Why can't all processors be overclocked? Sources of additional power. Means and tools
Overclocking a processor is an increase in the speed of the chip compared to the performance declared by the manufacturer. The most popular method is magnification. In this case, the processor cycle is slightly reduced in time, but it does the same amount during this clock cycle. This means that the speed of calculations is increasing. Appearance multi-core processors gave rise to another overclocking option - unlocking kernels disabled by the manufacturer. But this is the lot of professional overclockers, and we will leave witchcraft with cores outside the scope of this article. Let's look at just a few of the most safe options overclocking a laptop processor.
Why overclock a laptop processor?
Let's start with the question "why". Getting more performance for the same processor price seems like a good deal. In addition, as the chip bus clock speed increases, the memory usually runs faster. As a result, applications begin to work a little faster. To be fair, it is worth noting that in modern chipsets For desktop computers you can overclock your CPU and RAM in different ways. But not in laptops.
Where might you need more laptop processor performance? Obviously, in games and heavy applications like Adobe Photoshop, very demanding on the CPU. Modern browsers also actively use the processor on “heavy” pages on the Internet. Website developers today actively use multimedia capabilities HTML 5 and Flash. That is, greater performance is required in almost all daily tasks of a laptop user.
Overclocking a laptop processor: step by step
Attention! When overclocking a processor yourself using our tips, you need to remember the following things:
- Overclocking the processor increases performance, but at the same time energy consumption also increases. This means your laptop’s battery will last for less time and the chip will heat up more. Need to provide good ventilation inside the case. At a minimum, do not cover the special slots located on the bottom and back of the laptop.
- In the long term, overclocking can reduce the lifespan of the processor.
Easy overclocking using Windows
The safest option for laptops is “overclocking” by changing the power supply mode.
1. Open the Power Options program in Windows 7 or 8.1.
2. Install “High Performance” - a special power supply scheme that requires maximum performance from the processor.
Thus, we overclocked the laptop processor regular means and without any risk.
Software overclocking using special utilities
Here begins a description of overclocking methods that involve a certain risk for the average user. Therefore, do everything carefully and in very small steps.. For example, if the processor frequency is 1 GHz, then demanding that it reach the peak of 1.5 GHz is stupid. The maximum that can be done safely is +10-15%. All other numbers are achieved only by special means with changes in the cooling and power supply systems of the chip.
1. Download CPU-Z program.
It doesn't know how to overclock the processor. But CPU-ID will give us full information about the chip that is installed in our laptop. Knowing this information, we can understand how many additional gigahertz we can expect.
2. Download special utility SetFSB. This program is capable of controlling the processor clock speed without using the BIOS.
Carefully study the list of laptop models supported by the utility. You won’t find the latest ones on this list, since the situation with program support is currently incomprehensible. But the utility supports old laptops manufactured approximately before 2014. The sequence of actions is simple. We increase the clock frequency of the processor bus in small steps and look at the result.
3. We test the laptop for stability after overclocking. The fact that after overclocking the laptop works when you launch the Internet browser is already good. But we need to check whether it can withstand a more serious load. The Prime 95 utility will help us. Its advantage is minimum size file and no need to waste time on installation.
If you run the CPU-Z program described earlier during the test, you will see that the processor operates at the highest frequency that is allowed to it. If something is unstable: the appearance blue screen, freezing, then the frequency should be reduced.
Overclocking a laptop processor through BIOS
Overclocking the processor is also possible through BIOS settings. But this only applies to individual models. And, I must say, quite rare. It should be understood that a laptop is, first of all, mobile device With for a long time battery operation. The options for overclocking the processor here are not as wide as with personal computers, but you can do something. The general course of action is something like this.
- We enter the BIOS. Depending on your laptop model, you should hold down or frequently press the Del, Esc, or F12 key when turning on the power. There may be other key combinations. This varies by manufacturer, so check your laptop online or in the user manual.
- The item under which the settings are hidden may have different names. For example, CPU FSB Clock or CPU FSB Frequency. All we can do is slightly increase the bus clock speed.
- We increase the clock frequency. Reboot the laptop.
After overclocking, we make sure to test the reliability of the laptop using the Prime 95 utility.
