General discussion based on Extreme Overclocking

[FireKillerGR]

Hey guys,

I was thinking of finding a way to promote extreme overclocking here in TPU.
As I saw that there wasn't something regarding Xtreme OC, I had the idea to create a general discussion thread.

Purpose of this thread is to discuss about Xtreme OC, see if there are people who are interested in this. BUT I am aiming for people who are just enthusiasts and wanna try their hw's limits like I do.

So, we gonna chit-chat about creating some threads like FAQ and How to in order to inspire new.

Rules of this thread:
1) No flaming, we are here to talk and I will try to solve some of your questions so be polite
2) Everyone is free to express his ideas, thoughts and opinion
3)Forgot what 3 was for... xD Thanks cadaveca... 3) is to have some FUN

So, first question. Are here people who want to participate, learn and discuss with others how to overclock in xtreme ways?


what to include list:

Components insulation/preparation for extreme cooling methods.
Operating System (OS) preparation and optimization
Overclocking guides for specific hardware
Post Codes errors and meaning of them
How to bin hardware, mostly processors.
How to find best driver for a specific benchmark
Which OS is best for each benchmark
Software (may be possible to make a kit of software) thats helps you overclock you components
Overclocking terminology like what is CB, CBB, LOD,Copy Wazza and so on
Hardware modding which will include voltmodding, bios modding and similar mods that can help you achieve higher frequency or solve problems like cold-bug

More to add
Where to buy equipment and what you can do by yourself

[XO] Tweaked and Tiny Operating Systems
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2884450#post2884450

[XO] Motherboard's Post Codes & Meaning
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2884451#post2884451

[XO] Overclocking (and not only) Glossary
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2884476#post2884476

 

[cadaveca]

A list of shops, global, where people can get supplies for extreme OC...pots, insulation, electrical modding bits...would be useful?

3 is for "Have FUN!"

Every board maker has different place to get beta BIOSes and LN2 BIOS for OC. That needs to be all put in one place, too.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Yeap everything is useful

Cant create that anytime but first lets see if some newbies wanna join the club

This is why I added FAQ and How To, in order to help people who want to go to the dark side but they can't understand some points

 

[cadaveca]

Yap, basic tools needed, a checklist, would be great.

breakdown is needed too..

OS prep.
board prep.
vga prep.
mem prep.

Extreme-OC-specific POST CODE list. Like, If I post "23" is IMC, "55" is timings, what does that mean? How do you get around things like that? Cold bug...oy, the cold bug.

Tips on binning parts quickly, etc...

I got lots of ideas, but little time to develop them. :-/ and for me right now, time is becoming more and more of a premium item.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Love the way you are thinking about whole project

Can make guides how to tweak OSes and make them tiny and when I mean tiny I mean tiny

Everything will be added to first post's list thanks for the ideas

 

[cadaveca]

Love the way you are thinking about whole project

Been thinking about it for years, wanted to put LN2 clocking into my reviews, but that is a bit expensive, and W1zz suggested I not bother. Today, I agree with his suggestion, but I still want to see more LN2 lovin'.


But so, I know that there's lots of guys that want to get into LN2 and such, but because there isn't a step-by-step guide, and nowhere to go for real help other than by joining a team(not everyone wants to commit to a team), and lots of "secrets" for getting the most outta clocking, these are huge barriers to jumping in that first time.


I thought long and hard on this subject. As you can maybe tell.

lots of info to cover on Extreme OC, you need a Guru to hold your hand, really, if you get what I mean. Figuring all this stuff out on my own was really really hard, let me tell you.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Been thinking about it for years, wanted to put LN2 clocking into my reviews, but that is a bit expensive, and W1zz suggested I not bother. Today, I agree with his suggestion, but I still want to see more LN2 lovin'.


But so, I know that there's lots of guys that want to get into LN2 and such, but because there isn't a step-by-step guide, and nowhere to go for real help other than by joining a team(not everyone wants to commit to a team), and lots of "secrets" for getting the most outta clocking, these are huge barriers to jumping in that first time.


