Maximum PC

I have been reading a wide variety of posts and have been following most things. I guess I have a couple of questions for you folks who've done a lot of builds at this point. I am about to start my first build. It appears that the mobos and GPUs come with their own software and User Interfaces to customize and Overclock. However, is there any software or shareware that I should consider getting that could help me set up my system? I thought I'd ask since I am just about to purchase my mobo. I am planning on getting a Core i5 chip, an ASRock Mobo and probably a GTX 570 GPU *or 580 depending upon what I can afford when the time comes). Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Whistler

With Motherboards, you go through the BIOS (which you should know how to use) or it's successor, the UEFI. With the exception of certain Intel boards, there is no customization software in the traditional sense.
There is no software that you should get that promises to help out. Most are scams/viruses/spyware/nasty stuff. Find your drivers on the official GeForce or Nvidia site, and do the same for your mobo. Install these after installing the operating system, which SHOULD be win7.
BTW, you double posted.

I didn't realize I double posted - thanks for letting me know. Regarding BIOS/UEFI, I am an old guy and learning fast. I have already added a couple of more books to my reading table.
Thanks again,
Whistler

Once you've purchased your system, and overclocked it. If you haven't already. Run prime95 on it to test the core(S).

Unfortunately, my mobo doesn't allow OC'ing. I OC'd my GPU, though.

@ noghiri_x Any motherboard can theoretically be overclocked if the PLL isn't locked, unless it depends on an integrated SandyBridge or Brazos clockgen. Do you have a model number and chipset info for this board?

@Whistler if you want to OC Sandy Bridge make sure that board is rocking a P67 or Z68 chipset and be certain to purchase a K series i5 or you'll be SOL.

It is locked. The board is a Livermore8 from ecs. It might not be safe, anyway.

So...what...you're rockin' a HP or EMachine? No PLL lock on that board. Should be able to push the bus.

Flash your board with the rev 1.0 BIOS for the 945GCT-M board...

http://www.overclock.net/Intel-general/ ... nitor.html

Compaq, but that amounts to an HP.
Are you sure this won't burn my board with a conservative OC?

Keep an eye on your temps. With a modest overclock, your board temps shouldn't be too much warmer unless your case is an oven.

What are you running? Core 2 Duo, 775? That's where most of your added heat will come from. If you have a decent heatsink, and at least an intake and exhaust fan on the chassis, you'll be fine to bump the clocks a little; at least enough to evaluate the hack, and see how the system responds.

How much does your board report to a utility like HWMonitor?

My cpu is an <cough> p4 3.3ghz. Single core.
It gives everything to CPUZ. Does that work? Also, the link you gave us doesn't link to the BIOS version.

Thanks Vig1lant3. The plan is to do a Z68 board in the $190 - $250 range and a Core i5 K CPU. I can't see spending the extra hundred for the i7 K when pretty much all the reviews I've read say unless you're doing major graphics work or calculations, you just don't need the i7 K to run your Gaming rig and overclock. Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks
Whistler

Sounds right.

Thanks noghiri_x. I appreciate the feedback.
Whistler

My only thoughts on the matter are that you will need a K-series CPU and either a P67 or Z68 chipset to overclock. Non K Sandy Bridge chips will not OC and there are plenty of other LGA1155 chipsets that don't allow OC'ing. Which parts you choose is entirely up to you. The only difference between the i5 and i7 is the i7's Hyperthreading and increased L3 cache for the most part. Shouldn't need either unless you do a lot of multitasking.

CPU-Z does not report temps. You'll need a monitor that does. HWMonitor can be DL'd from the same site you get CPU-Z from, so I would start there.

And no, I did not link the BIOS. You should be able to go right to the ECS mfg website, look up the 945GCT-M, and DL the BIOS directly.

Thanks!

Thanks Vig1lant3. That's pretty much what I concluded. Probably not doing a whole lot of multitasking where hyperthreading would be needed.
Whistler