It might not bring any useful information, but for curiosity's sake I'd like to know what is your history of CPU over-clocking. Just list the CPU's (brand, exact or approximate model/core name and stock/OC'ed speed) in chronological order if possible. I'll start with my humble list, some of them weren't over-clocked, but I still include them to have a complete list of CPU's I've owned. If you want you could always include some back story for some of the oldest or "best" CPU's (you don't have to of course).
1) VIA C3 733Mhz @ Stock
That's my first ever CPU (It was my first ever PC of course), I knew nothing about OC'ing back then (that was around summer 2001, yup, I'm fairly new to the PC world, but it's a respectable five years of investment or so since then still). One thing I did know about that chip was its model name, which was told to me by my father (who bought it for almost nothing, it was second-hand PC), and it was a "Samuel" core, or Samuel2 or 3, can't remember exactly though. Although it meant nothing to me, I was like "Samuel core ? huh, alright I guess that means it's cool, thanks dad !" ... yeah, ah the memories ! I also got internet access soon after, and that's when I started leaving Console gaming slowly, but surely.
2) VIA C3 1.0Ghz @ Stock
I still knew pretty much nothing about PC's, but at least it didn't cost me too much, since again I had that CPU in my 2nd PC, that time bought 50/50 with my father. I got that one I believe in February of the following year. I didn't OC it, and I never tried to, BUT my interest towards hardware technology started during the late months of owning that chip, with more and more web-sites popping up regularly giving more info about PC's and overall details about them. That's also when I started registering in discussion forums and started to ask questions, which ultimately were answered by others and myself buying my very first, own custom built PC. By the way I never gamed much on that one, I had Diablo II around, Baldur's Gate and SWAT 3 I think. I got that one for a year or so, until summer 2003 ...
3) Intel Pentium 4C 2.4Ghz @ 2.9Ghz (first OC experience)
Ah yeah, it's summer 2003 now, and it's time to talk about business ! My first day-time job leads me to my very first custom-built PC. And oh boy did I OC that one. I loved it, and I praised my 2.4Ghz for months, until I reached 2.9Ghz on air. Unfortunately I've had a couple of issues with my Power Supply so I believe that my "OC issues" were just in fact my PSU limiting me, however I wouldn't have tried to push it too far because it was already somewhat unstable at 2.9 in some of my games (perhaps, again, due to the PSU, but it wasn't certainty). I almost considered getting a 3.0Ghz+ P4C later on and put better air cooling (third party), but I decided to save my money for a future upgrade on a new architecture instead. Another marking point for me back then was the start of my "PC gaming" career, because I also had enough money to get myself a shiny Radeon 9500, and later on 9600, which allowed me to literally discover PC games. I eventually sold the whole system except for the case to a friend for my next upgrade ...
4) AMD Athlon 64 Clawhammer 3500+ 2.2Ghz @ 2.7Ghz
After I sold my Pentium to my friend, he told me of an independent PC store which mostly focused (but not exclusively) on AMD-based CPU's in their pre-built PC's and for sell for custom builds. So I headed there a couple of times, discussed with the seller (he was a good seller, but far from being idiot, he must have built tens and tens of PC's, so I liked the fact that he even suggested Intel-based builds even though he sold more AMD stuff). But the prices eventually won, so I decided "hey, why not, I don't know AMD, let's try and then let's see".
I liked that chip BUT it had some serious over-heating issue on air, once OC'ed, even with properly applied (in fact re-applied at least for the 4th time) AS5 and efficient case air-flow. It just refused to stay below 65ºC on load at 2.7Ghz+. The thing is ... it NEVER failed on me even at 2.8Ghz. It was frighteningly stable at that speed with load temps reaching as high as 68ºC (might have been higher, since the sensors are rarely 100% accurate). I never tried to push it higher though. So yes I reached 2.8Ghz, but I hadn't left it at that speed for more than just a few hours for testing purposes, I never actually gamed at those speeds and temps. I usually left it at 2.6Ghz for 24/7 usage, although I could have used 2.7Ghz which was the highest I wanted it to be due to scorching temperatures. Oh and ... that freakin' stock air-cooling was LOUD.
