Raising overclock from 3.8 to 4.2 Ghz, let me see if it's useful?

[Blín D'ñero]

I have this i7 920 running at 3.8 Ghz almost from day 1. Why would i raise the overclock? Some say my crossfire system might benefit from it.
I always kept my overclock conservative, generally 3.8 Ghz is enough, and don't want to risk it because i can't afford a new CPU.

[Blín D'ñero]

Compared to my previous result, in 3dmark11 only the physics test and the combined test improve. The oc has no impact whatsoever on the crossfire performance on this 1280x720 resolution standard version of 3dmark 11.

Maybe it might help in bigger resolutions in certain games, giving 2 extra frames per second? Which game would need that then?

[Blín D'ñero]

The new settings:

[bios 610]

• AI Tweaker
  • Configure System Performance Settings
    • Ai Overclock Tuner: [Manual]
    • CPU Ratio Setting: [21.0]
    • Intel SpeedStep Tech: [Enabled]
    • BLCK Frequency: [200]
    • PCIE Frequency: [100]
    • DRAM Frequency: [DDR3-1603MHz]
    • UCLK Frequency: [3208MHz]
    • QPI Link Data Rate: [7218MT/s]
    • DRAM Timing Control
      • 1st Information: 8-8-8-24-6-88-14-8-30-0
      • DRAM CAS# Latency: [8 DRAM Clock]
      • DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: [8 DRAM Clock]
      • DRAM RAS# PRE Time: [8 DRAM Clock]
      • DRAM RAS3 ACT Time: [24 DRAM Clock]
      • DRAM RAS# to RAS# Delay: [Auto]
      • DRAM REF Cycle Time: [Auto]
      • DRAM WRITE Recovery Time: [Auto]
      • DRAM READ to PRE Time: [Auto]
      • DRAM FOUR ACT WIN Time: [Auto]
      • DRAM Back-To-Back CAS# Delay: [Auto]
        2nd information: 2N-57-57-58
      • DRAM Timing Mode: [Auto]
      • DRAM Round Trip Latency on CHA: [Auto]
      • DRAM Round Trip Latency on CHB: [Auto]
      • DRAM Round Trip Latency on CHC: [Auto]
        3d information: 7-7-18-9-9-9-7-6-4-7-7-4
      • DRAM WRITE To READ Delay (DD): [Auto]
      • DRAM WRITE To READ Delay (DR): [Auto]
      • DRAM WRITE To READ Delay (SR): [Auto]
      • DRAM READ To WRITE Delay (DD): [Auto]
      • DRAM READ To WRITE Delay (DR): [Auto]
      • DRAM READ To WRITE Delay (SR): [Auto]
      • DRAM READ To READ Delay (DD): [Auto]
      • DRAM READ To READ Delay (Dr): [Auto]
      • DRAM READ To READ Delay (SR): [Auto]
      • DRAM WRITE To WRITE Delay (DD): [Auto]
      • DRAM WRITE To WRITE Delay (DR): [Auto]
      • DRAM WRITE To WRITE Delay (SR): [Auto]
    • CPU Voltage: [1.3250V ] <-- in Windows, measured with cpu-z: 1.328
    • CPU PLL Voltage: [1.88]
    • QPI/DRAM Core Voltage: [1.30000]
    • IOH Voltage: [1.36]
    • IOH PCIE Voltage: [Auto]
    • ICH Voltage: [Auto]
    • ICH PCIE Voltage: [Auto]
    • DRAM Bus Voltage: [1.66]
    • DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA: [Auto]
    • DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHA: [Auto]
    • DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHB: [Auto]
    • DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHB: [Auto]
    • DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHC: [Auto]
    • DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHC: [Auto]
      ***************************************
    • Load-Line Calibration: [Auto]
    • CPU Differential Amplitude: [800mV]
    • CPU Clock Skew: [Auto]
    • CPU Spread Centrum: [Disabled]
    • IOH Clock Skew: [Auto]
    • PCIE Spread Spectrum: [Disabled]
• Advanced
  • CPU Configuration
    • CPU Ratio Setting: [21.0]
    • C1E Support: [Disabled]
    • Hardware Prefetcher: [Enabled]
    • Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch: [Enabled]
    • Intel Virtualisation Tech: [Enabled]
    • CPU TM Function: [Disabled]
    • Execute Disable Bit: [Enabled]
    • Intel HT Technology [Enabled]
    • Active Processor Cores: [All]
    • A20M: [Disabled]
    • Intel Speedstep Tech: [Disabled]
    • Intel C-State Tech: [Disabled]
  • Chipset
    • North Bridge Configuration
      • PCI Express Selector: [×16 ×1 Mode]
    • Intel VT-d Configuration
      • Intel VT-d: [Disabled]
  • Onboard Devices Configuration
    • HD Audio: [Disabled]
    • Marvell Storage Controller: [Disabled]
    • Marvell LAN1: [Enabled]
    • Marvell LAN2: [Disabled]
    • LAN Boot ROM: [Disabled]
    • Onboard 1394 Controller: [Disabled]
  • USB Configuration
    • USB Functions: [Enabled]
    • USB 2.0 Controller: [Enabled]
    • USB 2.0 Controller Mode: [HiSpeed]
    • BIOS EHCI Hand-Off: [Enabled]
    • Legacy USB Support: [Auto]
  • PCIPnP
    • Plug And Play O/S: [No]
• Power
  • Suspend Mode: [Auto]
  • Repost Video on S3 Resume: [No]
  • ACPI 2.0 Support: [Disabled]
  • ACPI APIC Support: [Enabled]
  • APM Configuration
    • Restore on AC Power Loss: [Power Off]
    • Power On By RTC Alarm: [Disabled]
    • Power On By PCI Devices: [Disabled]
    • Power On By PCIE Devices: [Disabled]
    • Power On By PS/2 Keyboard: [Disabled]
  • Hardware Monitor (at the moment of typing this)
    • CPU Temperature: (atm) [44 C/111 F]
    • MB Temperature: (atm) [36 C/96.5 F]
    • CPU Fan Speed: (atm) [2008 RPM]
    • CPU Q-Fan Control: [Disabled]
    • Chassis Fan 1 Speed: (atm) [3835 RPM]
    • Chassis Fan 2 Speed: [N/A]
    • Chassis Fan 3 Speed: [N/A]
    • Chassis Q-Fan Control: [Disabled]
    • Power Fan Speed: [N/A]
    • CPU Voltage: (atm) [ 1.312v]
    • 3.3V Voltage: (atm) [ 3.168V]
    • 5V Voltage: (atm) [ 5.046V]
    • 12V Voltage: (atm) [12.137V]

[Blín D'ñero]

For the moment i've undone it; i think it's pointless, mainly producing hot air. Might re-enable it later, who knows.