Should I OC?

[eLiu]

Should I go ahead and OC my cpu as soon as i get it? Or maybe let it run at default for a coupla months.

Im getting a 1.2ghz@266. Now, I think that's plenty fast...but, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (i hope)...would be better

Anyway, the big question really is: how much warranty should I get? I know that as soon as I OC, the warranty dies. However, if I dont OC, is a 1 year warranty worth the extra $$?

If it helps, this is my first time putting a computer together...yeah, im a n00b

(see my thread on "how much cooling for this" for more info)

-eric

 

[Assimilator1]

If you're not running any Distributed Computing program ,or some other work producing program then their is no real need to overclock your cpu.However...........

Don't you want to just redline that cpu to see how fast it'll go?
I know I want to know!

You're warranty will still be valid if you don't tell them you overclocked it,you removed any conductive paint you may of used & AMD aren't keeping tabs on youheh.

 

[OCnMan]

Assimilator 1:

Why would a "work producing" program be the only reason to overclock your computer? Combine the efects of O/Cing my CPU from 1000MHZ to 1500MHZ with the effect of O/Cing my video card from 166 to 192MHZ I get like a 35% increase in framerates in most games and increased performance in all apps..
So, am I wasting my time? I think not.

Now, Mr eLiu

In my rather extensive overclocking experience I have found one or two things that apply to your question. One, I have found that for some reason as yet unexplained, most processors will not overclock as well if not pushed at lesast a little from the start. Also, I have found that processors will for the most part increase in performance with a little burn in. These are two things that I can numerically represent in the results of all of the systems I have built and played with.
So, my advice to you would be to overclock your processor by a modreate amount right from the start, with a moderate voltage increase as well. Then, let it run something stressful for a few days (24Hrs/Day), then try to crank it up and find the max.
In my experience, this has proven the most effective method of achieving the best balance of performance/stability/highest OC.
Best of Luck,
OCnMan

 

[Assimilator1]

OCnMan
Why would a "work producing" program be the only reason to overclock your computer?
I didn't say that,re read my post!

Combine the efects of O/Cing my CPU from 1000MHZ to 1500MHZ with the effect of O/Cing my video card from 166 to 192MHZ I get like a 35% increase in framerates in most games and increased performance in all apps..

Yeah I wouldn't denie that,but your missing my point ,which is that you don't really need to ,in other words your 1Ghz cpu is fast enough for any game you throw at it right? And depending what res you run at the same might be true of your vid card too.

So, am I wasting my time? I think not.
No of course not ,it's still fun squezing more out of ya system , very nice overclock btw
Now how about another way to show how awesomely fast that cpu is & do a cool project at the same time? check the link in my sig out

 

[OCnMan]

Assimilator 1:

Well handled, my friend. I used to run Seti@home, I may get back into it.

Take care,
OCnMan

 

[eLiu]

ok...soo...I think I'll take your advice OCnMan, and pump up my nice little tbird...see how high it goes. And if the thing doesnt get too unhappy...ill probably keep it there

ok...so would y'all recommend the 1 yr warranty? Or would the 30 day be sufficient?

the thing really is cost...i mean, it'll run me like 20 dollars more to get a 1 year warranty at most sites. at tcwo.com, if I buy one of their HSF units, i can get a 1 yr warranty too (the cheapest is 10 bucks...but none of the units arent very good- most are orbs :frown

anway, is 1 yr worth the extra 10-20? (even if i buy from tcwo, it's more like 15 bucks over the lowest cost 30 day)

thanks,
-eric

 

[Lightingguy]

Buy their cheap cooler for the warranty, then use a Taisol or other good cooler. Or save the bucks and get a good cooler, you'll end up with one anyway.

 

[eLiu]

yea...definitely need a good cooler...i mean, i dont think they'd let me keep sending back CPUs that i blew up > hehehe

buut...im afraid to get the 30 day warranty...if something goes wrong, that's 115 bucks...ouch.

But then again...w/1 yr...what if they dont let me return my OCed cpu? I mean, even if i clean it up nice and happy...can they tell?

