How to overclock a processor - simple step-by-step instructions in pictures for Intel and AMD [Parsing from a programmer]

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January 11, 2022

There are several ways to overclock the processor and increase the speed of your computer without buying new parts.

Overclocking (overclocking) allows owners of old computers to try playing modern games, reduce the startup time of programs and reduce the CPU load.

To do this, you will have to fulfill several conditions and make sure that it is actually necessary to overclock the processor - sometimes problems from increasing speed are not compensated by acceleration.

Reasons for overclocking

It is not necessary to increase the speed of your computer. A user who needs a PC only for working with documents or surfing the Internet does not need to overclock the processor and, most likely, even buy new components.

Requirements for office programs and browsers have not changed much since the mid-2000s.

Reasons for acceleration may include the following situations:

• The computer cannot cope with non-gaming tasks - video editing and rendering, conversion and transcoding, working with large amounts of information.
• The processor cannot run modern games or displays low frame rates (FPS).
• The CPU does not match the video card. For example, the computer has a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics processor, and the processor uses an outdated Intel Core i3-2140 chip.

There is no point in overclocking a computer if the equipment lasts more than 5-6 years or the processor has only 1 or 2 threads.

Overclocking is not recommended when using budget video cards like GT 610 or 710, and especially discrete graphics.

The performance increase in this case will be minimal, with a high risk of overheating and failure of the entire system.

In 2022, the recommended configuration for overclocking is a computer with a processor of at least Intel Core i3-3100 or AMD Athlon X4 640 . Suitable video cards for such a PC are at least GeForce GTX 560 or Radeon RX550 . In this case, overclocking will provide noticeable results; in other cases, you should think about buying a new computer or a modern processor and graphics card.

conclusions

Now you know how to overclock the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and make it a little faster. Ryzen processors are also characterized by the fact that their performance is highly dependent on the performance of RAM. So you might also want to overclock it a little.

As for the maximum frequency to which you can overclock your processor, this all very much depends on the processor itself. For example, the latest Ryzen 5 2600X and Ryzen 7 2700X already have a Turbo Boost frequency of 4.2/4.3 GHz, and motherboard features such as Precision Boost often do an excellent job and perfectly reveal the potential of the processor. While you may not get much benefit from overclocking with these processors, you will achieve the same as Turbo Boost.

However, processors without the letter X, for example, the Ryzen 5 2600 and Ryzen 7 2700, are perfectly overclockable and can operate at the same frequency as their X versions. This works the same for second and first generation processors. If you are looking for a processor to overclock, then it would be better to get the version without X.

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The danger of overclocking

When overclocking a computer, it is worth knowing about the undesirable consequences of the process.

Increasing the frequency and voltage can lead to the following problems:

• The computer begins to work unstable, freezes, crashes and reboots appear. This is due to an increase in frequencies and requires immediate adoption of appropriate measures - reducing the overclocking value or returning all changes made.
• The PC stops booting and even turns off while the operating system is loading. The solution requires clearing the contents of the CMOS memory - for example, using a jumper located on the board.
• Reducing the service life of overclocked parts. Higher frequencies lead to equipment operating at its limit. Although proponents of overclocking believe that parts will most likely become obsolete before they fail.
• The processor fails almost immediately , within several days or months after overclocking. In this case, the user who overclocked the CPU loses the warranty on the part and cannot return it to the seller, even if the warranty period has not yet expired.

Given the dangers that can cause your computer to perform worse or crash, it's worth considering not overclocking.

The problem of slow operation can be solved in other ways. For example, removing unnecessary software, cleaning the disk (primarily the system partition) of unnecessary information, reinstalling the operating system. It is possible that installing 1-2 additional gigabytes of RAM on your computer or even buying a used processor with more power will help speed up your work.

On websites that sell used components, you can find CPUs at rock-bottom prices.

Moreover, the resource of such a chip allows it to serve for several more years without visible problems. And only if all these methods did not help or there is no opportunity for an upgrade, you should move on to overclocking the processor.

Helper utilities for overclocking the processor

First of all, to overclock your processor, you will need a small set of utilities that will help you monitor the health of your system and its stability, as well as the temperature of the processor.
Below we list a list of utilities and programs and briefly describe what they are responsible for. CPU-Z is a small but very useful utility that will show all the basic technical information about your processor. Useful for plotting frequencies and voltages. For free.

