New Formula One Overclocking Competition Announced

[saaya]

hmmm that sounds like a good idea... amd or intel or both providing all teams with the best of the best silicon...

teams get what they want, the best possible silicon
amd and intel get what they want, good pr and nice numbers
end users get what they want, a nice show without any misleading pr bs relating the results to retail products

sounds perfect!

then you just need somebody to do what hicookie did at the first gooc finals, go through 1-2 dozen chips and select equally well performing parts under ln2... that should make the playing field as even as possible without setting a clockspeed restriction

PS: The_Overclocker, you can copy past several quotes and replies into one post, makes the thread a lot easier to read

[Otaking71]

This has got my attention enough to post one of my rare posts.

My gut feeling is...on cpus...all the higher tier teams must have a random cherry picked cpus (ie...assigning the cpus a number..and drawing those numbers from a hat) if the cpu manufacturers are going to get involved.

If intel/amd aren't involved..anything else goes, imo.

The motherboard / video card must be a RETAIL/oem purchased card. The card is to be purchased from an etailer/retail store..and directly sent to the actual site.

The teams are given some agreed allotted time to modify the hardware/bioses accordingly onto the purchased boards. ALL modifications must be done on-site in the presence of a judge/adjudicator.

Only results obtained at the agreed site would be valid.

This prevents manufacturers from misleading what is capable and truly lets you see what's possible.

[Otaking71]

Just thought about it some more.

Since you have manufacturers involved, the leagues could be split into a normal and an unlimited league.

Unlimited would be anything goes in terms of mods.

Normal would be literally unmodified hardware/drivers.

[dinos22]

hmmm that sounds like a good idea... amd or intel or both providing all teams with the best of the best silicon...

we just omitted one little piece of info

erm them actually agreeing to do this

[carpo93]

we just omitted one little piece of info

erm them actually agreeing to do this

[soundood]

well as much as i admire all of the commitment to setting this up, and the time it will take to manage the whole affair, something seems a bit fishy in all this.

you got manufactuers picking team members to show of their kit, and supplying their kit to use? goodbye ye little people

you have a limited (and somewhat exclusive) list of so called 'cream of crop overclockers, and teams? what ever happened to the search for new talent? by being fully open, it allows for 'unknowns' to come through and surprise us.

for there to be a 'Formula 1' there really should be lesser formulas, if only to justify the F1 tag.

and what ever happened i wonder to a basic rounds set up, with all coutries invited (if they wanted to take part), regardless of skill? allowing again for unknown talent to come through and surprise us? if its a question of size and operational logistics, then it should never have been done in the first place.

as i like to say, 'if you havent got the house for the party, dont have it on the street, cause it will only get dirty'

and with all this in mind, what are the prize title say at the end of all this? F1 Overclocking Champion from a selected bunch of manufactuers and cherry picked guys?

this also reminds me of gaming clan meet ups, just an excuse to meet up and have some beers, not a bad thing in itself, but not what it is meant to be about.

i strongly suspect there will be no surprises in this competition. so therefore is of no interest to me, i wish you goodluck with it.

PS: at least Benchtech are maybe being given the chance to compete.

[dieqast]

@ soundood

Suggestion, having one invitational spot open for the best talent? Qualifiers, like the best score for the specific benchmark on The ORB of the week?

Very true new talent should get the chance to show their skill

[saaya]

we just omitted one little piece of info

erm them actually agreeing to do this

if they are smart, they will support this event... if you seed handpicked cpus like both are doing now, thats pretty unefficient if what you want is pr... if you support an event like this theres the spotlight on your best stuff right there and everybody is watching... cant get better than that pr wise...

[soundood]

if they are smart, they will support this event... if you seed handpicked cpus like both are doing now, thats pretty unefficient if what you want is pr... if you support an event like this theres the spotlight on your best stuff right there and everybody is watching... cant get better than that pr wise...

you have probally hit this on the head, its not a compettion, its a PR stunt

Intel should get on board, or maybe they are not for that very reason?

