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Testing
Even though you have configured your overclocking options and have successfully booted to your
operating system, it doesn’t mean that you have successfully overclocked your system. Testing is an
equally important aspect of overclocking and you must stress your configurations thoroughly to
ensure stability. It is better to discover that your system locks up during testing rather than
experiencing the same while editing valuable information.
There are several utility programs designed specifically for intensive hardware configuration testing
such as 3Dmark2001SE and Winstone. With every configuration adjustment you should rerun your
utilities. Testing is a time consuming procedure. Again, it is not within the scope of this document to
discuss testing utilities in detail. You can find additional information on the Web.
Cooling the components on your mainboard.
Proper cooling is one the most important aspects of overclocking. Cooling refers to the cooling fans,
heat sinks, and thermal material/grease that are used. When overclocking, it is highly recommended
that you acquire a large powerful cooling fan with a heavy duty heat sink. Also make sure that you
apply certified thermal material between the CPU and heatsink. It is also recommended that you
make use of all of the fan attachments and make sure that cable clutter within the casing is kept to a
minimum. It is beyond the scope of this document to explain cooling equipment in detail so we
recommend that you consult the Web for more information. CPU manufacturers may also have a list
of recommended, certified cooling equipment.
The Watch Dog Timer
Some mainboards come with a special feature called the Watch Dog Timer used to simplify the
process of experimenting with overclocking. When you go too far with your overclocking
configurations there is a chance that your system may become unstable and hang. Even after a reboot,
the system may hang before you can even reach the BIOS Setup Utility to lower your settings. The
usual procedure with most Mainboards is to open up your case and reset a CMOS jumper on the
mainboard to restore the original default settings which can be a cumbersome activity when testing.
The Watch Dog Timer however, will monitor the most recent boot information or POST (Power On
Self Test) status to determine if the system booted successfully. If the last POST status was “not
successful”, it will be assumed there were configuration problems and the system will automatically
reset the BIOS configurations which will allow your system to boot again.