Hello! I am thinking about overclocking my CPU from 2.70 GHZ. How much should i improve my GHZ? And do you know about how much fps will increase? Last but not least will it damage my PC if i overclock?

 

Specs:

GeForce GTX 970

Intel® Core I5-6400 CPU @ 2.70 GHZ

16 GB RAM

1920x1080, 60 Hz

Welcome to the forum. Your CPU automatically scales up to 3.3Ghz under heavy loads (like FSX). This is called Turbo Mode. It's a  built-in feature of the CPU and is not considered an overclock. Beyond that the i5-6400 is generally cannot be overclocked. I say generally because there are now available motherboards which will allow for a multiplier-locked CPU, like yours, to be overclocked. See this article for more information  http://www.pcworld.com/article/3016158/hardware/ready-set-overclock-your-budget-skylake-cpu.html  .

 

It's not the overclock, per se, that damages PC components. Rather it's the heat generated by the voltage increases necessary to get the CPU to run at a higher frequency. But, if properly cooled, there are seldom any issues with damage from overclocking. The overall life of the CPU may be shortened a bit but most folks never keep a computer long enough to have to worry about that.

 

So, yes you can overclock your CPU but it will probably require a new motherboard and possibly new RAM. You would also undoubtedly have to increase the cooling capacity as well. How much you can overclock (increase the frequency of) any CPU depends heavily on the particular chip. Some chips of a given brand and model just handle the voltages better than others. The only way to know how much any CPU can be overclocked is to try it.

 

My bottom line? You have a great new computer. I wouldn't worry too much about overclocking it. Probably the best you could reasonably expect is a 10-15% FPS increase and you can get that by just reducing the FSX details a bit.

 

Doug

Thanks!

If anyone want to overclock, heat is the thing to watch out for.  I've overclocked several machines and never yet had a CPU failure or burn up, but you do need to be careful - do it a little at a time.

 

Generally you can expect the same percentage increase in frame rates to the percentage overclock.  i.e if you overclock 10% framerates about 10% higher, 20% gives roughly 20% more fps.

 

My current PC has been overclocked by 25% for several years without too many issues, though I do have to run it with the cover off when the weather gets hot in the summer to keep it cool.

 

Use a free program like coretemp and/or speedfan to keep an eye on those temps and google the acceptable limits.

 

Finally - laptops generally don't overclock well, they simply can't get rid of the excess heat and many have locked BIOS's anyway.

 

IAN