Do you need to overclock your laptop?
Laptops are not designed to overclock the processor. On the contrary, manufacturers mobile chips We did everything so that the user would not need such overclocking. The frequency automatically decreases when the processor is idle and increases when the system needs the chip. The most reliable way not to break anything is to use switching the laptop power supply circuit. The processor will stop reducing its frequency, which will give you a small performance increase compared to economical operating modes. To be fair, let us remind you that the high-performance mode is automatically turned on if you simply plug the power supply plug into the laptop. For not the newest laptop models, there is an additional alternative to overclocking the processor - the SetFSB utility. And you can check the stability of operation in the new overclocked state with the Prime 95 program.
What is overclocking? This is a change in the normal operating mode of computer devices in order to increase their performance and improve overall performance systems. Apart from extreme overclocking, the goal of which is to squeeze the maximum out of a component and set a record, overclocking makes it possible to meet the growing needs of applications and games without replacing hardware with more powerful ones.
Today I will tell you how to overclock your processor (CPU). Let's consider the methods and means by which the performance and stability of an overclocked system are determined, as well as a simple way to return it to the “pre-overclocking” state.
Before you start
Any modern processors, even mobile ones, are capable of overclocking, although the latter, according to their creators, is contraindicated due to the inability to provide adequate cooling. Yes, an overclocked “stone” (from now on we will mean stationary PC processors) consumes more energy and generates more heat, so the first thing you should take care of is a good cooling system. It can be of either air or liquid type, the main thing is that the size of its heat sink ( TDP) matched or exceeded the thermal power of the “stone”. For small and intermittent overclocking, the boxed cooler that came with the CPU is sufficient, but under increased load it will most likely irritate you with loud noise.
The second important part is the power supply unit (PSU). If his strength is barely enough to meet the current energy consumption of devices, he will not be able to overclock. For calculation required power Use a power supply taking into account overclocking: select from the lists the components that are installed on your PC and click “ Calculate».
Calculator version " Expert» allows you to take into account the voltage and clock cycles of the CPU after overclocking, as well as the percentage of load on it (CPU Utilization). Choose the latter to the maximum - 100%.
Happy experimenting!
Also on the site:
How to overclock a processor updated: April 4, 2016 by: Johnny Mnemonic
CPU overclocking | How does a processor become an overclocking legend?
Since the birth of the IBM-compatible PC, certain processors have been positioned as exceptionally suitable products for aggressive overclocking. Some models are famous for their outstanding overclocking potential, while others are famous for their low price. We even remember a few unique examples, where features that were initially disabled on the chip could be unlocked.
We decided to do small excursion into history and make a list of some of the most interesting ones from the point of view of CPU overclocking.
CPU overclocking | Intel i486
Although overclocking existed before the appearance of this chip, this process became much more interesting with the advent of the Intel 80486 thanks to its flexible settings clock speed and the first implemented internal clock multiplier in the i486 DX2 model. Introduced in 1992, the DX2 was available in three options: 40 MHz (20 MHz x2), 50 MHz (25 MHz x2) and 66 MHz (33 MHz x2). Computer enthusiasts could buy a cheaper version of the i486DX2-40 and increase the clock speed to 25-33 MHz using a jumper on the motherboard, resulting in the performance of the flagship i486DX2-66 model.
This may not seem like much today, but such overclocking provided a 60% increase in frequency when computer manufacturers were paying $600 for the 486DX2-66 in batches of 1,000, and the cost of a CPU upgrade kit could exceed $1,000. Purchasing the i486DX2-40 and DX2-50 could save hundreds of dollars, making overclocking a very attractive option for PC enthusiasts.
CPU overclocking | Intel Pentium 166 MMX
Intel released the Pentium MMX in 1997, featuring an expanded instruction set and twice the L1 cache (a whopping 32 KB at the time) of the first generation of Pentium processors. In addition to being noticeably faster than their predecessors, these chips also offered ample opportunities acceleration The top-of-the-line Pentium MMX 233 cost about $600 at launch, but the 166 MHz version was $200 cheaper and usually allowed you to reach 233 MHz without much effort. Many of these CPUs were capable of hitting the 250 MHz mark when the FSB was increased to 83 MHz, making the Pentium MMX 166 a top-end processor at a reasonable price.
