Overclocking the processor through BIOS and special programs. Changing the power mode. Software overclocking of video cards

Speeding up your PC may be necessary for a variety of reasons. Some users are thinking about how to overclock their computer because there is not enough power for gaming, while others simply want to achieve maximum performance. For outdated equipment, overclocking is practically the only way to extend its service life.

People started thinking about how to overclock a computer at the same time as its appearance. In 8088 processors with a clock frequency of 8 MHz, radio amateurs replaced the clock generator, after which it could run at a frequency of 12 MHz, which means 50% faster. IN modern computers The overclocking process is much easier; it can be done by changing the BIOS settings.

There is also appropriate software that allows you to speed up the operation of computer components directly from Windows environment. The solution to how to overclock an old computer lies in changing the position of special jumpers (switches) on the motherboard.

Determining computer settings

Overclocking RAM

The performance of a computer is affected by both the amount of installed RAM and the speed of its operation. The speed is set by timings, which reflect the execution of operations in nanoseconds. Accordingly, the lower the timings, the higher the memory performance. Frequency also affects the speed of data exchange. system bus: the higher it is, the more operations can be performed per second.

Solutions to how to overclock a computer's RAM are divided into two directions: through the BIOS or software, you can try to lower the memory timings. But success in this case can be achieved if the modules are designed by the manufacturer to low values or when the BIOS is set to automatic mode.

Programs for overclocking RAM

Most programs clean and optimize RAM. But there are also those that allow you to make changes directly from the Windows environment. These include RamSmash, Turbo Memory, MemMonster and some others. In addition to changing memory settings, they allow you to control its physical parameters, which greatly simplifies overclocking.

An increase in memory frequency usually occurs when the processor is overclocked, but in this case the timings have to be increased to achieve stable operation modules. It must be kept in mind that as the memory operating frequency increases, the heat dissipation also increases. Therefore, you need to take care of cooling by installing radiators or more powerful fans in the system unit.

Overclocking a video card

How to overclock your computer to maximum? In this case, you cannot do without speeding up the video card. To do this, use various applications supplied by manufacturers or third party developers. Modern video cards slightly inferior in performance to the processor and motherboard.

They also have a central processor, video memory and an internal data transfer bus. Therefore, they overclock both the graphics processor and increase the frequency of the video memory. To ensure stable operation, replacement may be required. standard system cooling to a more powerful one.

Software overclocking of video cards

The manufacturer provides RivaTuner software for overclocking nVidia cards. For Radeon family cards there is also an application supplied by the developer - AMD Catalyst. But there are many other programs that allow you to evaluate the performance of a specific video card and reveal its potential.

The fact is that manufacturers often use the same chip, but on lower models the clock speed and some graphics processing functions are cut. Such programs include GF123clk, NVMax, Raid-on Tuner, PowerStrip. They allow you to configure graphics processing parameters and smoothly increase the frequency of the processor and memory.

Speeding up your hard drive

Before you overclock your computer for gaming, you should understand that the speed of the hard drive is of great importance. Modern games actively load and exchange data with the disk, so slow HDD can become a bottleneck in computer performance.

The speed of drives with a spinning disk is much lower than the speed of data transfer and processing by RAM and processor. A good solution is to install a solid state drive (SSD) into the system. It is capable of speeding up data loading and unloading by 2-3 times. At the same time, prices for these devices continue to decline as production volumes increase.

Speed ​​up your Internet experience

One of the solutions on how to overclock a computer in a safe way, is to speed up your browsing experience. Recently, more and more applications and games work online, so this task is becoming more and more urgent. Browser optimization and network connection settings are used to speed things up.

You can manually change browser settings and connection parameters if you have the appropriate knowledge and experience. For help ordinary users special applications are coming to speed up the Internet. The most common of them include:

• Ashampoo Internet Accelerator;
• SpeedyFox;
• Speed ​​Connect;
• Active Speed;
• cFosSpeed.

Computer overclocking control

Of great importance for how to properly overclock a computer is constant monitoring of the parameters of all components related to overclocking. This is achieved through monitoring in the BIOS, as well as using special applications. The most advanced of them provide comprehensive information about the temperature, supply voltage, and fan speed of all system components.

