Windows 7: How Does One Overclock?

It's always on these marks (loaded or idled)
The max i had is in this summer(abt 53 C) but never anything above...

Hey here is a good article:How to overclock an Intel E8400 CPU to 3.6GHz with a Gigabyte mainboard and DDR2 800MHz RAM | eHow.com

Don't forget to run Prime95 many hours after to see if your OC is stable. I managed to get an OC of 3.3 from a E5200 2.5Ghz.

P95
Blend + 8hrs = Good
Blend + 12hrs = Better
Blend +24hrs = Great
+

Intel Burn Test/LinX
Max stress + 10 passes = okay
Max stress + 20 passes = Better
Max stress + 30+ passes = Good
+

Memtest86+

1 pass = inadequate
8 pass = good
24 pass = great

If all those tests pass without errors, then you have a pretty stable overclock.

However it still is not a 100% guarantee that it truly is 'stable'

It's a hell of a process, but it can definitely be worth it with a noticeable improvement in certain areas. (games, encoding etc)

hi Guys. I recently bought a Pc.

Specs-

Inetl i7 920
Gigabyte - X58 UD4P Mb
Ram - DDR3 1600 Gkill Trident 4gb
Hard Drive - Seagate 7200rpm 1tb
Graphics - Nvidia Gigabyte 9800Gt 1gb 256bit
PSU - Thermaltake 550W
Case - Thermaltake Armour MX+
Operating System - Windows 7 Professional 64 bit

Ok I need help in overclocking. Where should i start from. Should I just go toBios setting and change all the settings to max.

Hi afty,

Take things slow and steady, don't rush into things. There are many guides available on this, but remember that overclocking is not without risk. Overclocking relies on the fact that computer components have a degree of tolerance built in due to the manufacturing process. Be aware that not all systems can be successfully overclocked, and that seemingly identical systems built with identical components might not be able to be overclocked to the same extent as each other.

Before you overclock, read the motherboard manual and ensure that you understand the various options in the BIOS and also how to reset the BIOS to its default settings if you make a tweak and are subsequently totally locked out of your system (the best way is to remove and replace the motherboard battery).

Start by resetting the BIOS so that everything is running on automatic settings. Whilst you are there, disable any hardware that you don't have or use - e.g. com ports, parallel printer ports, floppy drive (if your system doesn't have one) - to free up their resources. Make sure that your system is able to run stable at this setting before attempting to overclock.

When you are satisfied, you can begin overclocking. Be aware that overclocking means running components at a higher frequency (and, in many cases, a higher voltage) than normal and that means greater heat is produced. You need to ensure that your cooling is up to the job. A digital point-and-read thermometer can also be useful for checking the temperature of overclocked components.

Being slow and methodical is the key to a successful overclock.

Prime Blend is my favorite but the thing is that it completes a loop in approx 10 hours so there is little reason to run Prime Blend longer than that.

I've seen so many failed overclocks from running 20 passes of Linux I lost count of them.

Well, if you're serious you'll need a better PSU and an after-market HSF. Anyway, start reading at the url below, then get back to use for PSU and HSF recommendations. Intel Core i7-920 Overclocking Guide - X-bit labs

Only set them to the max if you want to kill that pc post haste. Overclocking is something you can't be overambitious with. Read the tutorials that others have provided links to and then start out slowly. And like has been said, definitely invest in a larger PSU and a better HSF (assuming you're using the stock HSF).

Additionally, you can read Guide to Overclocking the Core I7 920 to 4.0ghz - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

Overclocking is nearly a full time hobby for those that indulge in it. Your best bet is to look on other sites and do a lot of reading before you make any significant changes.

Some would tell you to confine it to a second hobby machine in case you have major issues.

Good advice; here's some good sites: EXTREME Overclocking Forums - Learn To Overclock Your PC Hardware
and another: XtremeSystems Forums - Powered by vBulletin