Overclocking has long been thought to be a practice reserved for computer experts, but hardware manufacturers have made the process much easier over the years. Overclocking can significantly improve performance, while putting the hardware components themselves at risk. Finding the right balance with overclocking settings is more of an art than an exact science, because every piece of hardware reacts differently. Start from Step 1 to learn how to do this on your computer.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Preparation
Step 1. Learn the basics of overclocking
Overclocking is the operation that increases the clock speed and voltage of your CPU to improve its performance. It's a great way to squeeze a little more out of an older machine, or get a little more power out of a cheap computer. For enthusiasts, overclocking is key to getting even the latest framerate from the most demanding programs.
- Overclocking can damage your components, particularly if your hardware doesn't support it or if you push the voltage too high. You should only overclock if you are willing to risk the integrity of your hardware.
- It is not possible to say that overclocking will have the same results on two systems, even if they are composed of the same elements. This is because overclocking is heavily affected by small manufacturing differences. Don't base your expectations on the results you can read online about the hardware you own.
- If you're mostly looking to improve video game performance, you might consider overclocking your graphics card, which will likely be more useful to you.
- Laptops are not suitable for overclocking, as their cooling capabilities are limited. Performance will improve much more on a desktop computer where you can better control temperatures.
Step 2. Download the necessary tools
You will need benchmarking tools and stress test tools to verify overclocking results. These programs test the performance of your processor and its ability to maintain it over time.
- CPU-Z - This is a simple control program that will allow you to quickly view the clock speed and voltage on Windows. It does not perform any action, but it is an easy-to-use control program to ensure that everything is working properly.
- Prime95 - This is a free benchmarking program used a lot for stress testing. It is designed to work for long periods of time.
- LinX - Another stress testing program. It is lighter than Prime95, and is very useful for testing following the changes.
Step 3. Check your computer's motherboard and processor
The different components have different overclocking capabilities. There are also small differences between AMD and Intel components, but the general process is the same. The main thing to check is if the multiplier is unlocked. If the multiplier is blocked you will only be able to adjust the clock speed, and get less significant results.
- Many motherboards allow overclocking and will give you full access to the controls. Check your computer's documentation to determine your motherboard's capabilities.
- Some processors are better suited for overclocking than others. For example, the "K" line of the Intel i7 is designed specifically for overclocking (for example Intel i7-2700K). You can check your processor model by pressing ⊞ Win + Pause and looking in the System section.
Step 4. Run a stress test to create basic data
Before you get started with overclocking, you will need to run a stress test using the basic settings. This will give you results to compare with those obtained after overclocking, and will also allow you to notice any problems with the basic settings that will need to be fixed before overclocking makes them worse.
- Be sure to check the temperature levels during the stress test. If the processor temperature goes above 70 ° C, you probably won't be able to get many improvements with overclocking before the temperature becomes jeopardized. You may need to apply new thermal paste or install a new heatsink.
- If your system crashes during the basic stress test, there is probably a hardware problem that needs to be fixed before starting overclocking. Check your memory for errors.
Part 2 of 5: Raising the Base Clock
Step 1. Open the BIOS
You will need to apply most of the changes in your computer's BIOS, which is the setup menu that you can access before the system boots. You can usually enter the BIOS by holding Del while the computer is booting. Other possible keys include F10, F2, and F12.
Each BIOS is different, so the entries and paths vary from system to system. Don't be afraid to explore the system menu to find what you're looking for
Step 2. Open "Frequency / Voltage Control"
This menu may have a different name, such as "Overclocking". This is the menu where you will have to spend most of your time, because it will allow you to adjust the CPU speed and the voltage it receives.
Step 3. Reduce the speed of the memory bus
To prevent memory from causing errors, you will need to reduce the speed of the memory bus before continuing. You may find this entry with the names "Memory Multiplier", "DDR Memory Frequency" or "Memory Ratio". Turn it to the lowest possible setting.
If you can't find the memory frequency options, try pressing Ctrl + Alt + F1 in the main BIOS menu
Step 4. Increase the base clock by 10%
The base clock, also referred to as the front side bus or bus speed, is the base speed of your processor. Typically it is a low speed that is multiplied to reach the total core speed. Most processors can handle a quick 10% jump at the start of operations. For example, if the base clock is 100 MHz, and the multiplier is 16, the clock speed is 1.6 GHz. A 10% increase would change the base clock to 110 MHz, and the clock speed to 1, 76 GHz.
Step 5. Run a stress test
Once you have done the initial 10% increase, restart your computer and boot to the operating system. Start LinX and let it run a few loops. If you don't notice any problems, you can go ahead. If your system is unstable, you may not be able to enjoy a significant performance boost, and you should go back to default settings.
Step 6. Increase the base clock until the system becomes unstable
Instead of increasing the speed by 10% at a time, you should reduce the increments to 5-10 MHz. This will allow you to find the right value much more easily. Run a benchmark every time you make a change, until you reach an unstable state. The instability is probably caused by the processor not getting enough power from the power supply.