CPU-Z

CoreTemp is another free utility that is somewhat similar to CPU-Z, but does not delve into technical indicators, but shows the temperature of the processor cores and their load.

Speccy - shows detailed technical information not only about the processor, but about the entire computer as a whole. There is also information about the temperatures of various system components.

LinX is a free program that we need to check the stability of the system after each step of increasing the performance of the processor. This is one of the best stress testing software. Use your CPU to 100%, so don't be alarmed, sometimes it may seem like your computer is frozen.

Opportunities to improve speed

Overclocking a CPU is defined as making changes to its characteristics and settings to operate at higher frequencies than the manufacturer intended.

But in order to overclock the processor, it must have a certain “reserve”.

Old chips, in the 1990s and early 2000s, were released already overclocked and could not be accelerated. Modern CPUs are produced with a safety margin, ensuring increased reliability of the part. When marking a processor, numbers are applied to it that are approximately 10-15% less than its maximum frequency - for example, 2.7 GHz instead of 3.0.

There are known cases when the size of the “reserve” reached 50%. For example, single-processor AMD chips, whose frequencies could reach 350-400 MHz, were sold as cheap processors over 200 MHz. Taking into account the safety margin, they could be overclocked even to 450 MHz.

Now the manufacturer leaves users the opportunity to overclock processors using the BIOS, changing several basic characteristics.

They also use special software for this. The first method, using the BIOS, is considered more reliable, allowing you to easily return the settings to the original ones. But it is also more difficult to use.

Problems when driving the FX 8350 over the bus

On my motherboard, any reference bus value above 220 causes a BIOS reset. Even if you lower the frequencies to default or increase the voltage with a margin for all components.

For this reason, overclocking by multipliers is more interesting to me. And I used it to overclock and work on this processor.

But even with such limited overclocking, I achieved good results. The only thing that did not reach the coveted frequencies was the frequency of the north bridge.

That’s actually all I wanted to tell you... At this point, I consider the topic of overclocking FX series processors to be covered and completed.

Preparing for overclocking

Before overclocking the processor, you should prepare your computer accordingly. One of the main details that you should pay attention to is the power of the PC power supply.

If the power supply capabilities are only sufficient to compensate for the energy consumption of already installed parts, the device will have to be replaced.

To determine the required performance, you should add up the approximate power of all components installed in the system unit - memory, board, drives, video card - using a special online calculator.

The power consumption of the CPU after overclocking increases by 15-20% - this value is accepted in the calculations.

The next step is to update the BIOS to the latest version to increase the overclocking potential of the system. After installing a new BIOS, you should check the operation of the processor at maximum load. To do this, use utilities such as S&M, Prime95 or OCCT. If errors are detected during testing, it is not recommended to overclock the processor.

CPU cooling

After overclocking, the processor begins to consume more energy, and, therefore, generates more heat. A good cooling system helps to avoid overheating, which can cause the CPU to fail.

It can be liquid or air, the main thing is that the heat sink value exceeds the thermal power of the processor.

To overclock a not very modern dual-core chip, even a standard cooler, which comes in the kit and has a small “reserve,” may be enough.

To compensate for the increased heat flow, you can increase the rotation speed of the device to the maximum, while the noise level increases, but the CPU is cooled quite efficiently.

If the user decides to change the cooler, the following recommendations should be used:

• Coolers with copper radiators are considered the best for cooling overclocked processors, but their cost is much higher and efficiency is not always high;
• you should give preference to products from well-known manufacturers - Zalman, CoolerMaster, Titan or Thermaltake, whose operating reliability is higher than that of coolers of other brands;
• In most cases, purchasing a high-quality water cooling system is not justified - it is more profitable to simply buy a new processor.

For cooling, not only fans and other equipment are important, but also the case.

The power supply inside must be positioned horizontally, and there are holes in the walls for installing additional coolers and air flow.

A case that is unsuitable for an overclocked processor and an improved ventilation system can be changed immediately along with the power supply.

Overclocking AMD chips

Processors from AMD are better overclockable. The manufacturer has many models that are designed just for this . That’s why it’s very easy to overclock them using software. You just need to select the right utility.

No. 1. AMD OverDrive

No. 1. AMD OverDrive An excellent utility from the processor manufacturer for overclocking chips of the same name. It features high speed and a large number of settings. The overclocking process itself is based on increasing the processor multiplier (if it is unlocked).

The user is asked to simply move the sliders, which symbolize the multipliers. You shouldn’t get too carried away with this, since without a good cooling system the processor can simply burn out.

