How to Overclock my AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 4000+

You could get an Athlon 64 X2 for cheap, better then overclocking.

Aeonz,

If you're still interested in overclocking your current CPU higher, then you'll most certainly need to get an aftermarket CPU cooler. Check out www.frozencpu.com for some prices and info. You could also go to www.newegg.com from prices and info.

Some of the more popular brands are:

1. Mugen
2. Noctua
3. Cooler Master

There are a lot of brands out there; just look around in the forums here at Tom's, as there are a lot of user input/experience. Also, if you're going to replace the CPU cooler, you should pick up some Artic Silver 5 thermal paste. Applying AS5 will help keep the CPU temp down.

As for the OC process, you seem to have a basic understanding of it. One thing to note about AMD CPUs is that they all have the same base clock, 200 MHz. Therefore, anything you read on OCing any non-Black Edition CPU can be applied to your CPU. That said, here are some pointers:

1. Increase your bclk by 5 MHz at a time. See if Windows will boot. If it does, reset the system and go back into the BIOS. Increase by another 5 MHz and repeat.

2. If/when Windows will not boot, get back into the BIOS and lower the bclk by 1 MHz, and then try again.

Once you've found that sweet spot, you can advance your OC by changing the Northbridge multiplier or frequency (if your BIOS allows). RAM and NB are synchronized to the blck; therefore, any change to the bclk will equate the same change to the RAM and NB.

3. Try to keep your NB as close to stock as possible.

4. Reduce the RAM frequency to regain stabililty.

These steps may seem like gibberish to you now, but if you provide what you see in the advanced pages of your BIOS, we may be able to assist you further.