Will a stable overclock cause problems?

[brassplyer]

Currently running an E8400 3 gig Core2 Duo CPU OC'd to 4.0 gig. As far as I know it's solid and stable. Anyone ever heard of OC'ing causing issues with Audio/Video editing software?

[jagabo]

By definition a stable overclock has no problems. If you are having problems it is not stable.

[Selur]

I agree, personally I even do some extensive video encoding during overclocking tests to make sure the system is stable. (if it's unstable it normally causes , crashes or image distortions)

[fritzi93]

Run a lengthy encode and you'll find out alright if your OC is stable.

Not as quick as running Prime95, but it's a good real world stability test.

[Chug a Bug]

Use Prime95 and leave it running at least an hour. Check all workers to make sure none have failed. Make sure you know the safe operating temps of your chip and use temperature monitoring software to check it (it will steadily rise for 10-15 minutes after you start the test)

[mammo1789]

Not as quick as running Prime95, but it's a good real world stability test.

Prime95 although can have some bugs is the best tool to check stability (it can check cpu only or whole system with ram) or fire Crysis or Bad company 2 and see if it crashes.
I usually test the cpu for 24 hours on selected speed with prime95 if it pass i keep it at that speed
4 ghz seems pretty high for 65nm processors but hey if it works good for you I keep my q6600 at 3,6 ghz with 68c on cores during prime95 test

[wulf109]

For what it's worth I've been running an E8400 for years at 4.0Ghz without any problems including and an occasonal blue ray encode.

[fritzi93]

Prime95 will most likely bomb out in the first 10-15 minutes if an OC is unstable. By far most likely.

If your OC makes it through an hour, I'd say that's sufficient. I'd feel very confident with that. Do 24 hrs if you want, that would provide the closest thing to absolute certainty I can think of.