5) AMD Athlon 64 San Diego 2700+ 2.2Ghz @ 2.7Ghz
We're now in August 2005, and I just couldn't feel comfortable with that Mobo-scorching overly-heated Clawhammer anymore, so I needed to change it (although it terms of gaming performance did the job relatively well, especially OC'ed). So I opted for the highly-recommended and praised San Diego (although Venice was tempting as well). I had read enough articles and seen enough gamer's experiences with that chip that I couldn't resist. It was a half-thought-out purchase, it was more of an impulsive one than anything else, but it was technically justified in the end. It was indeed radiating less heat even at 2.7Ghz than my Clawhammer, and I believe consumed a little less energy (although I might be wrong about that one).
I tried to push it further, but it wouldn't stay stable in gaming above 2.74Ghz. That was on air once more, however I had a third-party cooling solution from Zalman (CNPS7000B-Cu). Only then I had the feeling to own a "true Athlon 64", hehe. I still have that one sitting in its original box.
6) AMD Athlon 64 X2 Toledo 4400+ 2.2Ghz @ 2.42Ghz
Well, that's my current one. And even though I do like this chip for "general purpose", I absolutely hate it for OC'ing. I managed to make the system boot with it at 2.7Ghz even ... but it refuses to stay stable above 2.48Ghz. One of the cores always fails while the other resumes on benching/testing. I bought mainly because I wanted to experienced the Dual-Core technology, again perhaps an impulsive purchase, but it is technically faster, more "snappier" than my San Diego was.
My future with AMD is uncertain though. Now I am awaiting for Penryn, I'll see the prices and then ... I'll take a decision, but I don't see myself with anything near an AMD K8-based PC ever again. I like OC'ing too much to be limited by such poor performers. I am currently suffering by reading all those reviews and the excitement surrounding the G0's (Q6600), but I must resist !
That's pretty much about it. My story of six CPU's in around five years. I was kinda bored so I made this thread. Thanks for reading if you did, I just wanted to type out some of my experience with CPU's so if you want to share some of yours I'd like to read them.
Wanna share guys ?
1) VIA C3 733Mhz @ Stock
That's my first ever CPU (It was my first ever PC of course), I knew nothing about OC'ing back then (that was around summer 2001, yup, I'm fairly new to the PC world, but it's a respectable five years of investment or so since then still). One thing I did know about that chip was its model name, which was told to me by my father (who bought it for almost nothing, it was second-hand PC), and it was a "Samuel" core, or Samuel2 or 3, can't remember exactly though. Although it meant nothing to me, I was like "Samuel core ? huh, alright I guess that means it's cool, thanks dad !" ... yeah, ah the memories ! I also got internet access soon after, and that's when I started leaving Console gaming slowly, but surely.
2) VIA C3 1.0Ghz @ Stock
I still knew pretty much nothing about PC's, but at least it didn't cost me too much, since again I had that CPU in my 2nd PC, that time bought 50/50 with my father. I got that one I believe in February of the following year. I didn't OC it, and I never tried to, BUT my interest towards hardware technology started during the late months of owning that chip, with more and more web-sites popping up regularly giving more info about PC's and overall details about them. That's also when I started registering in discussion forums and started to ask questions, which ultimately were answered by others and myself buying my very first, own custom built PC. By the way I never gamed much on that one, I had Diablo II around, Baldur's Gate and SWAT 3 I think. I got that one for a year or so, until summer 2003 ...