It is not enough to know how to overclock a computer; you also need to determine the stability of its operation under load. Such functions are also available in many programs. For this purpose, either complex mathematical functions, or playing excerpts from computer games. The most popular include the following:

• CPU-Z;
• 3DMark;
• AIDA 64;
• PCMark

Many motherboard manufacturers complete their products with appropriate programs for monitoring physical parameters.

Applications for general computer overclocking

One of the best solutions on how to overclock your computer in a safe way is to use utilities to clean and optimize your computer. They can both clean and customize operating system, and make changes to the settings of components to increase their performance.

The disadvantages of such complex programs include the high duration of their work. But this is explained by the fact that a scrupulous analysis of all components of the system is carried out, and some operations, such as defragmenting a hard drive, take a long time.

But as a result of such programs, you can get a significant increase in productivity without making changes to the operation of the equipment. And changes that cause components to operate abnormally will, in any case, reduce their service life. The most famous comprehensive utilities include AVG PC Tuneup, Ashampoo Win Optimizer, Glary Utilities and many others.

Before you start overclocking a processor, you need to have a clear understanding of how it works and why you should do it. To overclock, you need to increase the frequency of the chip. As the frequency increases, it will work faster. The logic is simple...

However, do not forget that ill-considered overclocking can lead to unpredictable consequences (instability of the computer, shutdown, and worse). So you take a risk. This needs to be understood.

Overclocking leads not only to an increase in frequency, but also to an increase in heat generation. All modern processors use a two-level overheating protection system. If a certain temperature threshold is exceeded, the processor will forcibly lower its frequency as well as the supply voltage. Consequently, its heat generation will decrease. When the temperature rises further, the computer simply turns off. In practice, it often turns out that this does not happen and the computer simply freezes. Then you need to turn it off and on again using the button.

Don't be intimidated by the negative consequences and intimidation associated with the topic of overclocking. With a balanced approach to the overclocking procedure, as in any other issue, and timely temperature control, the risk of damaging the elements is minimal. In this case, it is necessary to understand that when using a processor on the verge permissible temperature and stress it can burn out. Therefore, in your appetites you need to look for a compromise between performance and the acceptable operating mode of the elements. It is convenient to control temperature, voltage and frequencies using the OCCT program. The program is free for personal use.

First, a little theory. To imagine all this, let's consider the process of formation of these frequencies. For the normal operation of a computer, laptop or netbook, the operation of individual microcircuits and their components must be synchronized or in-phase. Because the different devices operate at different frequencies, then the method of dividing/multiplying a certain reference frequency is used for this. Frequencies are generated by the PLL chip, which is a clock generator. It generates clock frequencies for the operation of the processor and other chips. It looks something like this:

As you can see, this chip is quite large, with big amount legs Many may have a question: how does the microcircuit set the desired frequency? In fact, everything happens simply. The frequency is set by a combination of voltages at the desired pins of the microcircuit. All these voltage combinations are read from the registers. It is installed by the BIOS when you turn on your computer or laptop. Register values ​​can also be changed from the operating system using special utilities. Another option is to set the voltages directly: that is, by soldering the wires to the desired pins of the PLL chip and applying the required voltages to them. All this information is indicated in the documentation (datasheet). Such documentation can be found on the Internet by the name of the chip and the word datasheet in Google. These chips are manufactured by ICS, Realtek, Silego and others. For ICS release PLLs, the chip model is written in the last line, and Realtek and Silego in the first.
There are three ways to overclock a processor:

1. using BIOS settings;
2. using special utilities;
3. soldering at the pins of the microcircuit and applying the necessary voltages to the pins of the PLL chip.

Let's consider each of these methods separately.

First way is well known to owners of desktop PCs, in which the BIOS contains many settings necessary for overclocking. This method is the simplest

Conversely, many laptops and netbooks have very limited BIOS settings. Because there are no settings for overclocking.
Second way often used for laptops and netbooks. One of the most popular overclocking utilities is SetFSB. It supports a large number of various PLLs.
Third way It is not suitable for everyone and is the most labor-intensive and dangerous. It requires certain knowledge and experience and such intervention will void the warranty. It is an output if the laptop is blocked from changing the frequency. This lock is installed so that the operating frequency is set only once when the laptop is turned on. It is not possible to change it, for example, using the same SetFSB.

