weblight

So I have this rig (see sig) and this is my second build that I did on my own. My first build didnt include a cooler of any type, used the stock heatsink and fan.
I want to use air cooling (something to replace the cpu stock heatsink), water cooling seems too advanced for me since I never even used anything other then stock cooling.
I want to OC my i7 920 D0 stepping CPU (stock is 2.66ghz) and I have no idea what kind of limitation it has right now with it's stock cooling and what it's limitations would be with another cooling solution.

So to make this simplier, here's a few questions that are numbered... please responde with the number of the question and any advice or answers.

1. With stock cooling on my CPU, how high can I bring my OC to before overheating becomes an issue? Is it possible to acheive 3.4-3.6ghz?

2. Lifetime differences. I know CPUs can last 10-15 years at stock settings. Im looking to OC to those numbers above, 3.4 to 3.6ghz; possibly higher if the difference in CPU lifetime is minimal between 3.6 and 3.8-4.0ghz; is there any lifetime difference? What kind of lifetime does a 4.0ghz CPU have; a 3.6ghz have; and a 3.2ghz have?

3. What cooling would you suggest to replace the cpu stock cooling heatsink/fan to acheive a nice OC? And is it hard to install install these cooling solutions?

4. Do all cooling cpu heatsinks come with thermalpaste or is that something you need to purchase seperately?


Any other useful help or advice would be awesome.

Regards,
Greg

__________________
Main Rig - Built Sept 2009
Case: Antex 1200 AKA "BIG MAMA"
Mobo: EVGA x58 E760 Classified "Overclocker's Pick"
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem
PSU: Corsair 1000W 1000HX Modular
RAM: OCZ Platinum 6GB (3x2GB) 1600 (7-7-7-24)
GFX: Sapphire HD 5870
Sound Card: Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
Storage: 2x 60gb OCZ Vertex Turbo SSD in raid0
Storage: 1x WD 320gb HHD for data

Chunky_Chimp

You can go to the User CP link at the top of the page, and on the left side of the CP you'll find an Add System link; put your specs there and you're set. Now, on to the questions.

3.4GHz would be your ceiling, I'd think. Past 3.2GHz, you may overheat it but it could go as far as 3.4GHz... you never know.

Hard to say, LGA1366-based tech is only about a year old now.

Depends on how much you're willing to spend, really, and if you'd rather have everything in one package or if you'd rather purchase the heatsink, fan, and paste separately. Ease of installation varies greatly between coolers, too.

Yes, though better pastes are available and recommended for use instead of the "stock" paste. Arctic Cooling MX-3, IC Diamond, and Shin Etsu X23 7783D are pretty much tied as the best traditional pastes right now (if you wanna look at the TINY differences between their performance, Shin Etsu is the best); if you can't find one, chances are you'll find another.

Pay Shadowclock's sticky in the Air Cooling forum a visit, it's worth a look (as well as my sig links, especially the first 3 air cooling links). Other than that, have a good time.

__________________