Project Reality Forums

Hi there

Since PR has become such a demanding game when it comes to hardware I have decided to try to overclock my old Nvidia 8600 GT 512 mb.
I've never tried overclocking before but it seems simple enough with the software available.

I'm using Rivatuner for my little experiment and have clocked my GPU to about 600/800 for now [core and memory]. The standard settings are 540/700. When playing PR the heat of the GPU never exceeds 60 'c so heat is not an issue so far.

Problem is that I really can't tell the difference. I think I saw an improvement on Fallujah West but I still had some major fps drops.

I would like to hear about people in here that have overclocked their system (preferable with Nvidia cards in the 8xxx series)

My specs:

Intel Pentium 4 3.00 Ghz
2.5 Gb RAM
Nvidia 8600 GT 512 mb
OS: XP

I'm also thinking about overclocking my CPU and RAM since i figured I might as well devote this old PC to learn about overclocking overall.. does anybody have some good softtware advice for this? I read that overclocking CPU's should only be done in the BIOS.

First of all use some app to log the gpu and cpu usage and temps. So you have raw data to compare later on when you OC. For gpu u can use gpu-z but i would recommend using Everest to log both cpu and gpu + whatnot.

Bios indeed is the right place to do the OCing for CPU but if u are out of luck like I with an Intel mobo, you can always try SetFSB program which is quite handy when you get the hang of it.

Alright thanks for the input.. Unfortunatly I won't be able to mess around with my computer until next week since I won't be home.

Oh Intel motherboards can't be clocked in BIOS? I have an Intel motherboard

Afaik most of Intel mobos don't have options for it in the Bios. You'll find out in a week, i suppose.

Intel Pentium 4 3.00 Ghz
2.5 Gb RAM
Nvidia 8600 GT 512 mb
OS: XP

While this system would have been great for BF2 I think with the environment of PR you run into a few problems.

Your CPU is 3 generations behind: 2nd generation i core cpus, 1st generation i core CPUs, and Core 2 CPUS.

Not that the Pentium 4 is a bad CPU, but it is very old.

RAM could be another issue if its DDR2. Not bad, but its older and slower.

Finally the 8600 is very old. It works fine for BF2 and still powers through it, but again PR is more demanding with its larger environment.

If I remember correctly (I had an 8600 in my old PC) the stock memory is like 700 something, right?

Bumping it up to 800 wont give you a HUGE increase. You don't have a lot of GDDR, and I believe its bottle-necked at 128 or 256 interface. If you can bump it up another hundred (from 800-900) you might see some results. But it may not be stable.

I would lower your settings overclocking may not get you the performance you need. It usually only works with newer tech to make it last a little longer (well keep up with the latest). I OCed my 5850 a little and it gives me a little performance increase, but in a year from now that wont be noticeable.

I would recommend saving your money for a whole new build.

If you are going to OC your CPU make sure you got proper cooling and air flow. And if you aren't using liquid cooling don't go TOO crazy.

Over all: overclocking only delivers performance for the short term, and the Pentium short term was over a while ago. You would see a benefit overclocking a newer piece of hardware as it will yield better results. But the Pentium is so far behind you wont notice much increase; same applies to the 8600.

If you had a Core 2 you might see some notable performance increases, or if you had a 9800. But what you have is just old (no offense).

Save your money for a whole new build, it will benefit you more in the long run.

Atkinson wrote:Bios indeed is the right place to do the OCing for CPU but if u are out of luck like I with an Intel mobo, you can always try SetFSB program which is quite handy when you get the hang of it.

its not the mobo that stops you from turning up the multiplier, its the cpu ( only certain ones can now). most motherboards let you set the front side bus in the bios which makes you do some math which makes it a little harder to OC. but its how i learned.

as for the gpu... i think its fine to play pr at medium to high with no aa depending on resolution. i wouldn't bother OC'ing the gpu. however that cpu is just old. and sadly for you pr is cpu heavy. so its what i would replace or OC if you can't replace it. ddr2 runs pr great and ddr3 doesn't make that much of a difference.

illidur wrote:its not the mobo that stops you from turning up the multiplier, its the cpu ( only certain ones can now). most motherboards let you set the front side bus in the bios which makes you do some math which makes it a little harder to OC. but its how i learned.

I was mostly talking about the FSB OCing. Afaik most Intel mobos (s775 at least) do not let you change fsb, vcore and let alone multiplier...

SoB-Rindee wrote: Your CPU is 3 generations behind: 2nd generation i core cpus, 1st generation i core CPUs, and Core 2 CPUS.

I understand that but BF2 doesn't support multiple core processors anyway right? Unless that was changed in the 1.5 patch.

Well the OS can distribute the BF2 cpu usage to 2-4 cores even though bf2 itself doesnt support multiple cores. I get a lot less fps if i use just one core.

Sgt. Mahi wrote:I understand that but BF2 doesn't support multiple core processors anyway right? Unless that was changed in the 1.5 patch.

its not about how many cores.... its about the p4's architecture being old.

Atkinson wrote:I was mostly talking about the FSB OCing. Afaik most Intel mobos (s775 at least) do not let you change fsb, vcore and let alone multiplier...

maybe yours but every socket 775 i've had including the 1 im using right now supports multiplier & FSB OC'ing. like is said, theres less chance of a cpu letting you change multiplier on Intel chips rather than Mobo.

illidur wrote:
maybe yours but every socket 775 i've had including the 1 im using right now supports multiplier & FSB OC'ing.

Are you sure we are talking about the same thing? I mean mobos made by Intel, not mobos that support Intel cpus.
How to Overclock an Original Intel Motherboard | eHow.com

illidur wrote:
like is said, theres less chance of a cpu letting you change multiplier on Intel chips rather than Mobo.

That is true.