Overclocking the processor using BIOS

Basically, processors, motherboard chipsets and memory chips operate at average performance levels. From this we can conclude that there is still sufficient potential. There are many video tutorials and guides on the issue of how to overclock a processor. For example, you can look at:

First, you need to study the description of your motherboard: look at what is associated with the BIOS, find the sections that are responsible for the frequency of the FSB, RAM, multiplier, memory timings, PCI/AGP frequency dividers, voltages. It is possible that the BIOS will not have such parameters, in which case overclocking will have to be done by switching jumpers installed on the motherboard. The instructions describe the purpose of each, and in addition, the board itself already contains such information near the jumpers. For some motherboards, the BIOS settings are hidden by the manufacturer itself and you need to press a certain key combination to unlock it (for example, motherboards made by Gigabyte). In any case, all necessary information is in the instructions or on the manufacturer's website.

Step-by-step instruction

You need to go into the BIOS (to do this, press the Del key when the first data appears on the screen after rebooting/turning on the computer). To be sure, you can press this key several times. Try to read the inscriptions that you see on the monitor when you start the computer, since sometimes a different combination or key is required to enter the BIOS - for example, F2. In Gigabyte, after entering the BIOS, you need to press Ctrl-F1 to access all functions on motherboards.

We need to find a menu that contains data for changing the frequencies of the memory bus, system bus and timing control (as a rule, all this is located in one menu). Many BIOS for modern motherboards have sections for overclocking the system. This item may be called: M.I.B, ​​MB Intelligent Tweaker, Quantum BIOS, etc. There are many options.

On the screen we will see something like this:

In older versions, these processor and memory frequency settings can be found in the Frequency/Voltage Control sections, Advanced (JumperFree Configuration) menu tab. In any configuration, we need a section containing control of processor frequencies and voltage.

There is no need to be afraid of an abundance of unfamiliar information, depending on different BIOS versions and the fact that all the necessary options may have different names. It won't be difficult for you to find everything you need. In these sections, to improve performance, you just need to set one of the required values ​​- Colonel, Genera l in the Dynamic Overclock item. If the BIOS does not have these sections, it is necessary to carry out preliminary preparations.

To overclock, we need to increase the processor frequency, which is the product of the multiplier and the bus frequency. For example, let's take the standard processor frequency of 2.4 GHz, its multiplier is x18, and the bus frequency is 133 MHz (133x18 = 2400 MHz). This means we can increase the multiplier, the bus frequency (FSB), or both of these parameters. In many Intel processors it is impossible to change the multiplier; in some models it can be reduced to x14 using energy saving technology. Therefore, let's consider the universal case - overclocking by increasing the bus frequency. In addition, this method can greatly improve overall system performance.

Why? Because all computer work is synchronized. And if we increase the frequency of the processor bus, the memory operating frequency correspondingly increases, the data exchange speed increases and, as a result, an additional increase in performance. Although there are some difficulties here. When overclocking the processor and memory at the same time, it becomes possible to stop ahead of time. It may turn out that the processor still has some headroom for overclocking, but the memory is already at its limit. For example, motherboards based on NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition have the ability to overclock the processor without depending on memory. In any case, it is advisable to think about not being limited by memory or other devices.

We are looking for an option in the BIOS that is responsible for the memory operating frequency. Possible different names and it is advisable to read the instructions for the motherboard. This option can be found in two sections: those related to overclocking and timings, or overclocking the processor. The first section may be called Advanced Chipset Features (Advanced). Here we are looking for the Memclock index value parameter, which is measured in megahertz.

Or it can be found in the POWER BIOS Features tab and the System Memory Frequency or Memory Frequency parameter with the memory frequency designation as DDR333, DDR400 or DDR266, and possibly PC100 or PC133.

Once we find this parameter, we need to set it to the minimum value. There are different options for selecting the desired value, depending on the BIOS version. You can, for example, by pressing Enter, select the required value from the list that opens using the keyboard arrows, and sometimes you need to move through the values ​​using the “+” or “–”, Page Up, Page Down keys.

Why do we bet minimum frequency memory, it is most likely not so low? We were going to increase the FSB frequency when overclocking the processor; accordingly, the memory frequency will also increase, but if we increase it from the lowest value, and not from the preset value, then it is more likely that it will be within the acceptable limits for our memory, without stopping the processor overclocking. It is also recommended to set memory timings higher than those set by default.

