Please help over clock an AMD Phenom II X6 1100T BE

[crazyperson214]

I was looking at "upgrading" my pc which turned into a whole new PC. But I figured out my HDD is the bottleneck slowing me down (plans to replace it). So instead I am looking at overclocking my CPU for a bit more performance until I see what new AMD CPU comes out this year.

My system specs:
cpu: AMD Phenom II X6 1100T BE stock cooler
mobo: Gigabyte M68MT-S2P micro atx mobo
gpu: MSI GTX 970 4 gb GDDR5
system ram: 8gb DDR3
1tb HDD
PSU: 675 watt

I am would REALLY like to get 4 GHz out of my cpu, but realize this might not be possible.

I figure I will need a new CPU cooler, but which one for my goal of 4 GHz?
Probably need a new case to fit a large air cooler or radiator for liquid cooling.
I have plenty of case fans lol.

Do I need these? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835708011

Finally, how should I overclock my CPU? BIOS, AMD CCC, easytune? I have never done this before so I really need pointed in the right direction!

 

[clutchc]

OC'ing on that board you do at your own risk. It is not designed for heavy OC'ing a 125W CPU like you have. It has rather poor phase power too. The add-on heat sinks will definitely be a must-have if you want to give it a go anyway. And yes, get an aftermarket cooler for sure. The best low cost cooler will be the 212 EVO (if your case has room) The cooler sits 6.3"above the CPU in height. http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-212-evo/

Do your OC'ing all in BIOS. Disable turbo mode first. Increase the CPU clock multiplier one click. Save and boot to Win. Run something like IBT at the default settings to check for stability. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/intelburntest.html
If it passes and if temps are within safe limits, you can return to BIOS and increase the multi by another click. Save and repeat.

Eventually you will end up with a failed IBT result, or temps will be too high. Assuming temps are still good, but IBT didn't pass, you can either reduce the multi and live with that or begin increasing the vcore (CPU voltage) to try to regain stability. Increase it in as small an increment as allowed in BIOS. Test for IBT stability and temps between increases. When stable, you can either stop there or try for another multi increase.

I doubt you'll get anywhere near 4GHz, though.

 

[crazyperson214]

OC'ing on that board you do at your own risk. It is not designed for heavy OC'ing a 125W CPU like you have. It has rather poor phase power too. The add-on heat sinks will definitely be a must-have if you want to give it a go anyway. And yes, get an aftermarket cooler for sure. The best low cost cooler will be the 212 EVO (if your case has room) The cooler sits 6.3"above the CPU in height. http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-212-evo/

Do your OC'ing all in BIOS. Disable turbo mode first. Increase the CPU clock multiplier one click. Save and boot to Win. Run something like IBT at the default settings to check for stability. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/intelburntest.html
If it passes and if temps are within safe limits, you can return to BIOS and increase the multi by another click. Save and repeat.

Eventually you will end up with a failed IBT result, or temps will be too high. Assuming temps are still good, but IBT didn't pass, you can either reduce the multi and live with that or begin increasing the vcore (CPU voltage) to try to regain stability. Increase it in as small an increment as allowed in BIOS. Test for IBT stability and temps between increases. When stable, you can either stop there or try for another multi increase.

I doubt you'll get anywhere near 4GHz, though.

If I bought a new micro atx mobo for say $50 to $75, would that be enough to get my cpu to 4 GHz?

Would something like this work?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130679

Also, I plan on buying one of corsairs H100s series water coolers. I just need to find one that works with my current cpu and the intels lga 1151 socket so I can upgrade to if I want.

 

[clutchc]

No, that is not designed for OC'ing either. Look for ones that have a heat sink on the VRMs.
There are not many mATX boards for the AM3/AM3+ socket designed for OC'ing. I only know of this one:
mATX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582

 

[crazyperson214]

No, that is not designed for OC'ing either. Look for ones that have a heat sink on the VRMs.
There are not many mATX boards for the AM3/AM3+ socket designed for OC'ing. I only know of this one:
mATX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582

Thanks! I really need to think about what I am going to do still. Realized the other day that my computer is 4 years old and the cpu even older. I mean the cpu still runs good so that makes it even harder to buy a new one lol. Hard decisions!

 

[clutchc]

What is your main use for the computer that would warrant the upgrade or overclocking? Gaming?
I have 3 AMD machines right now... Athlon II X4 645 on an obsolete Biostar DDR2 motherboard, a Phenom II X4 965 BE on an MSI AM3 board, and a FX-8350 on an Asrock AM3+ board. Then, there's my Intel machines...

 

[crazyperson214]

Gaming and simulation gaming. I currently run one 27 inch 4k monitor and one 23 inch 3k monitor. I also like to have multuple firefox tabs open when gaming as well as any calculators, excel sheets, ms word, etc. I like to have a bunch of stuff on my 3k monitor to monitor my hardware and let me look up / keep track of things while I play.

I felt because of all that and the massive resolutions, I should oc or get a faster chip. Im no expert by any means lol, so I dont know how well my chip performs doing all that, I just know its old, but still has some potential.

 

[madmatt30]

You 'may' be able to overclock OK on your current board but 4ghz is optimistic unless you have a golden chip.

