Should I overclock?

[AdamantPearce]

So, when I first got my PC I once got told that the motherboard wouldn't really handle overclocking the CPU that well and got suggested that I shouldn't. However, I am now interested into the new GPU coming out tomorrow and I don't really want to upgrade my CPU at this current point in time.

I've got a AMD FX 6300 and a Gigabyte 970A-DS3P motherboard. Would this be okay to overclock the CPU to like 4.1 or something like that?

Thanks.

 

[envy14tpe]

Yes, GO ahead and overclock it. Get at least a Cooler Master 212 EVO or better, but don't spend more than $35 on a cooler cuz it won't help. The mobo limits how far this one will go.
You should safely hit 4.1GHz and maybe 4.2/3GHz. Here are some examples:

http://pcpartpicker.com/b/K4LD4D
http://pcpartpicker.com/b/hsQV3C
http://pcpartpicker.com/b/9F3Ff7

Try for 4.2GHz. Just be patient.

 

[AdamantPearce]

Yes, GO ahead and overclock it. Get at least a Cooler Master 212 EVO or better, but don't spend more than $35 on a cooler cuz it won't help. The mobo limits how far this one will go.
You should safely hit 4.1GHz and maybe 4.2/3GHz. Here are some examples:

http://pcpartpicker.com/b/K4LD4D
http://pcpartpicker.com/b/hsQV3C
http://pcpartpicker.com/b/9F3Ff7

Try for 4.2GHz. Just be patient.

Yeah, my current cooler is a CoolerMaster Seidon 120M. Now, I've never overclocked my CPU before and I don't even know how and what the purpose it is for. I am guessing it will just speed up your CPU overall.

Now, how do I overclock at all? Is there a program which can easily do it or something? If you could link a good Youtube video, that would be great.

Thanks.

 

[envy14tpe]

[/quotemsg]
Yeah, my current cooler is a CoolerMaster Seidon 120M. Now, I've never overclocked my CPU before and I don't even know how and what the purpose it is for. I am guessing it will just speed up your CPU overall.
Now, how do I overclock at all? Is there a program which can easily do it or something? If you could link a good Youtube video, that would be great.
Thanks.
[/quotemsg]

I do all overclocking in BIOS. With your cpu cooler you should do fine hitting 4.2GHz. As to how...Google tutorials on overclocking fx-6300. I haven't overclocked on AMD so I'm not sure what to do differently. In my opinion, overclocking is totally worth it. Especially since you have everything already to do so.

Here is someone with your cpu, cpu cooler, and mobo: http://pcpartpicker.com/b/wrdCmG

So, maybe you can hit 4.3/4GHz if lucky. Just take time to learn. It is an easy learning process.

 

[AdamantPearce]

What are the risks of overclocking your CPU and how stupid do you have to be to break your CPU overall?

 

[envy14tpe]

What are the risks of overclocking your CPU and how stupid do you have to be to break your CPU overall?

As long as you don't add too much voltage or heat, you'll be fine. But you need to know how to tweak the settings. Know the limits and how to identify when its too much.

My i5-2500k has been overclocked to 4.4GHz for 4 years solid. Never issues. And I'm doing so on low end overclocking mobo and cpu cooler. For my own rigs I will always buy to overclock. It has added an extra year of competitiveness to my cpu which came out 5yrs ago. Your cpu came out almost 4yrs ago. Do the best you can with it now and consider a new upgrade in a year or so. I'm waiting for AMD to release new CPUs and compare them to Intel's before deciding which to buy.