This approach will allow us to further push back the limit of stable performance of our memory. And even with startup installation timings, it is possible that the motherboard mistakenly sets too small, ineffective parameters, and this way we can be sure that working timings are set for the memory. To make sure that everything is set correctly, you need to remember to save all changes in the BIOS and do a restart. Select the Save & Exit Setup option from the menu, or press F10 and confirm your consent by pressing Enter or “Y” (Yes) for older BIOS versions.

Basically, setting the memory frequency to a small value is enough and you can start overclocking the processor itself, but we won’t rush and make sure that nothing will interfere with us in the future.

As already mentioned, many things are interconnected in a computer, and as the processor bus frequency increases, not only one memory frequency increases, but also other frequencies (on SATA, PCI-E, PCI or AGP buses). Within some limits, this is even beneficial, since it slightly increases system performance, but if there is a significant excess of frequencies above the nominal, the computer may stop working. Nominal bus frequencies for SATA and PCI Express are 100 MHz, AGP – 66.6 MHz, PCI – 33.3 MHz. Almost all modern chipsets have frequency fixing. The AGP/PCI Clock parameter is responsible for this, for which the value 66/33 MHz is selected.

NVIDIA chipsets and AMD processors with Socket 754/939 are very demanding in terms of HyperTransport Frequency. It is initially set at 1000 or 800 MHz, and before overclocking it must be reduced. Sometimes its real frequency is displayed, but it is mainly used with a x5 multiplier for a frequency of 1000 MHz, and with a x4 multiplier for 800 MHz.

This parameter may also be called HT Frequency. You need to find it and lower the frequency by choosing 400 or 600 MHz (x2 or x3).

When we have lowered the operating frequency of the memory and HyperTransport bus and set the PCI and AGP bus frequencies to nominal, we can begin overclocking the processor. Find the Frequency/Voltage Control section. (EPoX – POWER BIOS Features, ASUS – JumperFree Configuration, ABIT – μGuru Utility).

We need to find the item CPU Host Frequency, External Clock, or CPU/Clock Speed, which controls the FSB frequency. We will increase its value.

To what value can it be increased? It's different for each case. This depends on your processor, cooling system, motherboard and power supply. First, try increasing the frequency above the nominal by 10 MHz. Save the changed settings and boot into Windows. By running the CPU-Z utility, make sure that the processor is actually overclocked.

Check the stability of the processor in some special program (S&M, Super PI) or game. Don't forget to monitor the processor temperature. It is undesirable to exceed 60° Celsius.

For Intel Pentium 4 and Celeron processors, you need to use the RightMark CPU Clock Utility, ThrottleWatch, etc. When overheated, these processors can throttle and performance will be severely reduced. We don’t need “overclocking” with throttling, and in this case, we need to take measures to improve cooling or reduce the overclocking frequency. If everything went well, then you can gradually increase the frequency further until the system operates stably. As soon as you notice the first signs of overclocking: program crashes, freezes, errors, blue screens or exceeding the temperature limit, you need to lower the frequency and again make sure of stable operation.
Is there a way to increase the voltage supplied to the processor? In some cases this can really help, but comes with a lot of risk. This will lead to an increase in heat generation, which will already increase with overclocking.

It is not recommended to increase the voltage on the processor by more than 15-20%, but it is safer if it is within 5-15%. The main thing is to control the heat dissipation when increasing the voltage, and, if it has increased too much, improve the cooling of the overclocked component. If it happens that your system is overclocked and the board does not even start or starts and immediately freezes, then you need to reboot and correct your error in the BIOS. Starting with Insert pressed can help, and the board resets the parameters to nominal. As a last resort, you can always find the Clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard and move it to two adjacent contacts for about four seconds and return it to its place. This can only be done when the power is off. Then all parameters will automatically be reset to nominal. There are motherboard models that do not have Clear CMOS (the manufacturer operates an automatic BIOS reset system) - you need to remove the battery for a while and the BIOS settings will be reset. And you will get everything back before the processor was overclocked.

Software overclocking method

If you are thinking about how to overclock a processor using software, then many different utilities have been developed for this. Before we begin describing software overclocking, it is advisable for us to install, if not already installed, an application for collecting system information. Let's focus on two options: and GPU-Z. These small utilities allow you to get all the necessary information about the components of your system. At the same time, CPU-Z reports information about the motherboard, processor and memory, and GPU-Z provides information about the video card.