[Buckeye]

you have probally hit this on the head, its not a compettion, its a PR stunt

Intel should get on board, or maybe they are not for that very reason?

I was concerned about this also.

Don't the people who are basiclly on the list now get sponsored equipemnt anyway ?

Also what the manufactures are getting is high end testers to do what they would normally pay people in house to do this for free, well besides the equipment and what not. All in all it's a great deal for the manufactures.

F1 races teams get paid a whole lot of money for what they do.

It's basiclly all ok tho in the end I guess and the guys that get picked I am sure are the best. But didn't we see the best at the Gigabyte GOOC 09 Finals event also?

It kind of reminds me of the Dream Team in Basket Ball that played in the Olympic's, that is Pro Ball players competting. Now we have Pro Over Clockers competing and how will that transfer over to other Over Clocking events were these same people normal get invited to.

It's gets harder and harder for us to even make a showing for anything when we have to buy our own equipment. I have a ton invested in equipment from LN2 to Phase and Cascade. I am all set for cooling and just a small amount of other hardware to use. It's all fun and good tho and I have a blast with what I have and that sthe name of the game for me.

[k|ngp|n]

if they are smart, they will support this event... if you seed handpicked cpus like both are doing now, thats pretty unefficient if what you want is pr... if you support an event like this theres the spotlight on your best stuff right there and everybody is watching... cant get better than that pr wise...

EXACTLY! Seeding guys with cherry picked ES hw for FM/hwbot ranking is what is happening now, and actually happening pretty much forever.
I have been critical of it a times, and so have alot of other guys. Thats not good PR, but I think some companies have finally figured that out like I knew they would one day lol

This league needs to be as big, bright, loud, and ridiculous as possible IMO. Where guys are benching hard every day every month for REAL WORLD RECORDS that make people say HOLY !!!!!.
If I do this I will commit an ASTRONOMICAL ammount of my time and effort into trying to be as successful as possible.
....Not a competition huh?? Dont tell me that dood.

If you are not willing or able to devote 75-90% of ALL your time for 5 months to something like this, then you really should reconsider and give someone else the opportunity that can. I will commit 99% of my time if I do it because thats just how I do things . Thats how serious this league should be, this is gonna be sanctioned BIG TIME benching period, the kind of benching where there is NOTHING left in the setup when your done AND THEOVERCLOCKER needs to market it as such. With the utmost respect to manuf that put on current "contests" and the peeps that participate in them, results coming out of these events are not very exciting and time constraint benching is not a proper reflection of what we do. Extreme overclocking knows no limits

Proving grounds rules of the f1 arena are simple
If there are 14 teams, then at the end of the season I'd say teams 8-14 should worry about being invited back and most likey wouldn't get picked up by manuf team. Suckas will get weeded out eventually and it will be super tight at the top I think then.

[TiTON]

I agree w/ Kingpin.. those that enter the event should be committed for the entire season. There are significantly more great benchers to fill the available spots. For someone to enter and half-arse.. it would be terrible for the event, and for the person that was passed up.

Actually.. since each season is 5 months. Which would theoretically make 2 seasons in a year.. the top 2 teams from each season would compete in the WORLD F1 Championship. Kinda like the Stanely Cup.. or NBA Finals Sorry.. Game 5 is tonight That would be sweet.. and the winner would be crown Grand Champion.

- Ton

[k|ngp|n]

Hot damn that is an interesting concept. Talk about a grueling 5 months though, that is several hundred hours of benching on top of the normal schedule.

Grueling for sure, prolly will have to put off all other benching during 5 month run. You think AMD would be receptive to seeding out nice clocking phenoms gom?

