Should I overclock my PC?

[TwinKerbal]

Hello,

Recently I got a new Asus N552VX laptop.  It has a Core i7 2.66 Ghz processor and 16 GB of physical memory.  However, I play with a lot of mods, and when I get to around 500 parts I begin to have framerate issues.  Will overclocking increase my framerate?  I'm kinda new to computer specifications.

Thanks!

[Shadowmage]

In general yes.  Overclocking can improve frame rates if it is in fact a CPU bottleneck that is your problem.

Laptops generally come with... well... less powerful graphics than desktop equivalents.  So it may not help if your problem is a weak GPU.

Laptops also are not great with overclocking -- they have very tight thermal constraints due to the form factor (no room for big fans and heatsinks).  So if you do overclock, I would keep it fairly mild, or at least keep a close eye on temps when you are doing it.

For reference, I run a i5-2500k @ 4.5ghz, overclocked from its stock ~3.2ghz.  I also have a giant water cooling loop on it (and my gfx), so thermals are simply not a problem for me.

 

However, 500 parts is even a problem on my comp.  And it has good gfx and a fairly beefy CPU.  At that high of a part count.... I don't think anything will really help.  (I maybe get 5fps with 500 parts... little more than a slideshow)

This may change a bit with KSP 1.2 and some of the optimizations being done, but I doubt 500 parts will be smooth even then.

[Majorjim!]

Do NOT overclock a laptop CPU! It will overheat and fail.

 

[TwinKerbal]

2 hours ago, Shadowmage said:

In general yes.  Overclocking can improve frame rates if it is in fact a CPU bottleneck that is your problem.

Laptops generally come with... well... less powerful graphics than desktop equivalents.  So it may not help if your problem is a weak GPU.

Laptops also are not great with overclocking -- they have very tight thermal constraints due to the form factor (no room for big fans and heatsinks).  So if you do overclock, I would keep it fairly mild, or at least keep a close eye on temps when you are doing it.

For reference, I run a i5-2500k @ 4.5ghz, overclocked from its stock ~3.2ghz.  I also have a giant water cooling loop on it (and my gfx), so thermals are simply not a problem for me.

 

However, 500 parts is even a problem on my comp.  And it has good gfx and a fairly beefy CPU.  At that high of a part count.... I don't think anything will really help.  (I maybe get 5fps with 500 parts... little more than a slideshow)

This may change a bit with KSP 1.2 and some of the optimizations being done, but I doubt 500 parts will be smooth even then.

I have an Nvidia GTX 950, so graphics isn't a problem. But I probably won't over lock. 

Side note: 1.2 is coming with optimization? How much?

[Shadowmage]

8 minutes ago, TwinKerbal said:

I have an Nvidia GTX 950, so graphics isn't a problem. But I probably won't over lock. 

Side note: 1.2 is coming with optimization? How much?

Sadly nobody knows except for the devs.  The rest of us will have to wait for a (pre)release whenever it is ready.

[eddiew]

I answered before i read laptop. No. Laptops are not for overclocking.