Safe to overclock?

[scoobynilo]

So I have an i7 860 currently overclocked to 3.07GHz. It runs fine, but I've seen people pull of 4GHz out of one of these.

I have a watercooler, although thermal paste does need to be re-applied, so temps would eventually not be a problem (i think atleast).

However, this is where problems start, my motherboard as presets for overclocking which is what i've been using to get me around, as ive yet to understand how to overclock properly, and one of those presets is 4GHz as I want, but my brother, whos currently studying computer engineering and pre owner of the PC, says the motherboard cant handle it, and that Im already starting to push it with the 200MHz overclock. Something about resistors and explosions. 

I tend to trust him, however, if its preset, it should be safe right?

 

Specs:

CPU: i7 860 

GPU: Ati Radeon HD 5770

Mobo: Asus P7P55D LE

RAM: 8GB@2600MHz

PSU: Cant recall exactly the brand, but 650watts.

 

[theereal]

What are your temps? Idle and under load?

[vK 3 1 RON]

Just because it's a preset doesn't mean it can handle it. Let's say your CPU right now is a baby horse, and you put in on a track compared to other full-grown horses like 4690k, 4790K's and other's. They could handle the track because it's meant to suit them, however, the baby horse would end up getting injured or breaking something because it's actual body can't handle the stress. I'm not genius at computers and this could totally be wrong But at least I got a nice phrase out of typing this

[don_svetlio]

if it's not a Z-board then CPU OCing is out of the question unless you want to fry something

If PSU is not good quality then GPU OCing is out of the question unless you want to start a fire.

[scoobynilo]

What are your temps? Idle and under load?

At 3GHz I'm at 45 C in idle and around 55 in GTA V. As i said i have a water cooler but the thermal paste needs replacing.

[don_svetlio]

At 3GHz I'm at 45 C in idle and around 55 in GTA V. As i said i have a water cooler but the thermal paste needs replacing.

Unless you can provide the exact model of the PSU and unless your motherboard is a Z-chipset I would strongly suggest AGAINST OCing anything further, or you are running a high risk of breaking it. Worst case you start a fire.

[scoobynilo]

if it's not a Z-board then CPU OCing is out of the question unless you want to fry something

If PSU is not good quality then GPU OCing is out of the question unless you want to start a fire.

Well this CPU still runs on an LGA1156 socket, dont even think there are Z-boards with this socket.

[don_svetlio]

Well this CPU still runs on an LGA1156 socket, dont even think there are Z-boards with this socket.

EDIT: Google tricked me - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1156

[don_svetlio]

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/264351-29-choosing-1156-motherboard-overclocking

[scoobynilo]

Unless you can provide the exact model of the PSU and unless your motherboard is a Z-chipset I would strongly suggest AGAINST OCing anything further, or you are running a high risk of breaking it. Worst case you start a fire.

It's been done with almost the exact same rig by my brother except the motherboard, so that shouldnt be a problem. The thing is a pin got bent at a PC repair shop and this was the only replacement motherboard they had. They closed up shop so I never got the other motherboard back.

[don_svetlio]

It's been done with almost the exact same rig by my brother except the motherboard, so that shouldnt be a problem. The thing is a pin got bent at a PC repair shop and this was the only replacement motherboard they had. They closed up shop so I never got the other motherboard back.

if it's a cheap PSU it's a high probability it might become unstable or burn out - cheaper ones don't even provide the rated wattage and are missing the vital protections in place on others. From what I read the P55 chipset is not meant for OCIng so do at your own risk. Take a pic of the PSU if possible, maybe we can identify it.

[scoobynilo]

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/264351-29-choosing-1156-motherboard-overclocking

I think I had one of those from the H55 line from gigabyte that they mention in that thread. (explained the story in the other post)

[scoobynilo]

if it's a cheap PSU it's a high probability it might become unstable or burn out - cheaper ones don't even provide the rated wattage and are missing the vital protections in place on others. From what I read the P55 chipset is not meant for OCIng so do at your own risk. Take a pic of the PSU if possible, maybe we can identify it.

I just opened it up and its got no labels, maybe it is a low quality one, not sure, didnt build the PC myself. All i can tell is its black and you can see in it through the back and top vents

[don_svetlio]

I just opened it up and its got no labels, maybe it is a low quality one, not sure, didnt build the PC myself. All i can tell is its black and you can see in it through the back and top vents

if it has no labels then it's more likely to be a cheap one - almost all the good quality PSUs will have a label with the brand and specs on it.

[1B0Y]

Suppose you could overclock it (if it's really necessary). While overclocking, take baby steps and continue to run benchmarks while overclocking. Once the benchmark is unstable, step back once more and you should be good. Just make sure that you monitor temps as well. You don't want that CPU burning out now, would you?

[scoobynilo]

if it has no labels then it's more likely to be a cheap one - almost all the good quality PSUs will have a label with the brand and specs on it.

Exactly my thoughts. Will probably refrain from overclocking this system any further. Might sell this and build up a new one with some investment.

 

Suppose you could overclock it (if it's really necessary). While overclocking, take baby steps and continue to run benchmarks while overclocking. Once the benchmark is unstable, step back once more and you should be good. Just make sure that you monitor temps as well. You don't want that CPU burning out now, would you?

Thats what I did when I overclocked it to 3GHz, didnt even max it out as temps would begin to rise a lot during stress tests, I decided to go with just a small overclock, and it ll probably stay like this for a very long while.