OK..
I'm new here too, but I've noticed a lot of people asking the same n00b questions regarding overclocking. I can't stress enough the importance of having a working knowledge of your computer BEFORE you try to overclock your machine.
At a MINIMUM:
1. Know the make and model of your motherboard. Become familiar with it's specs, such as chipset, supported FSB and supported CPU's.
2. Go into your BIOS settings and RECORD ALL OF YOUR SETTINGS. WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING! I can't stress this enough! If you begin to tamper with your settings and run into problems, you're going to need to know how to reset your settings to their current specs. DON'T PROCEED ANY FURTHER UNTIL YOU'VE COMPLETED THIS MOST IMPORTANT STEP.
3. Know what type of CPU you have in your machine. Is it AMD, Intel or Via? Is it a Duron, T-Bird, Palamino or TBred? Celeron, P4 or maybe a P3? What is the CPU's DEFAULT speed? (i.e. NOT overclocked speed) Know the default multiplier and FSB settings, CPU temperature and if possible core voltage.
4. Know what kind of memory you have in your computer. We need to know more than 64 , 128 or 256 MB. Is it SDRAM? If so, is it PC100 or PC133? Is it DDR? If so, is it PC2700? PC3200? RDRAM? We need to know, because it DOES make a difference.
5. Become familiar with frequently used terms like FSB, multiplier and core voltage.
6. DO YOUR RESEARCH ONLINE. Find out as much as you can about your current hardware. Do a search on Google and get more information. When done, look again.
7. NEVER assume that your CPU will be capable of the same overclock results that someone else claims to have achieved on a similar CPU. People lie, and overclocking results will vary greatly depending on motherboard, chipset, supported/available FSB's and multiplier settings, power supply, CPU, etc. Each processor is different, and results can vary greatly.
8. Before overclocking, invest in the best cooling solution you can afford. Overclocking generates a lot of heat, and overheating can seriously damage or disable your system.
9. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE, DISABLE OR DESTROY YOUR COMPUTER WHILE OVERCLOCKING. Overclocking is a gamble, and the risk of "losing big" is a REAL threat. I've destroyed multiple CPU's and motherboards. You can too if you try it.
10. Make sure you have an alternate way to access the internet/information in case of system failure.
11. If you're using a shared/family/friends/school computer, don't overclock it! PERIOD.
PLEASE keep all of this in mind before proceeding to Part 2 (Coming Soon)
If I've missed any other basics, please add to this thread.
Thanks!
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EPoX EP-8RDA+ nForce2 Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP1700+ @ 166 X 12 = XP2400+
(2) 512 MB DIMM's of CL2 OCZ PC3200 DDR SDRAM in 128 Bit Dual Channel Mode
Gainward GeForce4 Ti4200 @ 300c/550m
