does overclocking really pay off

[Kuky]

Well it does pay off if you don't overdo it and burn your CPU or motherboard... it will not matter if the software/game you are running already has acceptable frame-rate... say if you have a "target" of 30fps at any time while playing this sim and default CPU clock gives you 25fps and you know for sure it's the CPU being the bottleneck and limiting you frame-rate and you are able to overclock CPU by 20% you will achieve your 30FPS target.

If you are getting 30+ you don't need to do it as it defeats the purpose of being able to run faster then what you need.

And why it pays off... because to get that 20% faster clocked CPU you'd normally buy more expensive CPU... by overclocking you achieve the same at must lesser cost (you will still need to get better CPU cooling). So you take the benefit into one hand (you get CPU with more calculations per second hence faster frame-rate) and less paying for the same effect by buying lot more expensive CPU. If this is still unclear then I don't know what else to add... to some it's just personal preference... some love to push their hardware to the limit and most are scared to do it because they've never done it and are not so much into knowing how and why the PC works etc and just want to play their game.

[Rattlehead]

In my experience with overclocking it doesn't make much of a difference to games.

By all means try it for yourself, but the percentage gains will be small. Is it worth stressing your entire system, and sometimes stability, for a few more fps? That's up to you.

[RE77ACTION]

It can absolutely make a big difference. Especially when you overclock something that is your current bottleneck. However, when you overclock a component that isn't your current bottleneck, you should expect no or minor differences. Besides, there are always certain risks involved and power usage will increase dramatically.

[SG1_Lud]

It can make BIG difference.

For good or for bad... if you know what you are doing, is worth it. If not, better stay out.

To do a proper OC needs a lot of reading and understanding... be prepared once you know the minimum stuff for a good amount of tests in your system until you can assure is perfect stable.

To resume in a few lines how one should approach their first OC:

* OC is not only about going up some Mhz in your CPU or GPU speeds. You have to know your system very well and play with many variables in the BIOS, like clock speeds of several components and voltages. The best way to accomplish a succesful overclocking is to join a forum of overclockers of your motherboard.

* Simply because you were able to start windows in a system with a new clock, dont think you're done. You have to assure the stability of the system full loaded (that involves days or weeks of testing), or you risk data corruption and lot of problems and you will complain about the software or the OS, when the blame is yours.

* never, never install anything in a OC state. Switch to normal clocks for installs or risk data corruption very hard to track down.

You see, nothing difficult for us hardcore simmers that like CEM and so... but you have to take it seriously and then it pays off. Let's say you invest a good amount of time in learning, but once you get the skill, you benefit from it forever.

BTW, some stock clocks machines have faults that the average user never notice, until he/she stresses the system enough to show its ugly face, normally in the middle of something... that's why it also pays off to become an advanced user and know how to to test thoroughly even your stock system before doing anything serious whith it.

S!

[SEE]

A PC is a system, RAM, HDD, GFX Card, CPU, PSU, mobo, etc, all of which play a part in the overall performance. OC'ing on its own is not guaranteed to give significant improvements if other parts of the system are underperforming. Bear in mind that overclocking will increase the CPU thermal output (and load on the PSU) and generally requires additional/improved cooling.

Some Mobo and their Bios are better than others and some CPU's more stable than others. Like others have said, read and join a forum that covers your mobo/cpu. There are benefits but there are pitfalls too........

[Ataros]

i7-860
@2.8 stock = occasional micro-stutters both in ArmA2 and BoB in the vicinity of large numbers of AI especially
@3.8 - almost no noticeable stutters after recent patches

[maclean525]

For "games" that don't use much CPU no it doesn't make much of a difference. For sims though, that are very CPU intensive, it makes a HUGE difference. On one of my sims I see a 50% frame rate increase going from stock on my i7 (3.06) to 4.0GHz.

[Ze-Jamz]

Short answer...YES

how someone can say overclocking a 2.8ghz CPU to a 3.8ghz CPU doesnt make any difference is mad..

just make sure you have adequate cooling, that doesnt mean you need water cooling either, i have a CM storm case with 3 fans blowing and sucking aswell as the CPU fan obviously and its OK o/c my Phenom 6 core 2.8 up to 3.5 and its stable without having to worry about extra volts..

i5 very over clockable to 4/4.5ghz from a 3.3ghz
AMD 1100t Black edition is very over clockable which would also do those frequencys..

most Mobos allow you to O/C easily but when you adjust your Cpu frequesncys it will adjust your Ram frequencys too so do your home work:

I have G-Skill 1600mhz Ram that i can only run at 1333Mhz stable when overclocking my Cpu with my particular Mobo-Gigabyte 890GPA (some vary obviously)

[Flyby]

Actually, yes I am speaking about overclocking the CPU. I'm focused on whether or not overclocking would help a complex sim like CLoD. I was looking for some before-and-after data here, if anyone has some to offer up. They guys over at [H]ardOCP test video cards on an x58 board, overclocking the i7-920 to 3.6ghz to "remove the CPU bottle neck". That site has not tested CLoD and may never.
So, I should have posed the question like this: "How much has CLoD benefited from overclocking your processor?" Also is there a point of diminishing returns? As I've said, some guys here are running at over 4ghz. How much more responsive is CLoD to 4+ghz versus <4ghz?
Ought to be revealing. . The answers may help me decide on buying a new processor or keeping the old (un-used) 920
Flyby out
thanks guys