't even know the PSU so I couldn't shit on it... xD

 

[Mussels]

to both those quotes:

psy: those software readings are often very, very inaccurate. you cant rely on software for any voltage/power readings. hell, even temperatures are guesswork most of the time.

as to annobarak: we're shitting on it, because its cheap junk. many of us here have had experience with those low end coolermaster PSU's, and we know how bad they are. they can run for years on a low end <150W system like my media PC without a problem, but they sure as hell dont do anywhere near their rated wattages. serious overclocking would cause serious problems on any budget PSU.

 

[JrRacinFan]

With mine that doesn't work :/ I suppose that only works with AM2 CPU's. His is AM3.

It's not cpu dependent(ctrl + f1), it strictly board & bios.

 

[PsySc0rpi0n]

to both those quotes:

psy: those software readings are often very, very inaccurate. you cant rely on software for any voltage/power readings. hell, even temperatures are guesswork most of the time.

Ok... Well, personally i know that... But 90% of us, or even more, don't have any measurement tools as some of those extreme overclockers we see around.

And for the level of overclock sapped wants, I think it won't be an issue to rely on software readings... IMO, of course... And it's better to have software readings than to have nothing...

Cheers

 

[anoobarak]

It's not cpu dependent(ctrl + f1), it strictly board & bios.

Now that is not true. Check this review out. It's of my board, note the CPU they're using and all the options thei have in M.I.T. I don't have any of those, and my board has the latest BIOS.
It is CPU dependant.

Ok... Well, personally i know that... But 90% of us, or even more, don't have any measurement tools as some of those extreme overclockers we see around.

And for the level of overclock anoobarak wants, I think it won't be an issue to rely on software readings... IMO, of course... And it's better to have software readings than to have nothing...

Cheers

Lolz It's not my thread, I'm just trying to help the guy do a moderate overclock. I know my setup in and out

 

[PsySc0rpi0n]

Corrected... Sorry anoobarak...

 

[JrRacinFan]

Now that is not true. Check this review out. It's of my board, note the CPU they're using and all the options thei have in M.I.T. I don't have any of those, and my board has the latest BIOS.
It is CPU dependant.

Well of course thats true, Hypertransport 1.0 vs 3.0 different architecture. Of course their will be different options under anything regarding the IMC, because it's totally different. What I am saying is that there are going to be some options that can be unhidden by Ctrl+F1 on most Gigabyte board WHICH IS BIOS & BOARD DEPENDENT

 

[micropage7]

Hello guys, I really want to overclock my Athlon 640 to get better performance while gaming.
I have never overclocked before so basically clueless at these sort of things.

my system spec is:
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6850
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 640 Processor (Quad Core), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 6142MB RAM

MOBO is GIGABYTE GA-M56S-S3
PSU is Cooler Master 460 RS-460-PCAR-A3

will it be decent enough for OC'ing?? my PSU is kinda at the limit already
my CPU cooler is still the stock fan, so my goal for it is something like 3.4ghz

appreciate any help!!!

3,4 gig is about 10%, so if you have good airflow that should be fine
for cooling you can replace the standard fan or try lapping the hsf and add better thermal paste
but the heat that generated depends to how your rig load, if you do heavy task the heat may increase.
for PSU, it looks it can handle it but better you take higher wattage
and one more if you do OC the result may vary, so do it step by step dont push too much and every time you done, dont forget to test it. does it work fine?

 

[sapped]

Alright guys thanks for the reply!! I have uploaded my CPU-Z report here,
appreciate it if u guys can take a look.
http://www.mediafire.com/?9cpf7d7bi9pd9co

Anyway, to answer everyone's questions

@PsySc0rpi0n
alright I will give everest a look, thx for this!!

@anoobarak
hmm I think it actually says 400mhz on the Max Bandwidth on each slot,
is this the frequency ur looking for?? I'm not sure, maybe u should take
a look at the report : )

@JrRacinFan
yeah its 2x2gb and 2x1gb, so I guess I will remove the 1gb ones for this??
their max bandwidth seems to be the same, can u take a look at the report
and see whether I should remove them or not??

@anoobarak & JrRacinFan
yeah I don't have alot of additional options when using ctrl+f1, but I'm
not sure whether I have the memory divider option or not, should I give this
a check?? what's its full name, just memory divider, where should this option be??

@Mussels & PsySc0rpi0n & micropage7
hmm, so 3.4ghz should be a safe value for my PSU??
is it possible for me to get a better cooler and overclock further
given that I still use the current PSU???

sorry guys if I sound really stupid, I am really noob at all this, my
only experience with hardware is when I upgraded parts on my rig,
so please bear with me.

really appreciate any replies!!!

 

[JrRacinFan]

Would be an option named dram frequency or something similar. And you may have better luck with pulling the 2x2GB sticks unfortunately and just upping FSB/Bclk. For now try just the 2x2GB sticks and upping bclk/fsb.

 

[Hayder_Master]

I am try 3 different samples of 640, all of them work at 3.3ghz work well on stock voltage, try go over maybe you have better chip.

 

[anoobarak]

Right now it's running at 3,6GHz lol. I want it running even higher, and I bet I can hit 4GHz on that motherboard.

 

[sapped]

can someone check my ram?? is it 400mhz???