I thought long and hard on this subject. As you can maybe tell.

lots of info to cover on Extreme OC, you need a Guru to hold your hand, really, if you get what I mean. Figuring all this stuff out on my own was really really hard, let me tell you.

Extreme Overclocking is something I will definitely add to my upcoming reviews.
I have the gear to do so

Yeap, this is the place where everyone will be able to ask for help and help others.
Also, I agree, I got bored of that silly and outdated guides with really old insulation methods

PS. just for the record 23 Post Code error is 100% IMC when 55 can be mem settings (high freq or tight timings) BUT can be IMC aswell

 

[Sasqui]

My question is this... what cooling methods do you consider to be "Extreme"? My list is:

LN2
TEC (Including multi-layered)
Compressive cooling (Including cascade)

Of those three, only the second two really lend to any constant use scenarios.

I consider simple watercooling to be a passive technology, and in all the years I've worked with it, have come to the conclusion it doesn't get you much other than a somewhat cooler CPU, and somewhere on the order of 5%-10% OC over good aircooling.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

My question is this... what cooling methods do you consider to be "Extreme"? My list is:

LN2
TEC (Including multi-layered)

Compressive cooling (Including cascade)

Of those three, only the second two really lend to any constant use scenarios.

I consider simple watercooling to be a passive technology, and in all the years I've worked with it, have come to the conclusion it doesn't get you much other than a somewhat cooler CPU, and somewhere on the order of 5%-10% OC over good aircooling.

I have the above concerns but im interested in this in general.
Im interested but isn't the costs involved high I mean I often have bits lieing around but they are low end tat mostly though might be good for practice.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Any method is xtreme except air and water (liquid helium, liquid nitrogen, cascade, dry ice, single stage, Tec , etc... BUT even then you can make you air/water cooling method extreme Chilled water for example.


Also no high-end hw is required for example I benched with my asus commando earlier today

 

[Cotton_Cup]

http://www.thingstolearn.net/2010/08/whats-the-closest-city-to-the-northsouth-pole/

after reading that with the small town in the pic, just bring your pc there and overclock like hell XD well you might need rads and nice tubing thought and just bury it in snow.

 

[Frick]

http://www.thingstolearn.net/2010/08/whats-the-closest-city-to-the-northsouth-pole/

after reading that with the small town in the pic, just bring your pc there and overclock like hell XD well you might need rads and nice tubing thought and just bury it in snow.

Last winter we had -40C here in the nights for about a week (I live close to this place), that would do for some nice overclocking. Make a cold room in the house and use a KVM so you don't have to be near it.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Yeap even that is an extreme way
Just think how to do your ordinary air cooling or water cooling systems crazy and extree. Then start overclocking

 

[ste2425]

I remember when i first joined there used to be a club house for xtreme or real high oc's. Don't know if its still in use at the moment though?

 

[BiggieShady]

LN2
TEC (Including multi-layered)
Compressive cooling (Including cascade)

Let's not forget Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite.

http://www.ecnmag.com/articles/2011/09/high-performance-solutions-thermal-management-electronics-harsh-environments
http://www.thermacore.com/products/kcore.aspx

 

[Tatty_Two]

I remember when i first joined there used to be a club house for xtreme or real high oc's. Don't know if its still in use at the moment though?

Not active really, there was a time when there were quite a few of us trying to stretch the bounderies but i think with the gradual introduction of generally better overclocking platforms/CPU's etc it has quietened down around here over the last 2 or 3 years. Having said that, there are still a number of enthusiasts here who continue to push hardware to it's limits but I think more privately as a hobby than publically sharing here.

 

[ste2425]

Not active really, there was a time when there were quite a few of us trying to stretch the bounderies but i think with the gradual introduction of generally better overclocking platforms/CPU's etc it has quietened down around here over the last 2 or 3 years. Having said that, there are still a number of enthusiasts here who continue to push hardware to it's limits but I think more privately as a hobby than publically sharing here.