CPU-Z allows you to obtain the necessary information about installed processor, system bus frequencies, memory frequencies and latencies. This utility has a function that can be used to check the accuracy of overclocking values.

GPU-Z displays important information about the video card: name, type of GPU used, graphics processor, shader block frequencies, memory, memory bus width, number of raster operation units, etc.

To fine-tune memory latency, you can use the Memset utility, which will save you from having to make these settings in the BIOS.

Free CPU overclocking program

SetFSB is the easiest way to overclock a processor. The program allows you to adjust the FSB frequency directly from Windows. The program supports wide range motherboards and you only need to know the PLL that your motherboard uses. You can easily find this by looking at the motherboard.

PLL chips are usually manufactured by ICS. You need to search the chip by name to find out the PLL version.

You need to select the name of your PLL chip from the drop-down menu list and click “Get FSB”. The program will search for the current FSB frequency and you can easily change it to the desired value by simply moving the slider.

When working with the program, it is important to remember:

• Don’t get carried away with changing the frequency, the consequences can be disastrous.
• Not all PLL chips provide the same frequency limits and some motherboards have limits on the available frequencies.
• If you want to access additional frequencies, then check the “Ultra” mode. When you select a new frequency value, click on “Set FSB” to use this value. If the system crashes, reboot and try again.

With this method, the voltage does not change, so the hardware will not be damaged.

SetFSB is updated frequently to support the latest versions of PLL chips. In addition to SetFSB, there are many other utilities. Major motherboard manufacturers supply overclocking software included software to your boards.

This article described the main methods for overclocking. Overclocking central processor allows you to improve performance in processor-dependent applications. Accordingly, the higher the processor frequency you managed to obtain, the higher the result.

How to overclock a processor - video instructions

Any person gets lost when he finds himself in an unfamiliar situation. When you first get to some institution, you don’t know where to go or who to turn to. When you sit behind the wheel or helm for the first time, you don’t know how to control it vehicle. When you turn on your computer or access the Internet for the first time, you don’t know what to do next. Over time, experience will come, without hesitation, you will head to the elevators, turn on the ignition or open your favorite website and will not even remember that these elementary actions once puzzled you. But at first, you need a guide, advisor or instructor - this is the initial, introductory role this article is intended to play.

Why is overclocking needed at all? Very roughly, overclockers can be divided into three categories.

Thrifty and beginner overclockers. For the budget conscious, the goal is to get maximum performance while spending a minimum of money. A computer is assembled from the simplest, cheapest, obviously outdated components, from what you have enough money for or don’t mind. The rated performance of such a system is usually noticeably below the required level. Beginning overclockers already have a computer, they have no choice, and they have to work with what they have. After overclocking performance similar systems can be raised to more or less acceptable levels. Thrifty overclockers are not always poor. There are many other values ​​in life besides computers. There are many excellent opportunities to wisely invest your available funds: in education, on food, on children, on housing, on family, on vacation, but spending everything on computers is far from the best use for them.

Experienced overclockers. Their goals are somewhat different - to get maximum productivity and pleasure without spending too much. It’s stupid to throw money away by purchasing older (and expensive) components, but it’s also stupid to skimp on little things, saving a penny, but thereby limiting your capabilities, depriving yourself of the chance to win a ruble. In this case, each element of the system is selected thoughtfully, taking into account many factors: the motherboard has rich capabilities, the processor has a high probability of successful overclocking, the cooling system is quiet but effective. The final system performance will be very high, at least comparable, but often exceeding the speed of a system made up of top-end components operating in nominal mode. Although such high performance is often not vital, the overclocker enjoys the result, a well-deserved feeling of satisfaction from a job well done.

Overclockers-enthusiasts, extreme sports enthusiasts. The goal is maximum productivity at any cost. The older models, the most powerful components, extremely low temperatures - everything is used in order to end up on a transcendental, unreal peak, inaccessible to the majority. To be among the top ten, five or three - what could be more wonderful? In this group, the element of competition is strongest and victory is the highest reward!

Of course, the proposed division is quite arbitrary; there are no clear boundaries between groups. Beginner overclockers eventually turn into experienced ones; experienced overclockers, if desired, are quite capable of doing extreme sports; there are even such exotic combinations as thrifty enthusiasts. But you always have to start somewhere, and we will start with the first, most important point.

