What i should know before overclocking

[john_smarty]

what do i need to know before overclocking my i7
how far should i push it on stock ?
how high should my temps be
do i leave the ram at auto ?
questions like these i should know before starting

 

[Cache]

what do i need to know before overclocking my i7
how far should i push it on stock ?
how high should my temps be
do i leave the ram at auto ?
questions like these i should know before starting

You should understand terms used, you should be familiar with the programs used to monitor temps, voltages, etc. You should know the base specs of your system before overclocking with particular attention to the voltage/thermal limits of your processor/RAM/etc. You should know what your motherboard, PSU can actually bring to the party and what limitations they may have that affect your OC.

In short: If you can do it on paper and feel confident that you've got it right, you'll probably be okay. Beyond that, work within the limits that you've seen other people gain on similar motherboards/chips. Don't aim for the highest ones, go middle of the road and then slowly work up to see what your system is capable of.