Noob Question: do I have the need to overclock?

[deepsplash]

I'm going to start buying the main parts for my new computer next week. but I want to make sure I make the right decisions. My sibling said "not" to overclock since the computer will be like 4 feet beside my bed and itll be on when I try to go to sleep.

You guys seem very experienced with overclocking. So i'd like to hear from you guys first hand.

Would you recommend I overclock e6300 if ill be leaving computer on overnight? (make it considerably louder...and also need to get water cooling...is water cooling silent??)

Oh, i'll be using computer for downloading, burning dvds, and watching movies. Also, some gaming (new games but playing them occasionally).

Would overclocking make a huge difference in terms of gaming? or will the 1.86ghz C2D handle new games pretty well by itself.

I know if i decide to try and overclock ill need 2gb ram (what kind of ram specifically?), motherboard with overclocking functions, i know e6300 is good overclocker (thats wat ppl say) and more fans. what else would I need?

What exactly is lapping the processor and is it always required? anyway alternatives or ways to avoid it?

Thanks!!!

 

[FarFarAway]

OK a few things:

Firstly lapping is making the surface of the CPU's heatspreader smoother by sanding it. Wouldn't advise it for inexperienced people

Overclocking does help in gaming quite a bit, but a 1.86GHz C2D should be decent in games...depending on what graphics card you have of course. The graphics card is the thing that makes the difference in games not the CPU anyway near as much

I would get 2GB of decent RAM if you're even contemplating overclocking...or even gaming. A nice Kit of shiny OCZ (VERY cheap at the dreaded OcUK at the moment). In fairness 2gb RAM will help a lot in all tasks, especialy if you want to use Vista eventually

A good motherboard is a must too. If you're on a budget then something like the Asus P5B-E Plus or the abit AB9 Pro will do nicely.

Also make sure you have a good power supply.

As far as sound is concerned you can overclock and have a quiet PC. You just need to buy the right fans (that Noctua is a great choice) and use a fan controller so when the CPU is idle they go on low and when it's fired up they get going

 

[deepsplash]

wow, thanks for the quick answer!

is watercooling needed? will air cooling suffice?

as for video card. will be using ati radeon x1300 pro 256mb

 

[ai_01]

air should be fine, with a 3rd party heatsink. and i would overclock but not to the max. you should hit 2.8 easy and still have everything silent

 

[FarFarAway]

Air cooling will suffice if you get a good air cooler. Ease your way into it I say

 

[deepsplash]

what's the difference between "cooler" and "fan"?

thanks again.

 

[weihk]

AFAIK, cooler = a base with fins+a fan or no fan

fan = something that sucks and blow at the same time