Overclocking

[PurpleScotch]

Ok, so I installed the latest Omega ATi driver and it included ATI Tray tools...this program also included an overclocking feature, can someone tell me how do I overclock my graphic card (9550, hey don't laugh ) without overheating my system a lot.

I want it to run better, because for now I'm no where near an upgrade.

Thanks.

[PurpleScotch]

So you would know what this thing looks like here's an image:


I want to get it to run better and faster without the need to burn my computer into firewood.

[Freddie]

Overclocking you video card isn’t like overclocking your CPU. Clock rate on a video card has a much lesser bearing on performance then the clock rate of your CPU. I should also warn you that you risk permanently damaging your video card beyond repair and this is a lot easier to do on a video card then it is on a CPU because on most CPU’s (namely Intel’s) you they have auto shutdown when they get to hot.

Firstly I would establish a base for performance for you video card, use a programme like 3Dmark05 or in your case I would use 3Dmark01/2001. Write down the score then you can start overclocking your video card. I would increase the memory bandwidth in 5Mhz increments at a time, after which I would run that Artifact Tester tool, keep increasing it until you start to Artifacts appear (minor graphical corruption) then pull the speed back down by 5Hmz and see if it does it again. To be safe I would keep it 10Mhz below its threshold. Once your card has reached it equilibrium, run 3DMark again and see if you have managed to increase your score.

Overclocking will shorten the life of you card, so be warned.

[PurpleScotch]

Thanks for the info.

Is there any similar overclocking program for my Intel Pentium IV?

[Freddie]

Thanks for the info.

Is there any similar overclocking program for my Intel Pentium IV?

I would never overclock my CPU from windows, I tried it once and left the programme I using on auto overlclock, I went to the toilet and when I came back my computer had switched itself off. I tried to boot up again and it started to load windows then suddently my system crashed I tired this several times and I couldn’t load XP. What had happened is that the tool was overclocking the CPU to the same point were it crashed the first time so every time windows was being loaded the CPU would get overclocked and the system would crash, and I couldn’t break the cycle. What I need to do was to get into windows to disable the overclock this MSI programme had created (the o/c wouldn’t kick in until windows started to load so I couldn't disable it via the bios). It was a nightmare. In the end I made use of my second hard drive installed Windows 98 on it and set the other HD in slave mode and deleted the MSI overclocking 'utility' safely from the original HD which meant I then had to reverse the hard drives again in order to get back into Windows XP.

Now that was 4 years ago, and that still haunts me today and that’s why I never use a windows based programme to overclock my CPU. Now if you want to o/c you P4 do it via the bios screen, its a lot safer imo then doing via windows. There are plenty of guides around (check out the sticky threads) the internet that can help you, I know from experience the P4 is a great overclocker.

[Roman Clone]

I would never overclock my CPU from windows, I tried it once and left the programme I using on auto overlclock, I went to the toilet and when I came back my computer had switched itself off. I tried to boot up again and it started to load windows then suddently my system crashed I tired this several times and I couldn’t load XP. What had happened is that the tool was overclocking the CPU to the same point were it crashed the first time so every time windows was being loaded the CPU would get overclocked and the system would crash, and I couldn’t break the cycle. What I need to do was to get into windows to disable the overclock this MSI programme had created (the o/c wouldn’t kick in until windows started to load so I couldn't disable it via the bios). It was a nightmare. In the end I made use of my second hard drive installed Windows 98 on it and set the other HD in slave mode and deleted the MSI overclocking 'utility' safely from the original HD which meant I then had to reverse the hard drives again in order to get back into Windows XP.

Now that was 4 years ago, and that still haunts me today and that’s why I never use a windows based programme to overclock my CPU. Now if you want to o/c you P4 do it via the bios screen, its a lot safer imo then doing via windows. There are plenty of guides around (check out the sticky threads) the internet that can help you, I know from experience the P4 is a great overclocker.

Don't Use Window's Programs at all!

[spartan_phalanx]

Actually I have used 'ClockGen' and it's fine. Once you reach your limit the computer freezes or such and you just reboot. Since it isn't registered for 'at startup' it's fine. See the overclocker's thread for details on what I reached using it. As your just starting out I would say to study up on your motherboard and it's bios features.

[PurpleScotch]

Thanks, now I know i shouldn't use those programs.

About the BIOS screen, how much would a 2.67 GHz P4 CPU need to be overclocked to get the best performance without hurting the PC?

[Timmius]

Thanks, now I know i shouldn't use those programs.

About the BIOS screen, how much would a 2.67 GHz P4 CPU need to be overclocked to get the best performance without hurting the PC?

That very much depends on the individual processor and the level of cooling you're using. Basically the cooler the safer. But if you're just starting overclocking I wouldn't recommend going for you're CPU's top since screwing that up has such big consequences.

For your videocard you should take a look at this:
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/