I just Build my first PC and I would like to overclock my CPU what do I need to do first?
1. Make shure your cpu is stable as it is ( I reccomend your cpu is under or at 30 degrees on load before you start overclocking
2. if you have part one you are more than likey using a aftermarket cpu cooler if your not then dont overclock
3. so you have 1 and 2 go into your computers bios and bump up the frequency by 100Mhz then go into windows and stress test with prime 95
4. do this until you have maxed out the frequency you can get at that voltage if you are not happy with the clock speed increase the voltage and then continue to bump up 100mhz and then stress test
5. once you have a happy overclock run prime 95 small FFT for about 24 hours to make shure its stable
6. monitor your temps.
7. start playing games
Hope it helped!
Thanks! And one last thing what should be the max tempature for a CPU for it to be a happy overclock?
I can't remember exactly with AMD, but I want to say no higher than 72c, but don't quote me on that. A good rule of thumb is to take the Tj Max temp, subtract 15 degrees, and there is your max safe operating temp. Personally, I don't let my CPU's get much toastier than 65c.
UPDATE: According to CPU-World, the max temp is 70c.