overclocking help please

i have been trying to read all that i can on overclocking, but am still fairly scared of it. i have been directed to a few sites and guides, but i cant exactly say that any have really helped me. at least not enough to be certain enough to go fiddling around with the bios or anything. i have some bad luck with computers.
with that said, i have downloaded a few programs like clockgen that i have seen recomended by some. along with speedfan, cpu-z and so on. however some software that came with my motherboard also monitors speeds, temps, frequencies etc. along with a "auto overclock" option. all of these programs seem to say that my cpu is not staying at a constant speed. it shows the multiplier and thereafter the frequency changing(like 1ghz to 2, and 3, and then back down and up....and so on). i have tried that auto overclocking option, but did not notice much difference, especially in the fluctuation of the speed registered.

i am not sure if there is any level of coaching outside of just reading guides and hoping for the best, but i am hoping there is.
in that possible case, my components are:

foxconn a7gm-s motherboard(am2+ support), amd athlon 64 x2 dual core processor 5200+ 2.70 ghz, 2x2gb ddr2 800 s.skill memory, 500w power supply that came with my smilodon raidmax case(and a gforce 9500 gt vid card if i ever get to the topic of overclocking that lol). the case also has decent cooling with 4 fans, 2 of each size.

i don't know if i have missed anything, or explained all elements clearly enough but here hoping. i hope there are at least some standards or something to get me on my way, because although the speed of my system doesn't feel inadequate to me... if there is a safe level of oc'ing i can get away with than i am all for it(even if it is shaving a few years off of a 10 year cpu).

thanks for any assistance.