[soundood]

....Not a competition huh?? Dont tell me that dood.

before i comment, i would like to say i admire you clocks Kingpin and have for a few years now

now i would say this isnt a competition, for many reasons, but i will site just a couple, firstly a competition i would say is defined by the fact that anyone can enter. if you have the resources and time (that you have pointed out).

also a competition would have would have a proper rounds set up, this doesnt.

allowing a select number of peeps to bang out clocks for 5 months, then maybe (and i stress maybe) dropping the bottom eight say is wrong, this is just a get together in my opinion.

then using that logic, the event allows maybe another eight teams on board, but where is the now dated hardware coming from? the manufactuers are not backing anyone other than 'their' hand picked teams? housten we have a problem.

and then if these teams want to compete, how do they then go up against teams that are in effect being funded and supported by companies? you now have a 'Pro' and 'Amatuer' set up running in parallel. this also supports my suggestion that this is merely a PR stunt that is attended by overclockers.

so lets quantify what i just said, a non -excisting rounds set up that remains invite only after the first so called round

time scale issues with hardware, as by the time the 'next round' come along, the manufactuers will be demanding you use their new kit. for PR of course. that then dismisses the 'competition' as such as you are not competing head to head, more of a rolling overclock session.

Pro and Amatuer teams co-existing in the same F1 overclocking championship? a way round this would be for the manufactuers to give their word 'outsiders' would be supported in later 'rounds'

If you are not willing or able to devote 75-90% of ALL your time for 5 months to something like this, then you really should reconsider and give someone else the opportunity that can. I will commit 99% of my time if I do it because thats just how I do things . Thats how serious this league should be, this is gonna be sanctioned BIG TIME benching period, the kind of benching where there is NOTHING left in the setup when your done AND THEOVERCLOCKER needs to market it as such. With the utmost respect to manuf that put on current "contests" and the peeps that participate in them, results coming out of these events are not very exciting and time constraint benching is not a proper reflection of what we do. Extreme overclocking knows no limits

couldnt agree more, with the comments on devotion of time, and also the time constraints on overclocking, also to add to this the 'bad day' element that always happens.

i also admire the dedication that you are willing to show this event

Proving grounds rules of the f1 arena are simple
If there are 14 teams, then at the end of the season I'd say teams 8-14 should worry about being invited back and most likey wouldn't get picked up by manuf team. Suckas will get weeded out eventually and it will be super tight at the top I think then.

in theory i agree, but i also think it could be the downfall, because all you would have is few teams at the top, popping clocks over a lenghy period of time, that i suspect would get very boring. and once at the top, how would these teams be removed from the top, other heats have not been mentioned, for new teams to challenge in.

also my comments above with hardware and sponsorship, would get in the way.

i am really all for this idea, and really like the concept, but i just think it is flawed in its set up, although i have faith in the organisers seeing this,and maybe changing it, to a better set up and introduction to the 'competition.

[[XC] gomeler]

Grueling for sure, prolly will have to put off all other benching during 5 month run. You think AMD would be receptive to seeding out nice clocking phenoms gom?

I believe so. On Monday I'm going to forward this to Simon so he can take a look at it. Would be a great venue to seed those "TWKR" CPUs to, just send a tray or two and burn them with a special ID. AMD Phenom II F1OC 2009 would work

[Slovnaft]

What I'm concerned with is how people will be chosen to qualify for this, especially in any "guest", "amateur", or variation therein, league that is formed.
I would like to see a competition protocol develope such that NO ONE will EVER have to say to themselves what I have to say now:

I love overclocking and want to dedicate my life to understanding and pushing hardware, but do not have the MONEY to remain competitive enough to get exposure.

Because let's face it, no one has mentioned Turrican for any of these teams.

[Buckeye]

If I do this I will commit an ASTRONOMICAL ammount of my time and effort into trying to be as successful as possible.

Agreed on this and a lot of other things you say Vince

I am 100% backing this and think it's a great idea. I know in my mind I have gone back and forth and other than the concerns I had in my past post, I must have faith in who ever is running this that they have allready thought about these things and will do there best to make sure things are done correct.