CPU overclocking | Intel Celeron 300A
Despite its advanced age, the Celeron 300A is still respected in overclocking circles, and it is this chip that is responsible for many people joining the ranks of overclocking enthusiasts in 1998 (including the site's staff). The processor was based on the Mendocino core, designed for low-budget PCs. Intel decided to cut costs by placing the L2 cache directly on the CPU chip instead of using external card with cache, which it released for top processors Pentium II. Although the Celeron had only 128 KB of L2 cache instead of the Pentium II's 512 KB, placing the cache on the chip meant that it ran at the processor's own speed, and in many cases this gave the Celeron 300A an advantage over more expensive CPUs. In addition, the $180 Celeron 300A had incredible overclocking potential: raising the FSB from the factory 66 MHz to 100 MHz allowed it to reach 450 MHz - on par with the $500 Pentium II 450. For the first time in history, overclockers could get the performance of a flagship CPU for less than $200 with minor tuning. It is not surprising that the Celeron 300A is fondly remembered by representatives of the overclocking community, to the emergence of which it was directly related.
CPU overclocking | Pentium III 500E
If Celeron brought very a large number of advanced PC users into the ranks of overclockers, the Pentium III 500E successfully continued its legacy. This chip, introduced in 2000, was made using a 180 nm lithographic process, was equipped with a 256 KB L2 cache memory and led to a change in the Slot 1 interface to the more modern Socket 370. Unlike the stripped-down Celeron processors, the Pentium III 500E (cost $240 at the time of release) from an architectural point of view was identical to the Pentium III 750 MHz ($800). Naturally, it provided aggressive overclocking to 750 MHz by simply increasing the FSB to 150 MHz, closely approaching the performance of the rare and expensive ($1000) Pentium III 1 GHz.
CPU overclocking | AMD Athlon and Duron 600 (Thunderbird/Spitfire)
The first generation Athlon was a cartridge that hid a processor board with an installed CPU and cache memory chips. The cartridge was installed in a Slot A slot connector with 242 contacts. Since the cartridge design was completely closed to the user, the multiplier was unlocked using separate device called Gold Finger, with which you could also change the CPU voltage. These processors themselves had excellent overclocking potential, but in 2000 they were replaced by the next generation on the Thunderbird/Spitfire core in the Socket A version, and overclocking by multiplier became easier thanks to the famous L1 bridges. All you had to do was connect four small bridges on the CPU case using a graphite pencil (or better yet, use a special conductive pen) to unlock the multiplier. The Duron 600 for $80 could be overclocked to 1 GHz, which brought it very close in performance to the Athlon 950 ($360). The cost of CPUs that are of interest from an overclocking point of view has dropped below $100.
Additionally, the more expensive Athlon processors could be overclocked above 1 GHz at a time when Intel's top-end Pentium III models were relatively overpriced, if they could be found at all: Intel processors over 1 GHz were extremely rare for several months after the announcement. After the appearance of Thunderbird's successor - the Athlon processor on the Palomino core - the trick of closing the bridge with a pencil became obsolete, but this happened after Athlon and Duron were able to attract a huge number of overclockers to their camp.
CPU overclocking | AMD Athlon XP-M 2500+
After AMD locked the multiplier in desktop CPUs, overclockers realized how much overclocking potential the multiplier still had. mobile versions. At a cost of $25 more than desktop versions of the CPU, mobile processors Barton offered a lower stock Vcore (1.45V) and an adjustable multiplier. As a result, the Athlon XP-M 2500+, running at 1.83 GHz, could often be overclocked to 2.5 GHz without much effort. Some overclockers were able to reach a frequency of 2.7 GHz when overclocking this processor.
CPU overclocking | Intel Pentium 4 1.6A
First Pentium processor 4 was based on the little-known Willamette core, a design that failed to impress at launch and was even a step back in some performance and power consumption tests. But in 2001, Willamette was replaced by the Northwood architecture, which has double the L2 cache (512 KB) and is based on a thinner 130 nm process technology.
