Steps 1 & 2: Qualifying your system, and finding the maximum CPU clock. We'll also do some longer-term stability testing.

Step 3: Finding the maximum memory clock at the best possible timings. Know your memory! Then we'll look at stability in the operating system, which is very different than surviving a benchmark.

Step 4: Balancing memory and CPU clock. We select a safe maximum CPU and memory clock with long-term stability testing. We conclude with benchmarking and some final thoughts.

There is a generally accepted rule that for every 10C decrease in temperature, a CPU should be able to increase its operating frequency by about 3%. Of course this math does not always work out terribly well, but simply put: "The colder the better". This is one of the most powerful CPU coolers available on the market: Asetek's Vapochill LS [AC]