Can't wait to see the starting flag

[k|ngp|n]

before i comment, i would like to say i admire you clocks Kingpin and have for a few years now

now i would say this isnt a competition, for many reasons, but i will site just a couple, firstly a competition i would say is defined by the fact that anyone can enter. if you have the resources and time (that you have pointed out).

also a competition would have would have a proper rounds set up, this doesnt.

allowing a select number of peeps to bang out clocks for 5 months, then maybe (and i stress maybe) dropping the bottom eight say is wrong, this is just a get together in my opinion.

then using that logic, the event allows maybe another eight teams on board, but where is the now dated hardware coming from? the manufacturers are not backing anyone other than 'their' hand picked teams? housten we have a problem.

and then if these teams want to compete, how do they then go up against teams that are in effect being funded and supported by companies? you now have a 'Pro' and 'Amatuer' set up running in parallel. this also supports my suggestion that this is merely a PR stunt that is attended by overclockers.

so lets quantify what i just said, a non -excisting rounds set up that remains invite only after the first so called round

time scale issues with hardware, as by the time the 'next round' come along, the manufactuers will be demanding you use their new kit. for PR of course. that then dismisses the 'competition' as such as you are not competing head to head, more of a rolling overclock session.

Pro and Amatuer teams co-existing in the same F1 overclocking championship? a way round this would be for the manufactuers to give their word 'outsiders' would be supported in later 'rounds'



couldnt agree more, with the comments on devotion of time, and also the time constraints on overclocking, also to add to this the 'bad day' element that always happens.

i also admire the dedication that you are willing to show this event




in theory i agree, but i also think it could be the downfall, because all you would have is few teams at the top, popping clocks over a lenghy period of time, that i suspect would get very boring. and once at the top, how would these teams be removed from the top, other heats have not been mentioned, for new teams to challenge in.

also my comments above with hardware and sponsorship, would get in the way.

i am really all for this idea, and really like the concept, but i just think it is flawed in its set up, although i have faith in the organisers seeing this,and maybe changing it, to a better set up and introduction to the 'competition.

Thanx for the nice words! It's totally a competition dood on many levels. Between teams, sponsors, overclockers.
It's a 5 round manuf supported overclocking championship where we are allowed to bench each benchmark for one full month, then move on to next round.
As far as the bottom teams getting dropped and replaced with better overclockers, thats entirely up to manufacture or whoever is sponsoring that team and not part of the comp.
If I was sponsoring any kind of team for competition, I would want the best guys and if my guys couldn't place decently, why would I keep them on?
If I don't place well for example, why would evga want to keep me on to repesent their company? I wouldn't blame them for dumping me and going after whoever did much better the previous season. It will evolve into what it needs to be.

[K404]

One very very very important point and knock-on effect that I dont think anyone either here or on HWB has mentioned.


Who is in a position to dedicate 5 months of their life to overclocking. What will pay their rent/mortgage, put food on the table and pay their 'leccy bill and LN2 bills during this time if they arent working?


* If there is to be an F1, there should be F1 PAY

* If companies arent willing to do this, then the only people who can literally afford to do this are the people so close to the respective company that they get so much hardware, they can sell it on to make enough money to keep them alive, or they are officially on the payroll of the company..

Which essentially makes this a competition for the employees of the performance department of a company



Maybe its time for overclockers to stop being free/very cheap PR for companies

[Stapler]

Soundood,
The set up seems to be pretty similar to the way leagues work in soccer, the bottom teams are relegated and the top finishers in a lower league get promoted. So what needs to be done is implement some kind of fair, competitive system that creates a pool from which overclockers can be promoted into this league. The most important aspect of this is that it's highly structured and that the competitions as a whole benefit overclockers and the community just as much as they benefit the companies getting the PR.

Competitions like this can never be truly fair, and I don't think it's very wise to have teams which are so strongly linked to companies (i.e. Team Asus etc), but that doesn't mean they can't be designed so that skill tends to prevail. Yes every once in a while someone will win one of the competitions based on luck, or someone will do poorly based on luck, but the fact of the matter is that in the long run, those are just statistical anomalies, and the overclockers with the most skill will tend to do the best because they don't have to rely on luck.

