Hey guys. I've never overclocked a CPU before...I built a new computer a few months ago but held off on getting an aftermarket heatsink, as I wasn't sure if I wanted to OC yet.What I want to know before I buy a CPU cooler and delve into the world of OC'ing is: how much of a performance increase are we talking here? Is it worth the effort/$$?I currently have a I7930 at stock 2.8ghz. I was thinking of going to 3.8ghz or 4.0ghz.other specs: ATI 5870, 6gb ram(ddr3 1600), P6X58D premium moboThanksL. Schwarz

Hey guys. I've never overclocked a CPU before...I built a new computer a few months ago but held off on getting an aftermarket heatsink, as I wasn't sure if I wanted to OC yet.What I want to know before I buy a CPU cooler and delve into the world of OC'ing is: how much of a performance increase are we talking here? Is it worth the effort/$$?I currently have a I7930 at stock 2.8ghz. I was thinking of going to 3.8ghz or 4.0ghz.other specs: ATI 5870, 6gb ram(ddr3 1600), P6X58D premium moboThanksL. Schwarz

Hello Mr. Schwarz,Welcome to AVSIM forums. Lots of nice folks hang out from time to time here. The answer to your question is yes, performance with the i930 can be spectacular. Go ahead, jump in, the water is safe and warm.Stephen

Good evening,I have also a brand new i7 930 and I am wondering where can I find a step by step guide how to do it and not toast it!!!Jean Paul

A have a Q6600 ... I also question if it's worth all the trouble just to gain a few more extra frames. I've looked at a few do-it-yourself videos on You Tube. But I just don't know if it's worth all risks if my system is working okay. Maybe my fears are unfounded. I'd love to push the slidders to the right a bit more and get less tree pop-up. But I guess I'll just live with what I've got for now. Unless somebody out there can convince me that over clocking is the only way to go. :(

At about 3.25GHz is where FSX starts to become real fluid in the the game play. I can tell which way the wind is blowing from while flying the Carenado Bonanza. Makes cross wind landings a hoot when you can pratice the upwind wing low for cross winds. I can even touch down on 1 wheel and rotate with rudder and settle down the other wheels. Bad for cross loads on the gear but super cool to do in FSX world. You will notice subtle thinks such as turbulance and thermals that will buffet your plane. The perception of speed on approach is what sold it for me. Kinda tunnel vision with the trees and weeds screaming buy your canopy. I even notice how the plane buffets around while taxing down the runway. Actually feels like the plane has suspension and bumps and jostles thanks to the EZdok. I'm currently stuck at the 3.66Ghz barrier and cant find a combination to get any higher while being stable under Prime 95 and Intel burn test. Well worth doing though!!

I use QX9770 (3.2GHz) for over a year. It was overclocked to maximum of 4.0. To be honest, I can't see any difference besides higher temps and voltages. So it works under nominal speed. FSX is a different story for every hardware setup I think.

FSX is the ONLY reason I overclock my computer (see my specs below). With my overclock, I can run 100% desity and autogen, maxed terrain, moderate MTX traffic and 12% car traffic, 90km cloud distance, water 2x high and maintain fluidity (20 to 35+ fps, I lock at 35) in everything but the most stressing airports. Without the overclock, fluidity is lost unless I relax settings. Is it worth it: for me it's a hearty Hell Yeah. Here's the best beginners guide I've seen on overclocking the intel nehalems: http://www.overclockers.com/3-step-guide-o...-core-i3-i5-i7/. P.S. I use 'overclock profiles' saved in my Asus mobo's bios to boot between OC and stock conditions. I only run OC with FSX; for everything else the stock i7 is all I need. Note that in my experience with FSX, unless you can hit 3.8 or better the benefits may not that great.Enjoy,

Cheap but efficient and very silent aftermarket cpu cooler: Scythe Mugen 2. I can really recommend it. And make sure your case has sufficient ventilation.My 2 cents. Good luck!

Bonjour!C'est pourtant

Good morning,I am very confused. I thought I was writing on the french forum.In fact what I am saying is that there is a Step by Step User's manual that comes with the Gigabyte UD7 MB.It is a software that can be installed and is called Smart6.One can choose four speeds for the CPU just pressing a button!Normal, Faster, Turbo and Twin Turbo with 3.52Ghz.No needs to go into the BIOS.Jean Paul

Usually, the utilities that come with motherboards, are only moderately effective when it comes to overclocking, you may not be able to overclock much.Personally, I wouldn't trust them for anything other than mild overclocking. If you intend to overclock significantly, then it's best to do so manually in the BIOS, so that you can control voltages yourself.There are plenty of overclocking guides on the Internet, that will teach you the basics. It's really not as hard as you think.Many follow the mild overclock settings of others first, as a template. And then work up from there. Some would frown upon that approach, but with care and an understanding as to what constitutes safe voltages and settings, it can be a valid approach.I'd recommend the Noctua NH-D14 cooler. It's huge, but the best air cooler around. It enables me to clock my i7 920 to 4.2GHz with ease.