3) Intel Pentium 4C 2.4Ghz @ 2.9Ghz (first OC experience)
Ah yeah, it's summer 2003 now, and it's time to talk about business ! My first day-time job leads me to my very first custom-built PC. And oh boy did I OC that one. I loved it, and I praised my 2.4Ghz for months, until I reached 2.9Ghz on air. Unfortunately I've had a couple of issues with my Power Supply so I believe that my "OC issues" were just in fact my PSU limiting me, however I wouldn't have tried to push it too far because it was already somewhat unstable at 2.9 in some of my games (perhaps, again, due to the PSU, but it wasn't certainty). I almost considered getting a 3.0Ghz+ P4C later on and put better air cooling (third party), but I decided to save my money for a future upgrade on a new architecture instead. Another marking point for me back then was the start of my "PC gaming" career, because I also had enough money to get myself a shiny Radeon 9500, and later on 9600, which allowed me to literally discover PC games. I eventually sold the whole system except for the case to a friend for my next upgrade ...
4) AMD Athlon 64 Clawhammer 3500+ 2.2Ghz @ 2.7Ghz
After I sold my Pentium to my friend, he told me of an independent PC store which mostly focused (but not exclusively) on AMD-based CPU's in their pre-built PC's and for sell for custom builds. So I headed there a couple of times, discussed with the seller (he was a good seller, but far from being idiot, he must have built tens and tens of PC's, so I liked the fact that he even suggested Intel-based builds even though he sold more AMD stuff). But the prices eventually won, so I decided "hey, why not, I don't know AMD, let's try and then let's see".
I liked that chip BUT it had some serious over-heating issue on air, once OC'ed, even with properly applied (in fact re-applied at least for the 4th time) AS5 and efficient case air-flow. It just refused to stay below 65ºC on load at 2.7Ghz+. The thing is ... it NEVER failed on me even at 2.8Ghz. It was frighteningly stable at that speed with load temps reaching as high as 68ºC (might have been higher, since the sensors are rarely 100% accurate). I never tried to push it higher though. So yes I reached 2.8Ghz, but I hadn't left it at that speed for more than just a few hours for testing purposes, I never actually gamed at those speeds and temps. I usually left it at 2.6Ghz for 24/7 usage, although I could have used 2.7Ghz which was the highest I wanted it to be due to scorching temperatures. Oh and ... that freakin' stock air-cooling was LOUD.
5) AMD Athlon 64 San Diego 2700+ 2.2Ghz @ 2.7Ghz
We're now in August 2005, and I just couldn't feel comfortable with that Mobo-scorching overly-heated Clawhammer anymore, so I needed to change it (although it terms of gaming performance did the job relatively well, especially OC'ed). So I opted for the highly-recommended and praised San Diego (although Venice was tempting as well). I had read enough articles and seen enough gamer's experiences with that chip that I couldn't resist. It was a half-thought-out purchase, it was more of an impulsive one than anything else, but it was technically justified in the end. It was indeed radiating less heat even at 2.7Ghz than my Clawhammer, and I believe consumed a little less energy (although I might be wrong about that one).
I tried to push it further, but it wouldn't stay stable in gaming above 2.74Ghz. That was on air once more, however I had a third-party cooling solution from Zalman (CNPS7000B-Cu). Only then I had the feeling to own a "true Athlon 64", hehe. I still have that one sitting in its original box.
6) AMD Athlon 64 X2 Toledo 4400+ 2.2Ghz @ 2.42Ghz
Well, that's my current one. And even though I do like this chip for "general purpose", I absolutely hate it for OC'ing. I managed to make the system boot with it at 2.7Ghz even ... but it refuses to stay stable above 2.48Ghz. One of the cores always fails while the other resumes on benching/testing. I bought mainly because I wanted to experienced the Dual-Core technology, again perhaps an impulsive purchase, but it is technically faster, more "snappier" than my San Diego was.
My future with AMD is uncertain though. Now I am awaiting for Penryn, I'll see the prices and then ... I'll take a decision, but I don't see myself with anything near an AMD K8-based PC ever again. I like OC'ing too much to be limited by such poor performers. I am currently suffering by reading all those reviews and the excitement surrounding the G0's (Q6600), but I must resist !
That's pretty much about it. My story of six CPU's in around five years. I was kinda bored so I made this thread. Thanks for reading if you did, I just wanted to type out some of my experience with CPU's so if you want to share some of yours I'd like to read them.
Wanna share guys ?