1. Theoretical preparation

Take your time and don't skip this section. I understand perfectly well that searching for and absorbing information is boring and boring. I would like to immediately know those “magic buttons” that need to be pressed in order to immediately, without any fuss or hassle, get the desired result - an overclocked computer. But there are no such buttons; they are different in each case; to find them, knowledge is required.

After all, if you're not going to overclock, then why are you reading all this? And if you are going to, then over time, with experience, you will still learn and learn a lot, so why put it off? Why pay for your knowledge with burnt or damaged components, pointlessly wasted time and money, when there is ready-made information waiting for you to use it.

1.1 Collecting system information

Before we act, we need to know what we will be dealing with. If you assembled your own computer or at least took part in choosing the configuration, then you probably know what components it consists of. If not, then you should start by defining each of the components. Study your system, find out its components, look through the manual for the motherboard. Use information and diagnostic utilities, run some performance tests, record specifications, temperature, stress at rest and under load. All this data will be useful in the future. Knowing the exact composition of the system, you can approximately determine the possible overclocking level. Performance data will show how much the system speed has increased after overclocking. Sudden changes in voltages and temperatures will allow you to take timely measures and avoid irreversible changes. In addition, these preliminary tests will ensure that the system operates stably in nominal mode.

1.2 List of useful programs

In their daily activities, overclockers use a wide range of programs and utilities for various purposes. Conventionally, they can be divided into several groups:

• information and diagnostic;
• monitoring;
• acceleration;
• stability check;
• performance measurement.

Information and diagnostic programs can accurately determine the configuration of your system. First of all, these include two powerful package: Lavalys Everest and SiSoftware Sandra. Their capabilities are not limited to defining the configuration; the programs are capable of performing monitoring functions, performance measurement and stability testing. However, it is not at all necessary to use these bulky and clumsy packages, especially since they provide only part of their capabilities for free. There are many less famous programs of this kind, for example WinAudit or PC Wizard. Instead, you can use a set of small free ones, but functional utilities, each of which is good in its own field. For example, overclockers widely use the CPU-Z utility, which reports information not only about the processor, but also about the motherboard and memory. For more detailed control and managing memory timings, we can recommend the MemSet utility.

The best universal monitoring programs have always been made by enthusiastic, independent developers. Unfortunately, because of this, their lifespan is not as long as we would like. First, the MBProbe utility left us, then MBM (Motherboard Monitor), now all our hopes are connected with the SpeedFan program.

Overclocking a processor is best done using the BIOS, but manufacturers do not always provide us with sufficient capabilities. In this case, a universal overclocking utility from Windows called ClockGen will help. Also, check the list of programs that is on the CD that came with your motherboard. Board manufacturers often include their own programs that can overclock from Windows, control fans, and monitor.

The list of programs for overclocking video cards is also wide. First of all, we should name one of the best utilities in this class - RivaTuner. In addition, you may find PowerStrip, NiBiTor, ATI Tray Tools, ATI Tool, etc. useful.

None of the programs can give you a 100% guarantee of stable operation of an overclocked processor. But the chances increase dramatically if you use two or three different utilities. To check stability, you can use OCCT, S&M, Prime95 or any other program that can boot the system, for example, it could be your favorite game.

When it comes to performance measurement, there are hundreds of programs of this kind that test the entire system or performance individual components. A very good list of useful utilities is available on the BenchmarkHQ website, many of which you can download from our file archive.

1.3 Materials about overclocking

Almost every article on our site has some relation to overclocking. If you regularly read our news and articles, then you already have a certain amount of knowledge that will help you in practical experiments. CPU overclocking statistics can give you an idea of ​​the approximate results you can achieve. Studying the conference materials will show a list of problems that overclockers face and possible solutions to them.

On our website there is a section "Directory". You should read one of the latest articles "", or you can scroll through the very first "FAQ on overclocking for beginners" - there is no difference, since we are talking about the same things, about overclocking. And you don’t need to immediately close the article with irritation, since it doesn’t say anything specifically about your processor model. The principles of overclocking are the same, if you understand how to overclock the Pentium III, then you can easily overclock any other modern processor.

2. The problem of choice

If you are a beginner overclocker and you already have a computer, then this is both good and bad. It’s bad, because we can no longer change anything, even one unsuccessful component, for example weak block power supply, can put an end to overclocking the entire system. Good, because we no longer face the problem of choice.