To even stand a chance though go for a cooler like the Pallas which offers board component cooling (those little MOSFET heatsinks you listed are worthless imo)

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/raijintek-cpu-cooler-0r100012

 

[crazyperson214]

Madmatt, I was thinking about a Corsair cpu water cooler with 240/280mm radiator and then adding an additional fan on top of the cpu socket attached via the water cooler. Then I might have both/either a intake fan on the back of the mobo or on 'top'(side of case) of the mobo to help cool the cpu even more. I read about AMDs new cooler on here and how it keeps the mb components around the cpu cool since it blows air down onto the board instead of across, thats the effect I want to achieve.

My thinking is by cooling both I will have more of a chance for a high oc.

 

[madmatt30]

Madmatt, I was thinking about a Corsair cpu water cooler with 240/280mm radiator and then adding an additional fan on top of the cpu socket attached via the water cooler. Then I might have both/either a intake fan on the back of the mobo or on 'top'(side of case) of the mobo to help cool the cpu even more. I read about AMDs new cooler on here and how it keeps the mb components around the cpu cool since it blows air down onto the board instead of across, thats the effect I want to achieve.

My thinking is by cooling both I will have more of a chance for a high oc.

your idea sounds fine in theory but in real life is incredibly flawed & overcomplicated ( & expensive)

the problem with overclocking that old 6 core phenom is simply that its an inefficient chip ,some do 3.6,some do 3.8,some do in excess of 4ghz easily but you never know until you try.
Youve read about the new wraith cooler & for a stock cooler it looks impressive, BUT while the pallas is not the best actual cpu cooler in the world (& it doesnt claim to be) it is roughly on a par with the 212 evo or similar which is quite simply good enough.

What it is absolutely unequivocally is though is the king of board component & vrm cooling,it is matched by the thermaltake axp 200 because theyre essentially the same cooler but the thermaltake is $20 more expensive.
its quite simply the best $40 you could spend to actually try out your overclocking,if you cant hit 4ghz it will be down to the binning of your cpu and/or actual board quality not the cooler itself.

As an all in one cpu & vrm cooling solution I cant urge you enough to drop your $40 there rather than spending excessively on your own idea which wont offer results any better at all.

 

[madmatt30]

as a pointer to what im sayng click on the dark blue cpu-z tag on my posts,thats a 6300 runnnig at 4.3ghz on a 4 phase asus board (whihc is roughly on a par with your old gigabyte) - cpu temps under prime 55c max,vrm temps measured with an infrared thermostat - 37c - thats absoluely the most theyve hit since installing the pallas.
Fair enough the 6300 is only a 95w chip & more efficient than that old phenom,mine is also a very very good sample picked from a batch of a dozen myself.
Ive actually managed 4.6ghz on the same board/cooler & temps were still fine but the cpu required more voltage than I deem worthwhile for the performanec increase I actually got.

they are incredibly impressive results though & absolutely 100% down to the pallas ,nothing more.

 

[crazyperson214]

as a pointer to what im sayng click on the dark blue cpu-z tag on my posts,thats a 6300 runnnig at 4.3ghz on a 4 phase asus board (whihc is roughly on a par with your old gigabyte) - cpu temps under prime 55c max,vrm temps measured with an infrared thermostat - 37c - thats absoluely the most theyve hit since installing the pallas.
Fair enough the 6300 is only a 95w chip & more efficient than that old phenom,mine is also a very very good sample picked from a batch of a dozen myself.
Ive actually managed 4.6ghz on the same board/cooler & temps were still fine but the cpu required more voltage than I deem worthwhile for the performanec increase I actually got.

they are incredibly impressive results though & absolutely 100% down to the pallas ,nothing more.

Thank you for your replies! To me, it basically sounds like OC'ing my 1100T is going to be a lot of work and high risk to components for little performance gain, especially if I want to get to 4 GHz, which might not even be possible.

Also, I will most likely buy that cooler you mentioned, I really like how it cools the mobo as well.

In your opinion would it just be better to buy a new cpu and board?

 

[madmatt30]

Any overclocking is a lot of work mate to do properly & get optimal results.

Your board is basic & only supports 125w chips, but primarily gigabyte use good components & regularly understate capabilities rather than overstate.
There are no guarantees but with the Pallas you will ultimately at least have a chance.
If you've got a good sample CPU its sometimes possible to overclock & undervolt simultaneously.

Would a new board/CPU be better & a more guaranteed performance increase??
Yes absolutely mate, but were talking a $250 spend there versus $40 for a cooler to try it out first.

Take into consideration should you not get the results you want that that Pallas will carry over fine into any new Intel/amd build so is an investment rather than a one off buy IMO.
Its not the best CPU cooler by a long stretch but it will handle any Intel chip or fx 8 core (barring the 9370/9590) absolutely fine.

 

[crazyperson214]

Any overclocking is a lot of work mate to do properly & get optimal results.

Your board is basic & only supports 125w chips, but primarily gigabyte use good components & regularly understate capabilities rather than overstate.
There are no guarantees but with the Pallas you will ultimately at least have a chance.
If you've got a good sample CPU its sometimes possible to overclock & undervolt simultaneously.

Would a new board/CPU be better & a more guaranteed performance increase??
Yes absolutely mate, but were talking a $250 spend there versus $40 for a cooler to try it out first.

Take into consideration should you not get the results you want that that Pallas will carry over fine into any new Intel/amd build so is an investment rather than a one off buy IMO.
Its not the best CPU cooler by a long stretch but it will handle any Intel chip or fx 8 core (barring the 9370/9590) absolutely fine.

Indeed true, thanks. I have a tendency to do things the hard way lol. I will definitely try some OC with that cooler then. Even if that doesn't work out, I'll have the cooler and I can use my old PC as a game server.