Impossible for stable overclock on my PC

[Syde_Projeckt]

No matter what I try, I cannot overclock my CPU to any worthwhile degree, and have it run stable. I try AMD Overdrive, or manually in the BIOS, but I cannot get this down. Could my RAM be the culprit? My system is:

AMD Phenom II x4 955 3.2ghz
MSI 770-C45
OCZ Gold series PC3 12800 (8-8-8 @ 1.65v) (2x 2GB)
Air-cooled

Say if I try to go for 3.6ghz or 3.7, I'd raise my voltage one step higher but it'll BSOD during a stress test. My motherboard comes with an easy OC switch, so I'll go up by 10% (lowest overclock) and it will BSOD in games.

I also try to overclock my video card using AMD's automatic tune up, but it won't run stable, even though the first 5870 I had would.

Any helpful advice?

edit: my CPU has c2 stepping, not c3.

[cksboy15]

I highly doubt it's the RAM myself. I mean it's possible, but there are parts out there that doesn't like to be OC'd.

[mj246969]

...I'd think you could get 15% - 20% if you have good cooling. I don't know your motherboard so I'd need to know what settings you have....sometimes loosening up your ram is a must to overclock your CPU. I have DDR3 PC2000 so I don't have that problem but that's me. Let me know what you have for temps/voltages/settings and we'll see what we can do....