Can my CPU be overclocked(how do I check this) and what do I need to worry about?

[Gravelord Nito]

My cpu is AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2GHz. I am not gonna change this cpu soon, and this cpu serves me well however I thought it would be good idea to boost it a bit. Rest of my hardware is GTX 970, 8GB RAM, Windows 8.1 64bit. What can be damaged by overclocking besides from CPU? I don't have that much money to rush with stuff like this. What's the risk besides CPU getting burned. Tnx in advance

 

[Tradesman1]

If using the stock AMD cooler, get a better one. Otherwise, yes, you can OC the 955, just take it up slowly and monitor temps.

 

[Gravelord Nito]

If using the stock AMD cooler, get a better one. Otherwise, yes, you can OC the 955, just take it up slowly and monitor temps.

How exactly do I know if my cooler is good enough? By stock cooler you mean the one that I got with my PC, right? Not sure that I understood.

 

[drulfdc]

Normally, it is the one you got with your PC, like this one:
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNAUzzsRBRurVZFrXZzNPdk80hpcFZFZKDC11jig2KL5QHnN5B

You can overclock it around 3.5 - 3.6 GHz @ 1.4V with a stock cooler, just make sure your temperatures don't go over 60 C when stress testing (running Prime95 for 10-15 mins)

 

[Tradesman1]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

 

[Gravelord Nito]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

Well I didn't build for myself, I had AMD HD 7770 before, so I changed that gpu to GTX 970 and also changed power suply. Now it's 550W. That's all I changed. How exactly do I check if I can overclock or not? Is it possible to check somewhere?

 

[RobCrezz]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

Well I didn't build for myself, I had AMD HD 7770 before, so I changed that gpu to GTX 970 and also changed power suply. Now it's 550W. That's all I changed. How exactly do I check if I can overclock or not? Is it possible to check somewhere?

First step is that you NEED a better cpu cooler than the standard one, because it will generate more heat when overclocked.

 

[Gravelord Nito]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

Well I didn't build for myself, I had AMD HD 7770 before, so I changed that gpu to GTX 970 and also changed power suply. Now it's 550W. That's all I changed. How exactly do I check if I can overclock or not? Is it possible to check somewhere?

First step is that you NEED a better cpu cooler than the standard one, because it will generate more heat when overclocked.

How much do those good coolers cost? I am getting i7 4790K in few months. I don't want to pay more than 50-60 euros for cooler.

 

[RobCrezz]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

Well I didn't build for myself, I had AMD HD 7770 before, so I changed that gpu to GTX 970 and also changed power suply. Now it's 550W. That's all I changed. How exactly do I check if I can overclock or not? Is it possible to check somewhere?

First step is that you NEED a better cpu cooler than the standard one, because it will generate more heat when overclocked.

How much do those good coolers cost? I am getting i7 4790K in few months. I don't want to pay more than 50-60 euros for cooler.

There is a big range depending on your budget.

The best budget cooler tends to be the CM Hyper 212 Evo, does a much better job than stock.

For the 4790k I would probably look a bit higher though, is the Phanteks TC-14PE in budget?

 

[Gravelord Nito]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

Well I didn't build for myself, I had AMD HD 7770 before, so I changed that gpu to GTX 970 and also changed power suply. Now it's 550W. That's all I changed. How exactly do I check if I can overclock or not? Is it possible to check somewhere?

First step is that you NEED a better cpu cooler than the standard one, because it will generate more heat when overclocked.

How much do those good coolers cost? I am getting i7 4790K in few months. I don't want to pay more than 50-60 euros for cooler.

There is a big range depending on your budget.

The best budget cooler tends to be the CM Hyper 212 Evo, does a much better job than stock.

For the 4790k I would probably look a bit higher though, is the Phanteks TC-14PE in budget?

Not for 4790K. I will get good one for that cpu. But since I won't upgrade to 4790 in 3-4 months, I asked what would be good cooler for Phenom that I have right now, and that it doesn't cost that much but to be good enough so I can overclock. I am noob for coolers, have no idea what to look for.

 

[RobCrezz]

Is this a rig you built (sounded like) or a prebuilt? If it's a prebuilt you prob have a locked BIOS and can't OC.

Well I didn't build for myself, I had AMD HD 7770 before, so I changed that gpu to GTX 970 and also changed power suply. Now it's 550W. That's all I changed. How exactly do I check if I can overclock or not? Is it possible to check somewhere?

First step is that you NEED a better cpu cooler than the standard one, because it will generate more heat when overclocked.

How much do those good coolers cost? I am getting i7 4790K in few months. I don't want to pay more than 50-60 euros for cooler.

There is a big range depending on your budget.

The best budget cooler tends to be the CM Hyper 212 Evo, does a much better job than stock.

For the 4790k I would probably look a bit higher though, is the Phanteks TC-14PE in budget?

Not for 4790K. I will get good one for that cpu. But since I won't upgrade to 4790 in 3-4 months, I asked what would be good cooler for Phenom that I have right now, and that it doesn't cost that much but to be good enough so I can overclock. I am noob for coolers, have no idea what to look for.

As I said, the CM hyper 212 Evo.