Help with Overclocking

[Salroth]

Alright, I'm very new to the concept of overclocking but I finally have time to try and learn about it to up the performance on my new desktop. The desktop in question is an Ibuypower i grabbed off Newegg a couple of months ago, and man this thing is a dream compared to the last PoS I had. Runs WoW at mostly high/ultra (with shadows down of course) but I feel like it's just waiting to be overclocked.

Wasn't exactly sure what info was needed to see if I could even overclock reliably, but I didn't want an overly long post so i snipped a bit.

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System Information
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Time of this report: 10/6/2011, 18:42:29
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.110622-1503)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: H55M-S2V
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU 550 @ 3.20GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3960MB RAM
Page File: 3789MB used, 4127MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

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DxDiag Notes
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Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

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Display Devices
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Card name: ATI Radeon HD 5450
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x68F9)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68F9&SUBSYS_20091787&REV_00
Display Memory: 2227 MB
Dedicated Memory: 503 MB
Shared Memory: 1723 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: ASUS VH242H
Monitor Id: ACI24F3
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dl l,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1063 (English)
Driver Version: 8.812.0.0
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/4/2011 22:01:12, 708608 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2BB9-11CF-1070-0300BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x68F9
SubSys ID: 0x20091787
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem4.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_EvergreenC:8.812.0.0ci\ven_1002&dev_68f9
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C


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Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
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Drive: C:
Free Space: 878.6 GB
Total Space: 953.8 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 ATA Device

Drive: Q:
Model: n/a

Drive: D:
Model: ATAPI iHAS124 B ATA Device
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7600.16385 (English), , 0 bytes

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System Devices
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Name: Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 3B42
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B42&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&E0
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B34&SUBSYS_50061458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&EF
Driver: n/a

Name: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_E0001458&REV_06\4&906ED74&0&00E5
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B3F&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&D2
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller - 3B30
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B30&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&FB
Driver: n/a

Name: High Definition Audio Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_AA68&SUBSYS_AA681787&REV_00\4&25EF8B73&0&0108
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B3E&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&D1
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B26&SUBSYS_B0021458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&FD
Driver: n/a

Name: ATI Radeon HD 5450
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68F9&SUBSYS_20091787&REV_00\4&25EF8B73&0&0008
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B3C&SUBSYS_50061458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&D7
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B20&SUBSYS_B0021458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&FA
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B3B&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&D0
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) H55 Express Chipset LPC Interface Controller - 3B06
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B06&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&F8
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) Management Engine Interface
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B64&SUBSYS_3B641458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&B0
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B38&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&EA
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) 82801 PCI Bridge - 244E
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_244E&SUBSYS_50001458&REV_A6\3&13C0B0C5&0&F0
Driver: n/a

Name: High Definition Audio Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B56&SUBSYS_A0021458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&D8
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B37&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&E9
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) processor PCI Express Root Port - 0041
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0041&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_18\3&13C0B0C5&0&08
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 - 3B4C
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B4C&SUBSYS_50011458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&E5
Driver: n/a

Name: Standard Universal PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B36&SUBSYS_50041458&REV_06\3&13C0B0C5&0&E8
Driver: n/a

Name: Intel(R) processor DRAM Controller - 0040
Device ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0040&SUBSYS_50001458&REV_18\3&13C0B0C5&0&00
Driver: n/a

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EVR Power Information
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Current Setting: {5C67A112-A4C9-483F-B4A7-1D473BECAFDC} (Quality)
Quality Flags: 2576
Enabled:
Force throttling
Allow half deinterlace
Allow scaling
Decode Power Usage: 100
Balanced Flags: 1424
Enabled:
Force throttling
Allow batching
Force half deinterlace
Force scaling
Decode Power Usage: 50
PowerFlags: 1424
Enabled:
Force throttling
Allow batching
Force half deinterlace
Force scaling
Decode Power Usage: 0

Thanks in advance for any help

[satyrikon]

Far as I know H55 boards dont overclock, youd need to get a new mobo in the p55 series? COuld be wrong but its been awhile since I read about these boards.

Edit- did a couple searches and looks like some people have succeeded in i3 550 + H55M-S2V O/cing


What CPU cooler are you running

[Salroth]

It's the stock Intel heatsink.

[Milkshake86]

You would be incorrect, h55 and p55 both overclock H55 if i am not mistake has onboard graphics, and p55 does not. Id have to look into if that particular board however is ready overclocking it may or may not be. In any event it will likely take a small to medium overclock even if it is not.

Donot do any OCing on stock intel paperweights.

[satyrikon]

wouldnt overclock on a stock, they never keep up.
upgrade that before you worrying bout overclocking imo.

[Salroth]

Alright thanks for the info. What would you recommend upgrading it to? I don't want a massive OC, just a stable bump in performance.

[Nellah]

The i3-550 doesn't generate a terrible amount of heat, download a program like CoreTemp to monitor temperatures and keep it under 60C loaded (I think Prime95 is what people use to load their CPUs, you can use IntelBurnTest but I've never seen my 2500K go as high under any other program as with IBT.)

You'll get a lot better performance upgrading that video card instead of investing in a new CPU cooler, the HD 5450 is the lowest end retail card from the last generation, not even this one.