The teams for the first round were chosen, and so they're not going to be fair to everyone out there, but a number of them will be relegated, and what's important is that at that time there is a fair, merit based system in place to promote other overclockers into those spots. I would propose that a simultaneous competition be held (though perhaps not as long), with specified, affordable hardware, and the top placed teams in that are automatically promoted to the top flight league. So for this league, the CPU and VGAs would be specified, and maybe even the mobo/ram, to try and even the playing field out even further. These would be midrange, affordable systems so that as many people as possible could compete, but any and all cooling methods would be allowed, because the fact of the matter is, if you're not an expert at sub-zero benching then you wouldn't be succesful in the top-flight anyway so you don't deserve to be there. I'm sure plenty of you could nitpick to find ways this competition wouldn't be fair, but honestly, know sport or competition is fair, money will always play a role whether it's soccer, racing, basketball or overclocking.

As for the top flight competition, it needs to be heavily subsidized by manufacturers, but they should not have direct control over teams, because that seems to me more like overclockers are being taken advantage of. At the very least, AMD/Intel need to provide competition processors to each and every team that qualifies for the top flight. Without that agreement being in place, the league will not be a legitimate competition, plain and simple. Beyond that, the people overseeing the league will need to work hard before each season begins to ensure as many sponsors per team as possible, and they'll need to work especially hard to make sure the people getting promoted getting as much backing as possible. The truth of the matter is that the teams with the most backing will have the best chances, just like the professional sports teams with the best budgets can get the best players.

[HitandRun]

Hey man!! With all due respect Paul, I don't agree.
Being the "best" means being able to push hardware farther than the next guy as well. When you limit cpu speed, you remove that dynamic. There are really many elements at play... tweaking/efficiency, the skills and knowledge to push any piece of hardware to its fullest, experience with subzero clocking and the kind of preperation that it takes for long bouts of benching for actual real world record level overclocks(not 1-3hr event), quality of cooling, THE WORK ETHIC that this kind of benching(real world record benching) requires, the ability and knowledge to bench a particular piece of hardware HARD over and over without killing it, etc, etc , etc.
While it is a a big factor, its not about just having the fastest chip, that is a myth lol. The "best" overclockers prove this time and time again.

I think clock limits might not be the way to go, but I am not sure yet. If it is true F1 style then it should be the best of the best of everything hardware wise IMO and I think INTEL/AMD should pony up killer silicon as sponsors to ALL the teams. It will be that much more exciting IMO if the rankings are all tight at the top. I can go either way clock limits or not doesn't matter to me Whats more exciting and will generate more public interest?

Seriously I don't think there is anything to not want about this comp. Sure there are a lot of good overclockers out there that are capable for something like this, but there is a head limit on the league. Eventually, the cream always rises to the top.This will be no different I suspect. Manuf and sponsors are going to want guys on their teams that WIN PERIOD. If you don't place high, they will look elsewhere for other "drivers" it's that simple.
Do a bunch of people vote in some fair process for who gets to drive for any particular f1 team ?? Manuf are free to pick who they want to represent their company and who they think can win.

Ok so the alternative to a league like this is to just leave things the way they are have manuf. seed guys with really cherry hardware to show off for them? This is a perfect forum for that kind of stuff to go on. I want more and more and I WANT IT NOW!!! Manuf need to develop budgets for their teams just like f1 or any other racing for that matter. They take what knowledge and experience they got from "racing", and that tech can be used to develop products for the mass market.

Also I don't get the country classification of non-manuf teams, shouldn't it be more like privateer classification or something? These guys will still get manuf support just like the other guys. This will eventually be the pool that manuf can pick new "talent" from for "factory" teams. Working your way to the top of the league would be something like get invited to the competition(most likely based on past benching accomplishments or community presence), make a strong showing in the league maybe winning a round or two or placing at the top of the rankings end of the season, manuf likes what they see and asks X overclocker to join the factory team and get PAID for the next season!!!!!!!!(you hear that evga???)
Thats sort of how I could see this evolving. NO ONE is safe on any team really, if you dont perform and put up consistently, your out its that simple.

