i need overclocking for idiots
 

i have the e8400 cpu want to try and get more out of it Any good sites that i can get easy to understand info on the process?

The overclocking forums at Toms Hardware is a good place to start:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum-29.html

If you just want modest overclocking... turn up your front side bus frequency to a reasonable setting. FSB X frequency multiplier = your CPU clock speed. Pick a modest speed that you want.

Run software CPU-Z to double check the settings. Run 'Real Temp' to make sure your CPU isn't getting too hot. For anything beyond a modest overclock, you'll need a 3rd party CPU cooler.

Run Prime95 or OCCT to test the new settings and make sure it is stable. If you get errors, the system hangs, or you get a BSOD, you need to up your VCore (CPU voltage) a little. Don't push it more than 1.35V to be safe. With a modest setting I'm sure you'll be fine with 1.25V or less.

Basically, keep increasing the CPU voltage by small increments untill Prime95 or OCCT will run for a while at that CPU speed without showing any errors.

If you want to push it, you'll need to read a ton about how to tweak every little BIOS setting, and have really good cooling. If you want something modest, it's just FSB freq, and Vcore.

I personally like ocforums.com they have tutorials for all of the popular CPUs stickied for you to check out..

It's pretty simple.

thanks i will check them out if i can get it from 3.0 to 3.4 or3.6 i would be happy.want to be conservative dont want to fry it

Overclocking Caution
 

I'll let you in on a few secrets about overclocking. It's obvious that you are endangering your hardware, that's no secret. But, you are also endangering the very data that runs through the system. If things don't go well, you can corrupt your Operating System and any other data that is accessed within the system. Translation you can bork Windows, or the data on your hard drive. When you are overclocking, you are working without a net.

There is no such thing as 'overclocking for dummies' in the sense that it can be done safely, or with no risk. Each system is different, and what works for me, might corrupt your system. The modest gains you are likely to see, are not going to be worth risk...unless you are prepared to fully reinstall your system and have all your data backed up.

Bottom line: Never overclock on a primary/work system. Once you have achieved a stable overclock on a system, THEN you can make it into a primary/work system.

If you proceed
 

I did a quick google search on the 8400 processor. The good news is that it is a good overclocking processor. However, to get the most out of it under air cooling, you'll need something better than the stock cooler these are the recommended cooler and backplate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233019

Anyway, hope this helps.

Not as aggressive as a lot of approaches, but if you've got an nvidia card... I've always like Nvidia Ntune...

Great overall tweaker and test setup.

now you scared me lol so maybe i will just replace it with a q9550

I agree with RevTKS69, overclocking is not for newbies. Either hire a pro or simply upgrade your system.

when i was learning basics i killed two systems dont want to do that with this one lol

google

search "overclocking e8400"

... i dunno, might be a good start.

Ok that how overlocking goes. Very much thank you on the info.

I always thought of overclocking as being more of a "hey look what I did" thing rather than a serious thing to do to your computer that you rely on for work, doesn't seem worth the trouble for a negligible improvement :2 cents:

I am also looking into this right now with my e6600 processor.

What are you hoping to achieve by overclocking? 3.0 to 3.6 is a +20% overclock which I wouldn't really call "conservative." ;) If you're wanting to overclock for a good reason (rather than just fiddling) then you may end up disappointed with the results... a "slow" computer isn't necessarily due to an underpowered CPU, it could also be insufficient RAM, hard drive and other storage bottlenecks, OS settings, etc...

Putting it another way: I use to have a Q6600 in my desktop, but since there's only a couple of apps that really use its full capacity, and I use them infrequently, I decided it would be put to better use elsewhere. I now have a "lowly" E2180 CPU in my desktop and I can barely perceive any difference.

Toms Hardware is the place to be

Hmm overclocking...