(i worry too much...noticed that? hehehe)

 

[Assimilator1]

My friend returned a Duron which was faulty ,that had been unlocked with conductive paint & was cleaned up b4 returning.He got a replacement no problems .
So there doesn't appear to be any forensic science going on

OCnMan
You would be welcomed to join TA SETI ,you could brag about fast WU times their heh

Take it easy

 

[jonnyGURU]

You guys think you're lying to us and that we're too stupid to notice....

It's not true.

We know.

But the fact is, we all overclock too. We just can't condone the act. If someone blatently sends back a CPU with penciling on the L1... come on... gimme a break. But we know what eraser marks look like.

Oh.. and about the fans... that $9 Dynaeon at TCWO is better than a Taisol ANY DAY and is MUCH easier to put on. I'm using one on my 1 GHz running at 1.4.

jon@tcwo.com

 

[eLiu]

LMAO!! you work at tcwo?? hehehe

expect to get some fried/cracked cpu's from this newbie...(me)...hehehehe

im jk!!

but seriously, that dynatron isnt REALLY better than a taisol...is it???

if ur not joking, what are ur temps on ur cpu??

(edit) and uhhh...wut does that "gimme a break" mean? u wont take back the cpu i blew up? *sniff* DOH lol

also...did u use the pad for that dynatron? or did u buy some Arctic SilverII?

thanks,
-eric

 

[jonnyGURU]

Actually yesterday, I had a guy fry a CPU by running it WITH NO FAN AT ALL.

I asked him, is the die chipped? "No."

Is the serial number sticker still on it? "Yes."

No best pins, right? "None."

And I gave him an RMA and told him if he did it again, he's got himself a nifty keychain.

Seriously, if you send me back a processor that's got Arctic Silver all over the creamic, all of the bridges penciled in and a chip in each corner... you don't deserve a replacement, but most of the time, if the CPU looks good and you're up front with me, I'll do the swap. Like I said, we just can't "condone" the act of overclocking.

As for the fan, I have a pair of Taisols and they're a couple of whiny bastards that are hard to get off that aren't any better than the Dynatron for cooling. Mind you I'm talking about the CEK734092. Taisol DEFINITELY has a better fan on the higher end.

Here's the skinny: TCWO doesn't condone overclocking, and that fan is rated up to 1.5 GHz by AMD, so if you're not overclocking, it's more than enough. I use mine for overclocking with a dab of ASII and run a 1 GHz @ 1.4 (using 140 MHz FSB) with 1.81V and it's 60c according to my grossly inaccurate CompuNurse probe. I've used larger HSF, but was unhappy with the noise and the temps only dropped 2 degrees. BETTER CHASSIS VENTILATION KEEPS THE MACHINE RUNNING. When I went from a full tower to an Enlight mid, II started having problems, but keeping the side panel off helped, so my next mod invoves a large hole saw and a fan mounted in the side panel and even that is quieter than a Global Win fan!

 

[Assimilator1]

jonnyGURU

If someone blatently sends back a CPU with penciling on the L1... come on... gimme a break. But we know what eraser marks look like

LMAO!
My friend had his cleaned very cleanly!
BTW who's TCWO?

 

[eLiu]

heh heh heh jonny

well...if i do manage to explode the big chicken (tbird), ill make sure to clean it up nice and good hehehe i DO kno howto apply arctic silver, and ive used the pencil trick b4 too...not messy, very neat (i have a steady hand )

buuuut, i imagine ill tell you guys the truth over the phone...im a horrible liar...it shows like right thru in my voice

but seriously, i dont see anything wrong with telling you guys...if u dont take it back, i guess ill get a duron and OC that...hehe (not enuf $$ for two thunderchickens...doh)

well...seems as if maybe ill try out the Dynatron for a bit...if i dont like my temps, ill upgrade

but nice to know the lil cooler can get 1.4ghz

thanks,
-eric

 

[eLiu]

TCWO is a reseller of computer parts...here

they have the absolute cheapest 1 year warranties on tbird cpus buut, if u dont want the warranty, newegg beats'em by about 5-10 bucks.