In principle, the utility will warn with a message when the multiplier reaches a critical level. The program is completely free and can be easily downloaded from the official AMD website.

PROS:

• The program was developed by the processor manufacturer
• Overclocking is based on increasing the multiplier (which is relatively safe)
• There is a system of protection against inept user actions
• You can get all the information about the hardware platform
• The product is completely free
• Intuitive and pleasant interface
• There is an automatic overclocking mode
• It is not necessary to know the type of clocker

MINUSES:

• Only suitable for select AMD processors
• Reboot required for changes to apply
• No Russian language

No. 2. Advanced Clock Calibration

No. 2. Advanced Clock Calibration In fact, this is not an application, but a function as part of AMD OverDrive or the computer BIOS. It allows you to overclock the processor with high precision, but only works on AMD Athlon chips of various generations.

When overclocking using this option, you need to understand that the processor temperature will increase significantly. Therefore, you need to purchase a powerful cooling system. Without it, there is a high risk that the chip will simply fail.

This option is available in almost every BIOS of a motherboard that has an AMD Athlon processor on board. That's why finding it is not a problem. And it’s even easier to install AMD OverDrive and find this thing there.

PROS:

• Not an application
• Allows you to change the processor frequency with an accuracy of megahertz
• Works very quickly
• Settings are not lost on reboot
• Can be used on any PC with AMD Athlon on board

MINUSES:

• AMD OverDrive is required for it to work

No. 3. ClockGen

No. 3. ClockGen An excellent utility for overclocking a processor in real time. The utility has an incredibly simple interface. At the same time, you won’t be able to get confused in it. Even in the complete absence of the Russian language.

The processor frequency is controlled using special sliders made in the form of adjustment knobs. Very comfortably. You can change the frequency and immediately see the result of your work.

Since the program takes up very little space on the monitor, it is very easy to monitor the temperature at the same time. The utility is completely free and requires very few hardware resources, which is not bad.

PROS:

• Simple and intuitive interface
• The program is completely free
• Very fast work
• Requires few system resources
• Overclocks processors in real time
• Nice design
• Simple controls

MINUSES:

• Need to know the type of clocker

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Increase clock speed

Clock frequency is one of the main parameters of the processor. It affects the speed of calculations performed and can be increased by improving the characteristics of the FSB bus.

This can be done simply by increasing the frequency in 1 MHz increments. The method is considered relatively safe. If the value is set too high, the user settings are automatically reset to default values, and the CPU runs at normal speed after a reboot.

Steps to change frequency:

• Enter the BIOS by pressing the corresponding key when the computer boots (F1, Del, F2).
• CPU Clock in the list , go to it by pressing Enter.
• Enter a new bus frequency value based on the multiplier value. It is not recommended to increase the indicator by more than 5-10% at a time.
• Save changes and restart your computer.

After testing the processor at the new frequency, you can leave it overclocked to this degree - or continue to increase it. The overall increase in indicators may be at the level of 15-20%. For processors such as Intel Core i3, i5 or i7, already operating at high frequencies, the maximum increase will be only 5-15% of the nominal value.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of overclocking:

1. The processor receives more power. Games stop freezing and run easily despite high requirements. After turning on the device, the system boots faster. Proper overclocking helps achieve a 20% increase in performance.
2. Improves user understanding of the computer. After acceleration, a person quickly understands the ongoing processes.
3. If the processor begins to work better, then it does not need to be changed. At the moment, there are many games being released, each of which requires more and more resources to run, so overclocking the processor helps not to change it after the release of each application.

Disadvantages of CPU overclocking:

1. Unstable work. If you do not have knowledge of the overclocking process, you can damage the processor and cause it to fail. Often the operating system produces errors that arise due to incorrect settings, so before overclocking you need to find out as much information as possible on this topic.
2. BIOS settings are lost. This occurs when there is a rapid transition to high frequencies.
3. Reduced processor life. Typically, service life is reduced by 40-50%. This is due to the fact that the processor uses its resource much faster. In standard mode, the operating time is 15 years, in accelerated mode 8-10 years. This minus is partly insignificant, since in 10 years the processor will become obsolete and a more advanced model will be released.
4. The processor loses its warranty. If your processor breaks down and the service center finds out that the device operates at high frequencies due to overclocking, they will refuse a refund.
5. The processor may burn out. This happens due to high temperatures, so overclocking must be done with a powerful cooling system.

