Maximum PC

Question - Does increasing the voltage alone increase clock speed? Or does increasing voltage just allow the overclocks to run more stable since they the hardware is running faster?

Increasing voltage allows the chip to run more stably when it is overclocked but it does not, in itself, increase the speed of the chip.

As with most things, the faster the chip goes, the more power it needs to do so. That's all.

Of course, the tradeoff is that the more power you push into a chip, the more heat it generates.

Understood, thanks for the reply. I figured that was the way it worked but I'm so new to overclocking that I thought I should ask.

Speaking of heat... I'm currently using the stock heat sink/fan on my i7 930. Under full load using Handbrake I reach temperatures as high as 82 Celsius. This is all stock settings mind you. I've read a few different places that, that's pretty high... Thoughts? I've got an after market cooler on the way, I'm just wondering what temps you would be going for.

I keep mine under 75C

Alright, one more question I hope. What effects would increasing the voltage do without increasing the frequency? I'm not talking about going insane with it, but within an acceptable threshold if you were going to overclock.

I'm curious what would happen if the voltage increase exceeded what was needed by the frequency increase?

Bumping the voltage too high creates heat and can fry your chip.

I suggest you find / read a LOT of guides on overclocking and get more familiar with the concept. You run a HUGE risk of damaging your hardware.

I have been. Even watched some youtube videos on it as well. I think I've got a pretty grasp on it. I originally wanted to push my proc in the 4 GHz range, but I think I'll shoot for 3.5 GHz now as that should be very easy to attain without damaging anything. I won't push my proc voltage beyond 1.35v as I'm not comfortable with that.

I've also read about people pushing their RAM to 1.6v which is something else I won't be doing, and I'll probably try to keep my QPI right in the same neck of the woods as my proc. I'm not going to go overboard on this, that's for sure.

4Ghz is ez mode with proper cooling.

I guess I'll just wait and see what the temps look like.

I'm using this cooler - Zalman CNPS9900MAX-R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835118075

Unless you're using a C-0 step i7 920...but I'm making a thread for that...

Damn OC going haywire after a year of stability...