http://processorfinder.intel.com/details...Spec=SLGT6
Don't know if you've already seen that page but it contains two very important pieces of information; the Thermal Specification and the VID Voltage Range.
Thermal Specification is basically the maximum temperature your CPU is designed to operate at. It will and can however heat up more (to somewhere around 95 degrees) before it shuts your computer off to prevent damage to itself. The first you want to make sure is that you are NOT transgressing the thermal spec limit when stress-testing after an overclock. As a general rule of thumb, your CPU should stay around or under 60 degrees during a stress-test (like OCCT or Prime95).
The VID Voltage Range is the max recommended operating voltage recommended by Intel. 45nm CPUs are a lot more sensitive to voltage than 65nm CPUs. Either way, it is a REALLY good idea to keep your voltage UNDER 1.3625v (if you have a 45nm CPU, which you do) if you want your CPU to last for a long time. If you obey the thermal spec and voltage range limits, your CPU will be safe and fine.
OC'ing using the NV Control Panel is not any safer than upping the FSB using your BIOS. NVCP is doing the exact same thing, except it is more likely to crash.
A good way to OC in your bios is to up the FSB and leave the voltage on AUTO. That's basically a guarantee that your system won't hang or not-POST. However, the mobo always overestimates the voltage needed when it's on auto so there is always room for decreasing voltage (and your temps).
I'd say head in to the BIOS and up the FSB so that your CPU speed is 2.8Ghz. Leave the voltage on AUTO and see what happens. If you don't POST and have to reset the CMOS then there is something seriously messed up with something in your system. Anyways if you get to 2.8 try 2.85, then 2.9. Check your voltage and temps along the way. Since you're on a stock cooler I'd recommend staying fairly close to stock volts. When you get your new cooler then you can go for higher volts and higher clocks.
One last thing to keep in mind: Heat increases linearly with FSB increase but it increases with the square of voltage.
EDIT: This has got to be the longest post I've written in a long time. I'm sure you'll thank me for it.
EDIT2: Bah, this post isn't even that long.
Don't know if you've already seen that page but it contains two very important pieces of information; the Thermal Specification and the VID Voltage Range.
Thermal Specification is basically the maximum temperature your CPU is designed to operate at. It will and can however heat up more (to somewhere around 95 degrees) before it shuts your computer off to prevent damage to itself. The first you want to make sure is that you are NOT transgressing the thermal spec limit when stress-testing after an overclock. As a general rule of thumb, your CPU should stay around or under 60 degrees during a stress-test (like OCCT or Prime95).
The VID Voltage Range is the max recommended operating voltage recommended by Intel. 45nm CPUs are a lot more sensitive to voltage than 65nm CPUs. Either way, it is a REALLY good idea to keep your voltage UNDER 1.3625v (if you have a 45nm CPU, which you do) if you want your CPU to last for a long time. If you obey the thermal spec and voltage range limits, your CPU will be safe and fine.
OC'ing using the NV Control Panel is not any safer than upping the FSB using your BIOS. NVCP is doing the exact same thing, except it is more likely to crash.
A good way to OC in your bios is to up the FSB and leave the voltage on AUTO. That's basically a guarantee that your system won't hang or not-POST. However, the mobo always overestimates the voltage needed when it's on auto so there is always room for decreasing voltage (and your temps).
I'd say head in to the BIOS and up the FSB so that your CPU speed is 2.8Ghz. Leave the voltage on AUTO and see what happens. If you don't POST and have to reset the CMOS then there is something seriously messed up with something in your system. Anyways if you get to 2.8 try 2.85, then 2.9. Check your voltage and temps along the way. Since you're on a stock cooler I'd recommend staying fairly close to stock volts. When you get your new cooler then you can go for higher volts and higher clocks.
One last thing to keep in mind: Heat increases linearly with FSB increase but it increases with the square of voltage.
EDIT: This has got to be the longest post I've written in a long time. I'm sure you'll thank me for it.
EDIT2: Bah, this post isn't even that long.
Windows 7 RC Build 7100 x64 || Windows Vista SP2 x64
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 (3.16Ghz)
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB (750Mhz/900Mhz)
OCZ Vista Gold 4GB RAM (2x2GB) DDR2-800
Asus P5QL-E
OCZ GameXStream 600W
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 (3.16Ghz)
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB (750Mhz/900Mhz)
OCZ Vista Gold 4GB RAM (2x2GB) DDR2-800
Asus P5QL-E
OCZ GameXStream 600W