For the first time, computer enthusiasts began to reconsider their opinion about the Pentium 4 precisely at the heyday of Northwood - due to the increased scalability of this architecture. The Pentium 4 1.6A sold for about $300 and was easily overclocked to 2.4 GHz with the factory cooler. This was slightly faster than the flagship Pentium 4 1.8 GHz priced at $560.
CPU overclocking | AMD Opteron 144
While AMD's Athlon 64 processors provided excellent performance, they generally did not have as solid overclocking potential as the Pentium 4. However, in 2005, AMD introduced a 1.8 GHz version of the Opteron 144, priced under $150. Opteron processors have always been server- and workstation-oriented chips that require expensive register memory. However, the Opteron 144 was a version for regular socket 939 single-processor boards that use unbuffered memory. Equally important, it had incredible overclocking potential. Many copies could be overclocked to 3 GHz, while the most productive models Athlon FX-57 had a frequency of 2.8 GHz and cost $1000.
CPU overclocking | Intel Pentium D 820 and 805
In 2005, Intel's Pentium family was often inferior in performance to AMD's Athlon 64 line. So, the most budget processor The Pentium D 820 was priced at $240, which is about a hundred dollars cheaper than the Athlon 64 X2 4200+.
Although the performance of the budget Pentium left much to be desired at factory frequencies, it was a full-fledged dual core processor, which in in capable hands reached a frequency of 3.8 GHz, and some copies even conquered the 4 GHz bar.
In 2006, the Pentium D 805 processor cost $130 was born - the same processor that we overclocked to 4.1 GHz in the article "Overclocking Pentium D 805: dual-core 4.1 GHz processor for $130". The Pentium D was able to shift the attention of enthusiasts to Intel, and this in an era of AMD dominance.
CPU overclocking | Pentium Dual Core/Core 2 Duo E2000/E6000/E8000
Back in 2006, the release of Core 2 Duo processors based on the Conroe architecture allowed Intel to reclaim its crown as the industry leader while ushering in the golden age of overclocking. If we had decided to devote a page to each model in the line that had outstanding scalability, this article would have been at least twice as long.
Let's start with the budget Pentium Dual Core, which was essentially a version of the Core 2 Duo with the L2 cache trimmed to 1 MB. Pentium Dual Core E2140 (1.6 GHz) and E2160 (1.8 GHz) cost $80 and $90 respectively at launch, and easily reached the 3 GHz mark. The Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.866 GHz) cost less than $200 at launch, but could be overclocked to approximately 4 GHz - on par with flagship model Core 2 Duo E6700 (factory frequency 2.667 GHz) for $580.
At a later stage life cycle The Wolfdale Core 2 core, during the production of which a transition was made to a 45-nm process technology, allowed processors like the 3 GHz Core 2 Duo E8400 model to overcome the 4 GHz barrier with minimal resistance. This by no means applies to all Core 2 models, but in our memory there was not a single representative of the line that did not have good overclocking capabilities.
CPU overclocking | Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Core 2 Quad Q6600 was introduced in 2007. But even now, there are enthusiasts who still embrace the capabilities of this quad-core processor, making it something of an anomaly in the fast-paced world of technological advancement.
Based on the revolutionary Core 2 architecture and 65nm process technology and with a factory clock speed of 2.4GHz, this CPU easily reaches the mid-3GHz frequency range. At the time, this was surprising given the complex architecture of the quad-core CPU.
Although the Q6600 was priced at $850 at launch, by 2010 it had dropped to $200, making this processor popular with computer enthusiasts on a budget. In 2011, the Q6600 was replaced by the Core 2 Quad Q9550, another CPU with an excellent reputation among overclockers.
CPU overclocking | Intel Core i7-920
Intel's Nehalem architecture was introduced in 2008 along with the Core i7 brand. Quad-core Core 2 Quad processors have proven themselves well, but rethinking the Hyper-Threading feature allows the Core i7 to take a step forward in workload types. parallel computing. In addition, the LGA 1366 platform is equipped with a three-channel memory subsystem, and the memory controller is implemented directly in the processor itself.