If your motherboard does not allow you to adjust the multiplier, you can skip to Part 4. If you can adjust the multiplier, skip to the next section to try to improve performance further. Be sure to make a note of the current settings in case you want to restore them later
Part 3 of 5: Increase the Multiplier
Step 1. Lower the base clock
Before starting to increase the multiplier, you should reduce the base clock slightly. This will help you make the multiplier increases more accurate. Using a lower clock speed and a higher multiplier will lead to a more stable system, but a higher clock speed with a lower multiplier will allow you to get better performance. Finding the perfect balance is your goal.
Step 2. Increase the multiplier
Once the base clock is reduced, start increasing the multiplier in increments of 0, 5. The multiplier could be called "CPU Ratio" or something similar. The first time you edit this entry, its value may be set to "Auto" and not a number.
Step 3. Run a stress test
Restart your computer and run your benchmarking program. If your computer does not encounter any errors after a couple of tests with the program, you can increase the multiplier again. Repeat this process each time you increase the multiplier by another increment.
Step 4. Keep an eye on temperatures
Make sure you pay close attention to the temperature during this process. You may reach the temperature limit before the system becomes unstable. In this case, you may have reached the overclocking limit. At this point, you should find the best balance between increasing the base clock and increasing the multiplier.
Even though each CPU has a different safe temperature range, the general rule is not to allow the processor to exceed 85 ° C
Step 5. Repeat until you reach the limit and cause your computer to crash
You should now have found settings that push the computer to the edge of instability. As long as the temperatures remain within the safe range, you can start adjusting the voltage to further increase performance.
Part 4 of 5: Increase the Voltage
Step 1. Increase the voltage of the CPU cores
You may find this value under "Vcore Voltage". Increasing the voltage beyond safe limits can quickly damage your components, so it deals with the most complex and potentially dangerous part of the overclocking operation. Each CPU and motherboard can handle different voltage surges, so pay close attention to the temperatures.
When you increase the core voltage, do so in increments of 0, 025. If you increase it more, you risk damaging your components
Step 2. Run a stress test
After the first raise, do a stress test. Since you left your system in an unstable state in the previous section, the desired result is a stable stress test. If your system is stable, make sure the temperatures are still at an acceptable level. If the system is still unstable, try lowering the multiplier or base clock speed.
Step 3. Go back to the base clock or multiplier sections
Once you have managed to stabilize your system by increasing the voltage, you can go back to increasing the base clock and the multiplier, according to your overclocking preferences. Always increase it in small increments, running stress tests until the system becomes unstable again.
Since the voltage adjustment raises the temperature more than the other settings, your goal should be to increase the base and multiplier clocks to the maximum for best performance at the lowest possible voltage. This requires a lot of trial and error with the different combinations
Step 4. Repeat the cycle until you reach the maximum voltage or maximum temperature
Eventually you will reach a point where you can no longer increase the voltage, or the temperature will be close to risk levels. That's the limit of your motherboard and processor, and you probably won't be able to get over it.
- In general, you shouldn't raise the voltage more than 0.4v more than the original setting, or 0.2v if you're using a basic cooling system.
- If you hit the temperature limit before the voltage limit, you may be able to improve performance by purchasing a more powerful cooling system. You can install a more powerful heatsink and fan combination, or choose a more expensive but effective liquid cooling system.
Part 5 of 5: Final Stress Test
Step 1. Return the settings to stable levels
Reduce base and multiplier clocks to last working settings. That will be your new processor speed, and if you are lucky, it will be much higher than the previous one. If your computer boots up without problems, you are ready for the last test.
Step 2. Increase your memory speed
Returns the memory speed to its initial levels. Do this slowly, doing stress tests with each step. You may not be able to restore it to its exact initial values.
Use Memtest86 to run memory tests while increasing the frequency value
Step 3. Run an extended stress test
Open Prime95 and run the test for 12 hours. It may seem like a long time, but your goal is to ensure perfect stability over the long term. This will lead to better and more reliable performance. If your system becomes unstable during this test, or the temperature reaches unacceptable levels, you will need to readjust base clock, multiplier and voltage.
- When you open Prime95, select "Just Stress Testing". Click on Options → Torture Test and choose the "Small FFT" item.
- Reaching limit temperatures is usually not a problem, since Prime95 puts more effort into your computer than programs you will normally use. You could still reduce the overclock slightly for safety. The resting temperature should not exceed 60 ° C.
Step 4. Test in real life
While stress testing programs are great for making sure your system is stable, you should make sure your computer can handle the randomness of real-world situations. If you are a gamer, start the heaviest game you have. If you work with video, try encoding a Bluray. Make sure everything is working properly. You may notice improvements!
Step 5. Take it a step further
This guide only describes the basics of what you can do with overclocking. If you want to learn more, you will have to rely on research and experimentation. There are many communities dedicated to overclocking and various related fields, such as cooling. Some of the more popular communities are Overclockers.com, Overclock.net, and Tom's Hardware, all of which are great places to start looking for more detailed information.
Warnings
- Increasing the processor voltage will shorten its useful life.
- Most of the computers built by Dell (with the exception of the XPS line), HP, Gatewat, Acer, Apple, etc., cannot be overclocked because in the BIOS you will not find the options to change the FSB and CPU.
- Following the advice in this guide could void your computer's warranty, according to the manufacturer. Some brands like EVGA and BFG will still honor the warranty, even after their devices have been overclocked.
- You'll need a good cooling system to take full advantage of overclocking.
