Best Overclocking Methods

Tyler Sternod
English 101 Composition
Dr. Greer
June 30, 2014








The outdated pc components can be a problem when running next generation applications.
Thankfully, there are means to getting a nice boost out of your equipment before retiring them
completely. One of the great ways to improve your pcs performance is by overclocking. In order to
overclock system components, namely the central processing unit, increased voltages and adjusted clock
rates on the CPU are required. Before increasing your core clocks, there are a few things you will need to
consider. Increased voltages will add heat to the CPU, and in order to dissipate this heat, a solid cooling
system must come into play, these can be expensive, and range from small air cooling systems to full
blown liquid nitrogen cooling.
A breath of new found life from a CPU can be a great achievement, although, it is not without
risk if not done properly. A stock air cooler is not ideal for overclocking a system, and will barely keep
the CPU cool even at an idle state. That is not to say all air cooling is bad, after market air cooling set ups
consist of large heat sinks with 120mm fans attached on either side. The heat sink allows the CPU to
spread heat evenly through the metal fins, while the fans stabilize the overall temperature. Air cooling is a
sufficient system while controlling a systems temperature under heavy load, but can be noisy when the
fans pick up in order regulate temperatures properly. These setups can achieve a certain level of
overclocking capability; however, are by no means the ideal setup when trying to substantially cool, and
increase your systems performance.
Depending on your budget, a proper liquid cooling system may be out of range, but luckily, there
is an efficient alternative. Closed loop liquid systems are an all-in-one system with the pump, and
reservoir being used as the bracket mounted to the CPU with liquid filled tubing attached to both the
bracket, as well as a large radiator. The liquid flowing through the metal plating allows for a more
effective heat absorbent as the heat sink and fans regulate the liquids temperature. Gizmodo (2010) states
With higher thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity than air coolers, water cooling can mean
double-digit drops in CPU and GPU temperatures.(P.1) Effectively dropping temperatures anywhere
from 10 to 30 degrees is a drastic improvement, and can also contribute to the lifespan of your system. An
I7-3960x sits at 3.3ghz with factory settings. Overclocked to 4.5ghz with various cooling systems the i7-
3960x achieves very stable temperatures under full load.( Intel Core i7-3960X Processor Extreme
Edition, 2011) All this can be achieved with proper increases and efficient heat dissipation.



From the charts under full load, the Corsair H100i is the clear successor. The H100i is a closed-
loop liquid cooling system priced at $99.99 by online retailers.(http://Newegg.com) While the Nh-D14 is
the best air cooler on the market and also priced at $99.99 through the same reatiler. Extensive
comparisons between the two are continuously being done as the price margin is so similar. Using an
AMD FX 8350 and an AMD FX 4150 similar results can be achieved. In studies conducted on my own
after thirty minutes of 100% load the H100i on the AMD FX 4150 sat at a cool thirty-two degrees
Celsius, while the NH-D14 sat at 39 degrees Celsius under the same stress test. Both require 125 watts,
and are designed using the same architecture. From these results it is safe to say the liquid cooled setup is
superior, and at the same price it is hard not ignore.
While closed loop systems are ideal for any budget oriented computer enthusiast, the true
testament to a CPUs potential is when a custom loop is designed. The highest overclock recorded is on
an AMD FX 8350 and hit 8.7 GHz running stable using a custom liquid nitrogen cooled loop. The 8350
processor with factory clocks sits at 4 GHz, doubling the core clock of any CPU especially one that sits at
4 GHz initially is a huge feat. Great results can be attained from a custom loop, but is not advised for the
inexperienced, as they require frequent up keeping, and hardware monitoring.
Over clocking is necessary when users are unable to purchase better performing parts, or have
reached a cap on their current system. Core clocks measure the rate at which information can be
processed. At a certain point it is the only way a computer can achieve enhanced performance. In the end,
the most cost effective route has to be that of a closed loop water cooler, as it provides better results in
comparison to high end air coolers all while being at the same price. When changing a processor requires
the replacement of numerous components costing upwards of $500, spending $100 on a closed loop
cooling system and overclocking a CPU is a cheap alternative to utilizing the latest, and greatest software
being released.

References
Yang, AY (11-19-2012). AMD Fx-8350 @ 8794 MHz. http://valid.canardpc.com/lpza4n
Retrieved June 30, 2014 from URL
Gizmodo, (2010, April 1). Build a Kick-Ass Liquid Cooling system in 6 Simple Steps LiquidCooling].
Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/189636939/90D27A84DE4A49ACPQ/8?accountid=44903
Angelini, CA (2011, November 14).Intel Core i7-3960X Review: Sandy Bridge-E And X79 Express
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-3960x-x79-sandy-bridge-e,3071.html Retrieved June
30, 2014