Flagship model Core i7-965 Extreme(3.2 GHz) sold for $1000 and had an open multiplier. But the $285 Core i7-920 (2.67 GHz) offered identical architecture for less than a third of that price. Although it had a locked multiplier, it was possible to increase the frequency to 4 GHz through BCLK overclocking. In fact, the Core i7-920 is still quite powerful and provides stable performance after overclocking, which speaks to the long life of the Nehalem architecture and the X58 Express platform.
CPU overclocking | AMD Phenom II X2 550 and X3 720 Black Edition
The flagship model Phenom II from AMD has never shone with overclocking potential (overclocking efficiency did not reach 4 GHz). But the Black Edition processors at least made configuration easier thanks to an open multiplier. Phenom II X2 550 and X3 720 had their own unique features, namely in some cases they allowed you to unlock additional cores, if the motherboard used supported such a function.
While some of these processors did have defective cores that could not be revived (making overclocking a gamble), many were capable of operating as quad-core processors, sometimes at speeds in excess of 3 GHz. In 2010, when top-end quad-core Phenom IIs cost $180, you could take a risk, and as a result, often become the owner of a processor more than high class, having spent $100. In the worst case, for relatively little money you became the owner of a dual-core or triple-core CPU, which could still be easily overclocked thanks to an open multiplier.
CPU overclocking | Intel Core i5-2500K
Intel presented its chips based on the architecture Sandy Bridge in 2011, and they were based on the 32nm process technology. Compared to top Core models i7, Core i5 processors lacked a shared 3 MB L3 cache and the Hyper-Threading function. None of these measures resulted in a significant difference in performance except in highly parallel workload scenarios.
On the other hand, the Core i5-2500K includes an unlocked multiplier, which makes possible overclocking CPU from factory frequency 3.3 GHz up to 4.5 GHz using air cooling. We think the $225 price tag is reasonable given the high performance potential of this chip. Even today, the architectures' relatively meager advantages are what make the 2500K a worthy choice for computer enthusiasts.
Perhaps many people know, but for those who don’t, we’ll tell you that the performance of any computer can be significantly increased not only by replacing the existing hardware to a new one with more high performance, but also as a result of overclocking the old one.
Overclocking or overclocking involves increasing the performance of PC hardware components such as processor, video card, RAM, and motherboard by improving their nominal characteristics. In the case when the processor is overclocked, we will increase its clock frequency, multiplier coefficient, and also the supply voltage.
How to increase frequency
So, how to overclock an intel processor? When talking about methods of this type, let's start with increasing frequency characteristics. Where does this opportunity come from? The fact is that manufacturers of microprocessor technology always supply their products to the market with a certain safety margin, the value of which ranges from 20 to 50% of the characteristics stated in the passport. For example, the Intel 2.5 GHz installed in your PC has a maximum clock speed of 3 GHz.
In other words, during a properly executed overclocking process, you can achieve an increase in its characteristics to 3 GHz. However, this does not mean that in this mode it will work longer than at its nameplate frequency. The peak frequency when the processor heats up is reset to minimum values. In addition, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will be able to increase this figure, but some simple manipulations will easily increase it by 20-30%.
Each processor is characterized by the presence of such a parameter as a multiplier. If you multiply the value of this parameter by the FSB bus frequency (BCLK), we find out the frequency. Therefore, the simplest and absolutely safe method Intel overclocking is an increase in frequency value system bus FSB (BCLK).
The accessibility and simplicity of this method comes down to the fact that changing the FSB (BCLK) can be done directly in the BIOS, as well as programmatically, using a step equal to 1 MHz for this purpose.
In more “ancient” models, using such a method could lead to dire consequences - the processor could simply burn out. Today, in order to “kill” modern multi-core Intel only by increasing its clock frequency, incredible efforts will be required. But we do not set such a goal, and, therefore, this method is completely safe.
In the event that a novice overclocker even overdoes it with the settings, the system will instantly reset the installed settings, reboot and function in its own way. normal mode. To change the bus frequency, go to the BIOS and then find the value CPU values Clock, press the “Enter” key within this value, and then enter the value of the bus frequency.
Attention! It is recommended to overclock only desktop processors. It is better to leave processors in laptops in their current state, because... they cannot cope with the increased heat generation of processors under overclocking. To enter the BIOS, you usually use the “Del” key when booting the PC. Read this article: . But only to familiarize yourself with the frequency and other parameters.