Thought so i certainly remember some form of club house when i first started here, learnt quite a bit reading through. Then i had temporary leave and when i came back lots of things had changed

 

[EarthDog]

Nice to see this place start something like this.

You guys may also want to, once you have some people serious anyway, to create a team at Hwbot.org to post your results and compete with others.

Been thinking about it for years, wanted to put LN2 clocking into my reviews, but that is a bit expensive, and W1zz suggested I not bother. Today, I agree with his suggestion, but I still want to see more LN2 lovin'.


But so, I know that there's lots of guys that want to get into LN2 and such, but because there isn't a step-by-step guide, and nowhere to go for real help other than by joining a team(not everyone wants to commit to a team), and lots of "secrets" for getting the most outta clocking, these are huge barriers to jumping in that first time.


I thought long and hard on this subject. As you can maybe tell.

lots of info to cover on Extreme OC, you need a Guru to hold your hand, really, if you get what I mean. Figuring all this stuff out on my own was really really hard, let me tell you.

We have step by step guides for insulation one can base theirs off of here... Let me link a couple that are not in our private section.

If not ours, then a simple google finds plenty of methods of insulation among other things.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Let's keep it alive guys, I think it worths a try.

Anything to suggest?

 

[drdeathx]

Been thinking about it for years, wanted to put LN2 clocking into my reviews, but that is a bit expensive, and W1zz suggested I not bother. Today, I agree with his suggestion, but I still want to see more LN2 lovin'.


But so, I know that there's lots of guys that want to get into LN2 and such, but because there isn't a step-by-step guide, and nowhere to go for real help other than by joining a team(not everyone wants to commit to a team), and lots of "secrets" for getting the most outta clocking, these are huge barriers to jumping in that first time.


I thought long and hard on this subject. As you can maybe tell.

lots of info to cover on Extreme OC, you need a Guru to hold your hand, really, if you get what I mean. Figuring all this stuff out on my own was really really hard, let me tell you.

Why not DICE? I used to Dice all my reviews. Pulling 6Ghz+ on a review is still impressive. Dry ice is not volatile like LN2 and easy to handle for 1 person.

 

[FireKillerGR]

Who said no when it comes to DICE? DICE is awesome
Helped me many times to test insulation and hardware before LN2

Shall I start creating threads tomorrow? Guides and FAQ?

 

[drdeathx]

Nice to see this place start something like this.

You guys may also want to, once you have some people serious anyway, to create a team at Hwbot.org to post your results and compete with others.

We have step by step guides for insulation one can base theirs off of here... Let me link a couple that are not in our private section.

If not ours, then a simple google finds plenty of methods of insulation among other things.

If TPU is interested. I will keep my Z77 UP7... Lining the board is easy. Just pack the socket with dry eraser. It takes 10 minutes or so.

here is one of my dice runs:





If I could find someone in the Chicago area to help handle LN2 (pouring while I OC), i would happily do a run for TPU.

 

[Mathragh]

Some sort of list of clocks reached with specific CPU's(or GPU's) including information about the systems specs (like motherboard, PSU, and cooling used) so people here on the forum can easily view and compare overclocks. Perhaps categorize by type of cooling used.

Furthermore, I suppose building up some sort of database of clocking specifics could lead to some interesting results, like what average voltage is needed for a certain clockspeed. I could see loads of interesting things resulting of putting a bit of effort in that!

Edit: maybe making such a database for analytical purposes is a bit out of this threads scope, but oh well

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I would think the absolute fastest binning method would be to see what the highest OS bootable frequency is. It won't tell you everything but it's a lot faster than going up a notch at a time and stress testing. If I had 50 some chips I'd start with that.

 

[HammerON]

Who said no regarding DICE? DICE is awesome
Helped me many times to test insulation and hardware before LN2

Shall I start creating threads tomorrow? Guides and FAQ?

I think that would be great. I have never gone beyond water (besides extreme Alaska cold winter weather on air) and would be interested in seeing how to accomplish extreme over clocking