Changing the multiplier

The next method involves changing the multiplier - the coefficient by which the bus frequency is multiplied when calculating the overall (internal) indicator for the CPU.

This cannot be done for every chip - only for models unlocked with a multiplier, which are usually labeled Extreme.

The absence of an inscription indicates that it is impossible to change the multiplier and the need for overclocking only by increasing the frequency or voltage.

The process of increasing the indicator is no different from setting a new frequency, only another value changes.

Recommendations when changing the multiplier:

• you should not set large numbers at once - it is advisable to increase it by no more than 2 or 3 units at a time, checking after each;
• if the stability of the CPU operation is disrupted, the indicator should be reduced to the previous value;
• the maximum total increase value should not be higher than 15% - the same as when increasing frequencies.

When the multiplier returns to its original value, a reset may be necessary using the battery on the system board.

It should be taken out and installed back. In this case, all changes made in the BIOS become equal to the default values.

Is it possible to overclock a locked processor?

The next question that some people ask is: is it possible to unlock and overclock a locked processor?

There is no way to unlock a stuck CPU because it is a physical process that happens during the production build itself, which means the stuck CPU doesn't just have some software limitation placed on it that can be bypassed using a specific program or utility.

However, frozen processors can be overclocked by changing their base clock speed, and this is called BCLK overclocking.

The principle behind BCLK overclocking is that it increases the processor's power limit, which in turn increases its base clock speed. However, this overclocking method has some serious drawbacks: it increases the amount of heat generated by the CPU, this can lead to instability, and the overall performance gain will not be as good as with an unlocked processor.

Voltage increase

When overclocking a CPU by increasing acceleration, you should follow two rules.

The first is to ensure sufficiently effective ventilation.

Secondly , the voltage should not be increased by more than 0.3 V.

The user procedure is as follows:

• Go to BIOS.
• Find the Power Bios Setup section.
• Go to CPU Voltage Control.
• Increase the voltage by 0.1 V.
• Test the processor with new characteristics.
• If the CPU is working normally, try continuing to increase by 0.2, then 0.3 V.

If the computer reboots when the voltage increases, it means that the maximum value at which normal operation of the processor is possible has been reached. After this, you should return to the previous voltage value and complete overclocking.

No. 1. SetFSB

One of the simplest and easiest to use utilities for Intel processors. It differs in that it does not even require a reboot and is suitable for overclocking even some older CPUs, including dual-core models from the 2000s.

The downside of the program is the lack of support for some motherboards, so before using it, you should check the compatibility on the SetFSB developer website.

The overclocking process requires the following steps:

• Open the program.
• Select the model of the motherboard clock generator (clocker) Clock Generator
• Click on Get FSB.
• Move the slider, gradually increasing the FSB frequency value and controlling the processor temperature using another program.
• Having selected the optimal value at which the speed increases and the temperature does not reach critical values, press Set FSB.

All settings made using the utility are saved only while it is running. After restarting the PC, the indicators return to standard values.

You can correct the situation by placing the utility in startup to run every time you turn on the computer.

How to overclock an AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processor in two clicks?

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Hello, dear readers of the site Uspei.com. The most popular question on my Instagram is “how to overclock this or that processor?” The next questions are “is it dangerous?” and “does this damage the processor?”

In this review, I will teach you how to safely overclock a processor in almost two clicks, without abstruse terms or delving into theory. After all, you are so afraid of this. But you need to know a little bit of hardware. Let's start with it.

Equipment for overclocking processors

On the Intel , overclocking is only available on chipsets with the Z . That is, Z390 , Z370 , Z270 , etc. In this case, the processor must have an unlocked multiplier, these are indicated by the index K.

AMD processors, motherboards with chipsets with indices B and X - B 350 and 450, X 370 and 470. But with AMD processors everything is simpler - overclocking is available for almost all Ryzens.

Answers to questions about overclocking

Well, now it’s time to answer the questions:

1. Is the warranty valid after overclocking processors? Yes, it is valid if there is no mechanical damage and you have kept the receipt and original packaging.
2. Does overclocking a processor affect its lifespan? No, it does not affect if it does not overheat and the voltage is set correctly. Therefore, it is periodically necessary to change the thermal paste and check the temperature in the appropriate programs.
3. Is it possible to damage a processor during overclocking? This is quite difficult to do; modern processors and motherboards have a bunch of protective functions that will simply turn off the system and prevent damage to the chip. And if you follow these instructions, then the chances are generally minimal.
4. How to enter BIOS? Immediately after turning on the computer, press the DELETE button and wait for the BIOS to load.