So, we enter the BIOS, open the information about the CPU and see:
Set new values in the FSB or BCLK line settings. In this screenshot, BCLK is equal to 100 MHz, which when multiplied by a factor of 33 gives a processor frequency of 3300 MHz. If you set the BCLK value to 105, the final frequency will be 3465 MHz. Remember that most modern Intel processors I react painfully to changes in this value. It is better to overclock them by increasing the multiplier. Read about multipliers below.
In order for the overclocking result to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to replace the existing cooler with a more efficient one. To determine the efficiency of a particular fan model, you should measure Intel temperature at its maximum load. Programs such as Everest and 3D Mark will help with this. If the temperature at maximum load is 65-70°C, it is necessary to either increase the fan performance to the maximum value, or reduce the FSB bus frequency (BCLK).
How to change the multiplier
Also, increasing productivity can be achieved by changing the multiplier. This is only possible if the existing “stone” is unlocked with a multiplier. Usually, similar devices are marked “Extreme”. If the version of your existing Intel does not belong to this category, you should not be upset, since using the first option will be enough to obtain it. Or you cannot do without increasing the voltage.
Changing the multiplier in big side from the standard one, as in the screenshot.
There is no need to set large multipliers right away. Try adding 2-3 units to start. Save and restart your computer. If it works stably, you can add another unit. And so on until stability is disrupted. Let's assume that the computer freezes when turned on after setting the multiplier to 45. Then it is better to set the Final multiplier to 43. This way the computer will work stably.
If the motherboard cannot reset the settings on its own, help it. You need to remove the round battery on the motherboard. If you don't know what it looks like, it's better not to overclock your processor!
How to increase the supply voltage
How to overclock an intel processor by increasing the processor voltage? The principle of increasing productivity by increasing voltage is quite simple. To implement it, you just need to increase the power supply of the device. In order to make your dreams come true, you must:
- install a more efficient cooler;
- do not increase the voltage value higher than 0.3 V from the nominal value.
In order to increase the voltage, you need to go into the BIOS, find here an item called “Power Bios Setup=> Vcore Voltege" or something similar, increase the supply voltage by 0.1 V. Then, you need to set the cooler to the maximum value and set more high frequency FSB (BCLK) or multiplier.
Clock frequency is the number of oscillations that occur in one second. The number of synchronizing cycles, if we talk about a personal computer, is operations (instructions program code) that the processor executes during this period of time. The performance of a PC directly depends on the clock frequency and it can be overclocked by increasing the number of oscillations.
« Hertz" - this is the name of the unit with which frequency is measured. This unit of measurement was developed by Heinrich R. Hertz. At the end of the 19th century, a physicist conducted a special experiment that proved the wave nature of light. According to Hertz's theory, light is nothing more than an electromagnetic wave propagated by special waves. And the longer the electromagnetic radiation (wave), the brighter the light we see. The color of light directly depends on the wavelength.
There are two types of clock frequency - external and internal. The board, processor, and RAM exchange information (data), and the external frequency is responsible for this. But it depends on the internal one how quickly and correctly the processor itself will work.
If you overclock the processor, all programs (operations) will run much faster than if this is not done. Overclocking is used when the user is no longer satisfied with the performance of his computer and wants to increase standard number synchronizing cycles. What does this procedure give to the user? The opportunity not to spend money on a new processor and continue working with the old one, which after overclocking can still last a long time. Your computer will become more productive without replacing hardware, and that’s a fact.
Once you overclock your processor, you will encounter some problems, quite significant ones. After completing the procedure, your personal computer will begin to consume more electricity, in some cases the increase is very noticeable. Overclocked processors suffer from increased heat dissipation. And most importantly, devices break down faster, because they have to work in extraordinary mode. Along with an overclocked processor, the number of oscillations also increases ( clock frequency) random access memory, therefore, it can also quickly fail.
What should you do before overclocking?