Sounds like a dream there Vince! I guess you'll be the president of the new born OC league! Just like the FIA is to F1! I pretty much agree with all you said but the high binned chips. From a “hobby” bencher perspective we all know how hard it is to get a great score with a y retail chip and win against the big names out there. Well I guess once you in and they supply you with the monster chips you don’t have the problem anymore.

[tuchan]

Maybe its time for overclockers to stop being free/very cheap PR for companies

Good luck and have a blast to all involved

[LardArse]

One very very very important point and knock-on effect that I dont think anyone either here or on HWB has mentioned.


Who is in a position to dedicate 5 months of their life to overclocking. What will pay their rent/mortgage, put food on the table and pay their 'leccy bill and LN2 bills during this time if they arent working?


* If there is to be an F1, there should be F1 PAY

* If companies arent willing to do this, then the only people who can literally afford to do this are the people so close to the respective company that they get so much hardware, they can sell it on to make enough money to keep them alive, or they are officially on the payroll of the company..

Which essentially makes this a competition for the employees of the performance department of a company



Maybe its time for overclockers to stop being free/very cheap PR for companies

It would be a dream come true for me to see it happen, but working in such companies for 2 years or so, I think it will only happen if the CEO is an overclocker. That's what I wanted to see through with the Quantum Force Schoilarship idea but it is so hard to justify to people who are in control of the budget. Especially when it comes to cold hard cash, you will get QUESTIONED big time. For these people, they look for pictures from a big event, lots of people, tonne of marketing materials hanging on walls, coverage on tonnes of websites, then they say "Wow, great marketing effort!"
A screenshot of 200,000 3D Mark 01 means nothing to them, and to ask for money to do this, everyone will look at you with a fishy attitude. Even when I have to send out some hardware, I have to go through all sorts of crap, that's why I back down from this side of things already.

[dinos22]

i cant dedicate the time KP is saying he can but that should not stop me and james competing

this would have to be crazy good paying job for me to quit and do this full time thats for sure

i dont think it is realistic to expect ppl to be able to bench every day or with 70-80+ % of free time

A lot of guys have demanding jobs and family life. This is nowhere near F1 where professional sportsman who get paid astronomical amount of money to dedicate their life to this imo

love Vince's enthusiasm though...

[[XC] gomeler]

It would be a dream come true for me to see it happen, but working in such companies for 2 years or so, I think it will only happen if the CEO is an overclocker. That's what I wanted to see through with the Quantum Force Schoilarship idea but it is so hard to justify to people who are in control of the budget. Especially when it comes to cold hard cash, you will get QUESTIONED big time. For these people, they look for pictures from a big event, lots of people, tonne of marketing materials hanging on walls, coverage on tonnes of websites, then they say "Wow, great marketing effort!"
A screenshot of 200,000 3D Mark 01 means nothing to them, and to ask for money to do this, everyone will look at you with a fishy attitude. Even when I have to send out some hardware, I have to go through all sorts of crap, that's why I back down from this side of things already.

Truth. Marketers from these companies think differently and honestly a lot of what they consider marketing we consider tacky. The easiest way to get money for LN2/electricity(which can be huge running a 2kW cascade esp in Europe) is through hardware reselling. The only problem is you need the hardware to last through the season and after you are done the hardware has been so badly abused it'd be hard to resell for 50% street value.

That all being said, we can't expect manufacturers to dump $1000/team for LN2 for the season without some sort of compromise. CPUs, mobos, and GPUs are the most expensive consumable components and those would be my first goal in getting sponsorship. Once you have that settled, figure out cooling sponsorship for the league.

Maybe after a season or two and if this grows to a hyped event then it'll be easier to get paid to do this. The first season will be the early adopters, going in knowing chances are they'll lose even more money than they would benching normally.