See also: Mini-displays inside PCs: how and why?

I tried to collect all motherboards from different manufacturers and will show a guide for each BIOS on two platforms. In general, there are three main steps that will help you successfully overclock your processor:

1. You need to increase the processor frequency multiplier
2. You need to set the minimum required voltage
3. Needs to be saved.

All! Let me note that I do not claim the laurels of a super-overclocker. These points will generally be sufficient for the average user. But there are tricks that I will talk about later.

Overclocking capabilities of AMD processors

Now a little about the overclocking capabilities of each processor. Ryzen of all generations overclock well to 4-4.1 GHz. Some second generation samples can reach 4.2 GHz . But for this you need to have a good cooler.

Boxed coolers are only suitable for overclocking to 3.9 GHz at a maximum voltage of 1.3 V.

Overclocking capabilities of Intel processors

As for Intel processors, 6th, 7th and 8th generation chips can reach a frequency of 4.7 GHz , sometimes even higher. But I advise you to try 4.3 first and gradually increase the frequency by 100 MHz.

Overclocking voltage for processors

And a little about tension. It must be selected individually for each processor. It affects the stability of the system. The optimal values ​​for Ryzen and Intel processors 6,7,8 generations are in the range from 1.3 to 1.4 volts .

And the lower this parameter, the less your processor heats up. From experience I will say that in many cases the average parameter of 1.35 V is sufficient for each processor .

Let's move on to overclocking. I show the maximum overclock for Ryzen to 4.1 GHz, and for Intel to 4.5 GHz.

Overclocking on an MSI Intel motherboard

Let's start with MSI motherboards. Their BIOS has the most user-friendly interface. Go to the Advanced mode (by default this is F7 except ASROCK motherboards). Select Expert mode and set the desired processor frequency.

Below we disable the Intel Turbo Boost and set the voltage from 1.3 to 1.4 V. In the CPU Features , we find and disable the C1E Support power saving function.

Overclocking on an MSI Ryzen motherboard

On MSI motherboards for AMD Ryzen everything is almost the same. We go to Advanced Mode or F7 by default, go to Expert and below set the desired processor frequency in the CPU Ratio .

See also: Qualcomm chip vulnerability affects 30% of Android smartphones worldwide

We turn off CPU Performance Boost , since we set the frequency manually. Below we also set the required voltage. In the CPU Features , disable the AMD Cool'n'Quiet .

Overclocking on a Gigabyte Ryzen/Intel motherboard

Let's move on to Gigabyte motherboards. And here I must make a reservation. Some B350 and B450 models do not have manual voltage calibration. Therefore, at the end I will show you how to overclock a processor using the Ryzen Master .

On motherboards with X and Z chipsets (for AMD and Intel, respectively), overclocking is similar. In the MIT , go to Advanced Frequency Settings and find the same CPU Ratio - set the multiplier for Ryzen from 39 to 41, for Intel from 43 to 47.

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We return to the main menu and go to the voltage adjustment tab - set the value necessary for stable operation.

Overclocking on ASUS Ryzen/Intel motherboard

ASUS B350-450 and X370-470 motherboards, overclocking is also the same. But in my case, I came across a motherboard without the ability to control voltage. But I'll show you how to fix it in the BIOS. Well, or see the end of the post, where I overclock using Ryzen Master .

Go to Advanced mode via the F7 key, go to AI Tweaker . We find the line CPU Ratio and set the desired value opposite.

Below we see that my ability to change the voltage is blocked. Therefore, we set Offset mode and manually turn up the frequency we need below. I need to remove 0.1 (one tenth) volt.

For overclocking on ASUS motherboards with the Z chipset, everything is extremely simple. We also go to Advanced mode , go to AI Tweaker, select the CPU Core Ratio and set the value to All Cores .

Below, for the first core, set the required multiplier from 42 to 47. In the Power Saving and Performance mode , leave the second item. We also set the required voltage. In my case it is 1.35 V.

Overclocking on ASROCK Ryzen/Intel motherboard

As for ASROCK motherboards, their BIOS is very similar to what we saw from Gigabyte. And all settings are identical. So if you're the proud owner of an ASROCK motherboard, rewind and check out the settings for Gigabyte motherboards.

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