Overclocking reserve is the maximum clock frequency. If this maximum is exceeded, the device will fail. Almost all processors are overclocked without consequences up to 17% higher than the original data. And there are devices that can be overclocked for even less. Intel has a special series of processors that have an unlocked multiplier (it is possible to change it in the BIOS). These devices are the ones that overclock best.Maximum clock speed is bad. On the one hand, a personal computer increases its performance significantly, and on the other hand, when the processor heats up to its maximum permissible value, it reduces the temperature by skipping oscillations (cycle). Therefore, if you want to overclock the device to the maximum, then you must take care of a good cooling system. Without cooling, you will not get the maximum percentage by which you overclocked the processor. It will decrease due to the fact that it will skip cycles, trying to lower the temperature. Also, do not forget that electricity consumption also increases. In order for an overclocked processor to work efficiently, you need to install new block nutrition.
Before overclocking your processor, follow these three steps:
- The computer's BIOS must be updated to the latest version.
- You should know how the processor cooling system works: whether it is installed securely and whether there are any malfunctions.
- Determine the processor clock frequency and its initial value by looking in the BIOS, or using special programs.
In addition, check how your processor works during ultimate load. To carry out tests, you can use the program. It's free, easy to use, but functional utility, will check the stability of the device and display the results on the screen.
Only after this you can start overclocking the processor. Below we will look at three programs that can be used to do this safely.
Review of programs for overclocking Intel processors
SetFSB
Using the first program is very simple, and even inexperienced users can master it. True, the developers do not recommend it to beginners in order to avoid critical errors. This utility will very quickly and easily overclock CPU without rebooting the system. One move of the slider in a specialized utility and you're done.
With this specialized program You can overclock any processor model, but only if the motherboard is suitable. Not all models are supported by it. And when overclocking the processor, the motherboard has great importance. After all, during the procedure, the system clock frequency also increases. And this leads to an impact on the clock generator, which is located on the motherboard.
Before using this utility, go to the official page and check if it is in the list of allowed motherboards model for your personal computer. The advantages of this program include its low weight (only about 300 kb), ease of learning and management, high operating efficiency, and regular updates.
Recommendation! The developers of the program do not recommend using it for beginners who do not understand the dangers it may pose. And besides, an inexperienced user is unlikely to be able to independently find out what model of clock pulse generator is in his computer. It is specified manually.
Overclocking the processor using the SetFSB utility:- What model of clock generator is on the motherboard? Select it from the "Clock Generator" drop-down list.
- Click "Get FSB". You will see two frequencies - the device itself and the system bus.
- Move the slider carefully, constantly measuring the processor temperature. This can be done using a specialized utility.
- When the slider position is optimal, click Set FSB.
CPUFSB
Another effective program that allows you to overclock all models of Intel processors. The utility is not free and can be downloaded from the official developer page. The program is included in a specialized tool that allows you to overclock the processor and monitor its stability. If you couldn't use the first program, SetFSB, because it didn't support your motherboard, then this one might work. Since more motherboards are supported here.
In addition, it is more convenient here user interface: there is support for the Russian language. As for overclocking itself, these two programs work the same way: they increase the system clock frequency.
How to overclock a processor using CPUFSB:
- Find your motherboard model in the drop-down list.
- Find the PLL chip model in the drop-down list.
- Click on “Take frequency”. You will see the initial frequency of the device and system bus.
- The frequency increases in the same way: with careful movements until the required level is reached. Don't forget to monitor the CPU temperature using special program. Once the desired values are set, click “Set Frequency”.
SoftFSB
The program also allows you to quickly and easily overclock the processor, has a simple user interface and is easy to learn, although English language. The only negative is that it is no longer supported by the developer, and therefore it is not clear whether you will be able to use it. The utility can be downloaded on the official page for free. With this program you will overclock a processor with any model of motherboard and clock generator.This program is also intended only for experienced users who understand motherboard models and clock generators.
How to overclock a processor using SoftFSB:
- Find your clock generator and motherboard model.
- Find out what the current bus and processor frequencies are.
- Gently move the slider until you find the desired frequency. At the same time, do not forget how to similar programs, monitor the processor temperature.
- When optimal quantity cycles will be selected, click on “SET FSB”.
These utilities, which you met above, can be used for both personal and laptop computers. But when overclocking the processor to laptop computers You should be as careful as possible so as not to harm or damage the processor. The system clock speed should not be increased to the maximum value.
