How to Overclock Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad?

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Introduction:

Since mid 2006, the flood of Intel Core 2 Duo depth of flooding the market. Robust, powerful, dual core heating bit: they have everything for them. The Core 2 Duo also a great quality, they are clearly under-exploited when they turn to their frequency of certification. We can therefore take advantage of this fact and optimize the frequency of our dear Core 2 Duo (Core 2 Quad and let's not be sectarian).

Here is the guide that will let you know about step by step in the optimization of your Core 2 Duo, to gain performance and increase the longevity of your platform .

Definition of frequency:-


Frequency is the number of times an action occurs per second. It is expressed in Hertz (Hz).

Examples:

1. The second hand of a clock moves once per second, so it is timed to 1 Hz
2. A movie broadcasts 25 frames per second , it is clocked at 25 Hz
3. A memory is able to update two million times per second, so it is clocked at 2 Million Hz is 2MHz .

Definition of OverClocking:-

The OverClocking (literally overclocking ) is a practice to increase the frequency of a computer to make it faster . Indeed, increasing its frequency is equivalent to him to do more operations per second and thus to accelerate. The overclocking is here, nothing more, nothing less.

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How is it that we can overclock?

This reflects the principle lines of frequencies that the manufacturer of the processor ( called depth ) allows himself .

Example: if a processor is perfectly stable at 3GHz, it will not be certified as being stable at 3GHz but at 2GHz. Why the difference ? Simply because the founder knows that you will naturally put your components in extremely restrictive ... (overheating due to the heatwave , with heaps of dust etc. ). It therefore allows a margin in frequency ( within a 1 GHz ).

NB 1 GHz = Gigahertz = 1 megahertz = 1 000 MHz 1000 = 10 ^ 9 Hertz (in case of difficulty , read our Glossary)

You should know that a full range of processors is based on only one or two processors. For example , the Core 2 Duo 4MB Cache E63xx , E64xx, E66xx, E67xx and X6800 are exactly the same : they are just running at different frequencies depending on the testing process kept secret by Intel. The foundry manufactures do so really only one core (heart of the processor) . According to the obtained stable frequencies but especially after the client request, it classifies all the cores produced in different frequency ranges.

We can therefore, in a CPU overclocking middle range, get exactly the same performance as the model high -end brand ( which costs nearly $ 1,000 often ). Yes , but you tell me if you overclock the high end , we happen to even higher frequencies True, but not so much different than that, after all , they all come out the same ' mold '.

What is the interest for me to overclock my CPU ?

It has already been said but it is good to highlight the benefits of Overclocking. When overclocking, it operated margins set by our friendly manufacturers. This allows us to save money by buying a less "powerful according to the manufacturer” to overclock later.

This can also be a way for you to continue using your current setup correctly yet a good year again. This delays and maturity of a future platform change. Finally, this is also a great way to learn more about the inner workings of your PC . More and more enthusiasts are the overclocking their passion.

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Important components:-

On this page, we will prepare everything that will take us to overclock in software as the level of technical expertise. It is not necessary in the strict sense but nevertheless very useful to know what you do.

Short Course Architecture Core 2 Duo:

Core 2 Duo architecture is common to many others. It is composed of four elements :

1. The processor (CPU ) which is the unit of computer calculation
2. The Main Memory ( RAM ) which is the storage location of data processor will need
3. The NorthBridge Chipset ( NB ) which is the interface between the RAM, processor and graphics card
4. The Southbridge chipset ( SB ) that management of all the rest (Hard drives, USB , Sound, BIOS, Network

Have you ever heard of FSB?

The FSB: Front Side Bus is the set of connections that link the processor chipset. And yes, the FSB is a set of son, simple pieces of metal. There are often ambiguities on this, so beware.


A little theory:-


For historical reasons, the processor frequency is always equal to the FSB x multiplier (we’ll call here coeff . CPU)
Example: Core 2 Duo E6600 : 266MHz ( FSB) x 9 ( coeff. CPU ) = 2400 MHz

We therefore two ways to overclock Processor:

1. Increase coeff. CPU (Hey hey, just but manufacturers have understood this and we cannot mount this coeff. freely long)
2. Note on the coeff CPU. It is important to know that the coeff are generally free to the descent, making it possible to save power when the CPU is rarely used.
3. Increase FSB! That is how we will proceed. Today, the motherboard manufacturers we offer motherboards capable of imposing the FSB that you want.

In this part , so we will just play on the margins already well known to your charming processors and one can almost guarantee your earnings, however , overclocking is never an exact science and we'll hole which makes a limit 20% overclocking.

Small note to reassure you that following this guide you cannot fry your CPU. At worst, it will crash, a reboot and it left even a Clear CMOS.

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Download and information about your hardware:-

Here begins the practical part of this guide :
Start by staying on Windows and run a small. Download CPU -Z ( Provides basic information on your configuration. CPU -Z will give you vital clues to the sequence of operations: Model CPU , FSB current coeff . CPU usage etc.


Here's an example:

Other Tools:

1. Download SetFSB
2. Download OCCT

Overclocking practice:

There 2 methods to mount the FSB :

• Directly by BIOS
• Under Windows using software SetFSB.

We will proceed in three stages:

• Enable overclocking in BIOS
• Overclocking in Windows and test the stability
• Application of the final parameters in the BIOS

First Step : Activation of overclocking in the BIOS:

At startup , go into the BIOS by pressing " del " . Activate the control of the FSB ( force it to 267 MHz instead of the 266 original ) . Here's what happens in different BIOS. Later on Save and exit.

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Overclocking Windows and stability test:-

Now start Windows. Run cpuz and SetFSB . In SetFSB sure to select the PLL for your motherboard.

Still SetFSB , click on Get FSB then move the main cursor ( the top one ) to the right of way to reach 292Mhz FSB ( = 10% overclocking ). Apply changes with Set FSB, and see that the new 292Mhz FSB is implemented for CPU-Z. Well, you already have 10% more performance. Now repeat the steps for putting the cursor up to 320 and then apply. And voila, your CPU is now running 120% of its original capacity


Test System Stability:-

Run OCCT and test of 30 minutes. If after 30 minutes it did not detect any errors, then your system is stable. If it is not stable , so your FSB back down a bit and retest. This means that you have a misconfiguration of your RAM and if you want to go further, you should read the second part in which you learn to adjust your memory. If everything is stable, then you can restart and return to the BIOS.


Application parameters directly in the BIOS:-

See you in the appropriate part of your BIOS and enter directly the value of FSB of 320. Apply changes and restart, Hope, It's your CPU is overclocked automatically at startup. If boot problem , you need to do a Clear CMOS . The main is to move a jumper on the motherboard and the PC is off replace as shown on the manual of your motherboard. This will effectively reset all the default settings . In case of problems with long-term stability (it should not have but you never know).

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Conclusion:-

I hope I have helped to slightly overclock your processor. A few years ago, 20% overclock was not nothing but now with the Core 2 Duo, overclocking margin has shifted considerably increased. If you want to go further, more performance, but also include everything you do to control your hardware at your fingertips, then I suggest you read the second article of this guide. You'll find explanations and tools that allow you to calculate the best settings and thus push your processor to its limits. (Overclocking up to 50% and +). You also earn the memory and chipset to increase your memory bandwidth by using more appropriate settings.