My rig:
CPU: intel i5-2500k Quad Core 3,30 Ghz
GPU: Msi Gtx 970 Gaming 4GB
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 10 Home
Monitor: 1920x1080

Hello, I have done my 1st cpu overclock and the results were not according to my expectations. I overclocked 33 CPU Ratio to 40 so each core has 4,0 Ghz and CPU Core Voltage to 1150 V. I tried playing Witcher 3 Wild Hunt afterwards and there was 0 difference in performance, FPS was the same only CPU temperature raised from 38-50°C (60°C+ while gaming) to 70°C+ after few minutes, so I turned CPU settings back to normal. I don't know if the problem is that my CPU is 5year old ( it's the only part in my pc that I haven't upgraded yet) and the thermal paste must be completely decomposed and that I am using CPU stock cooler, but other people who I know got a lot better results. Can you guys please tell me what's wrong or advice me what settings should I use? I am 18 years old and studying at Grammar school so I am not so good at those things, actually I am noob
I am looking forward to your answers. Thanks
( Sorry for my english)

The lithography on second gen is 32nm, it heats more than fourth gen with 22nm.
Also using the stock cooler with overclocked CPU isn't recommanded. 70°C while gaming isnt a big issue, but the more it heats the less lifespan it has. Temperature shouldnt affect prformance as long as it doesn't reach the maximum allowed by your BIOS (should be 90 or 100°C), that would cause thermal throttling (reducing CPU speed to maintain temperature).

Also keep in mind that some games rely more on the GPU than the CPU, but a GTX970 is a pretty good card so I don't think its the issue.
Having let's say 20% increase in fequency (in your case I don't know how much 3.3 to 4.0 is) don't mean you will get 20% more FPS.

You already have a Turbo feature built in your CPU to automaticaly set the clock speed to 3.7 instead of 3.4 GHz when needed.
Always disable SpeedStep and Turboboost if possible when overclocking.

Yeah you are right, btw I didn't expect 20% more fps, but atleast 3-5 which would be nice
I've got a message from someone whom I asked for advice as well, he says : "Then it means your CPU stock setting performance is enough for this game and it's not an issue. In most games, getting higher FPS depends more on the GPU than the CPU. You'd only want to overclock a CPU for games that depend more on this, or to help prevent bottlenecking if your GPU is more powerful."
- I think he might be right as well, this game isn't that much based on CPU but rather GPU...but I am not going to buy Titan X for that

Witcher 3 doesn't use CPU that much but the GPU usage will often reach 100%.

In other words: you're doing everything correctly but unless you overclock your GPU you won't see an increase in performance. Even if so you may expect an increase in frames of 5-10% maximum on stock cooling (well, perhaps 15, but wouldn't count on that).

If you disable NVIDIA hairworks which is a huge resource hog I'm pretty sure the game will run smoothly as hell.

Edit: NVIDIA hairworks pretty much lowers my FPS by 20 even when only enabled for Geralt please disable

There are also some tweaks you may find useful, browse reddit. I gained at least 10 FPS by editing some files in notepad.

Note : I edited my post while you were replying.

GTX Titan is a commercial joke. GTX970 is very good and if you really need high end just go for the GTX980 but it won't change much.

True dat.

I personally think the only people that buy pure top end replaceable hardware like titans just have more money than sense*

I think yet another fools post sums it up nicely. The only thing I came here to say was:

1150 volts! Great scott!





*which doesn't include laptops, since they mostly can't be upgraded, so generally best to buy as good as you can afford

-Yeah hairworks are huge hit to fps, but I want fluffy animals so I will keep it I have only shadows on low ( no visual difference ) and foliage on high, everything else maxed with ALMOST solid 60fps. I overclocked it to try if I will be able to have solid 60fps, but nvm.. the game is optimalized very well and 50-60fps is butter smooth for me.
- Not only Hairworks are huge hit to fps, turning shadows from low to ultra takes like -7fps and foliage from high to ultra -15fps ( yeah lol just for few more bushes in background).
Thanks for answers

Foliage and hairs are huge performance drains. Because polygons.

Indeed, hairworks is an awesome feature but, just like physx was, ahead of its time. I think Mafia 2 was one of the first games that used physx, and most people couldnt use it due to performance. In a few years the hardware will be ready, until then just disable it.

I did a lot of testing and I even tried playing on max settings, 40-50fps, mostly 40 with some dips to 30 on some places. I managed to find 2 places so far in the whole Velen where my fps goes to 24 for few seconds. I noticed that 1 bear with hairworks on takes more fps than 10 wolves that jump on me at once ( yeah weird, I know ) So I can't decide if should I go after fps or graphics... and I know that 970 isn't designed to run it on max, but I dunno...
-Btw Malefic, what settings are you using? From your reply I cab see that with hairworks off...others on ultra?
- EDIT: without hairworks it's 50-60fps, with some rare dips to 30+.

Since I'm not overclocking my 780 yet I manage to get pretty stable 60 fps (occasional, very rare drops to 55+) on high settings at 1920x1200 (those 120 pixels do use quite a bit of resources). Medium shadows and ultra textures.

Also that is all true Guy. really liked your post.

With That natural water cooled environment of yours, Malefic Trout, you should push your 780!





(You've got a pretty card! If I'm not wrong it's even better than 970)

Thanks for all the posts
- Obi, 970 is a bit better than 780. In Witcher 3, 970 beats even 780ti because the game was mainly designed for Maxwell (9xx) gpu users and 900 series gpus also render tesselation 3x faster than Kepler (7xx) gpus. But that's just only in Witcher, normally 780ti is slightly better, but not the 780 (sorry Trout )