The problem of choice is one of the most difficult moments when assembling an overclocking system. Hundreds or even thousands of factors come into play: the current range of components, the balance of forces between different models, the financial aspect and many additional points, ranging from ease of assembly, upgrade possibilities and ending with attractiveness appearance. Overclocking the system is relatively easy and simple, choosing the optimal composition of components is a very difficult task, almost impossible, I can’t imagine how we cope with it.

Fortunately, going over the myriad of possible options is beyond the scope of this article. We will only touch on this issue from time to time, when overclocking options will depend on the choice.

3. Basics of overclocking processors

Overclocking is operating at frequencies higher than nominal. It is not so important to us why overclocking is possible at all. This may be a large margin of safety laid down by the manufacturer, marketing reasons that forced the standard characteristics to be underestimated, or the deliberate use of faster components than necessary. Our task is to skillfully take advantage of the opportunities provided.

Everything on a computer is standardized and synchronized. Standardization is necessary so that components from different manufacturers can work with each other without problems. Synchronization is used to coordinate the operation of different devices. The system bus frequency – FSB – was chosen as the starting point. The frequencies of various buses in a computer, that is, channels connecting various devices and the elements that provide information transfer between them are usually smaller than the FSB, and dividers are used to set the nominal frequency of their operation. The processor frequency is currently noticeably higher than the FSB frequency, and multipliers are used to ensure that the processor operates at its standard frequency.

For example, the Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor operates at a bus frequency of 266 MHz. Its multiplier is x7 and the product of the FSB frequency by the multiplier will give us the final processor frequency: 266x7=1.86 GHz. Thus, in order to increase the processor frequency or overclock it, you need to increase either the FSB frequency or the multiplier.

Older models of modern processors have a free multiplier and allow it to be increased, but such processors are too expensive, often an order of magnitude more expensive than the younger processors in the family. Their purchase is irrational, since with the help of overclocking we can bring the performance of junior processors closer to the level of older ones or even exceed it.

Thus, overclocking a processor usually comes down to increasing the FSB frequency. If we take the same Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor and can increase the bus frequency from 266 to 400 MHz, then the processor frequency will increase by almost 1000 MHz, to 2.8 GHz, if we increase the FSB to 500, then it will already be 3.5 GHz and so on more... In principle, this information is already enough for you to head to the BIOS of your motherboard, increase the FSB frequency and overclock your processor. But there are some features that need to be taken into account when overclocking. You will learn most of the nuances over time, some are unknown even to me, since new nuances appear with the release of new processor models, but some features can be taken into account in advance.

4. Preparing for overclocking

Before you start overclocking your processor, you need to take a few mandatory steps. First, check to see if there is a more recent BIOS version on your motherboard manufacturer’s website and take an interest in the list of changes made. There are numerous examples where boards that were frankly unsuccessful for overclockers were miraculously transformed with a BIOS update. New versions not only correct noted errors, sometimes new parameters appear or the ranges of existing ones are expanded. You can see the current BIOS version number when the motherboard starts, but if the information flashes very quickly, you can press the Pause key on the keyboard. Sometimes the version number can be found by entering the BIOS, using information and diagnostic utilities or specialized programs for BIOS updates. There is no need to flash all available versions, starting with the oldest and ending with the latest. The most latest version BIOS includes all previous changes and although not always the latest BIOS version is optimal for overclocking, but at least it is already free from the errors of earlier versions.

So you've entered Motherboard BIOS boards and don’t know what to do next? It is very possible that you got a “smart” board that will do everything you need, you just need to indicate the desired level of processor overclocking or FSB frequency. But it’s best not to leave everything to chance and take into account possible nuances and problems in advance. This will save time, save components and get the best possible result under the given conditions.

First you need to reduce the memory frequency. We have already said that everything in a computer is interconnected, therefore, when overclocking and increasing the FSB frequency, the memory operating frequency increases proportionally. If the memory initially works with increasing factors, at a high frequency and close to the limit of its capabilities, then it will turn into a limiting factor that prevents further overclocking of the processor. It is advisable to set the memory to the lowest possible frequency in the BIOS. Don't worry about significantly reduced performance, it will increase with overclocking, and then, after we find the maximum frequencies for our processor, we will definitely come back and look at the memory.

The next stage is to increase the memory timings, at least the main ones; for the currently widespread DDR2 it is approximately 5-5-5-15-2T. This is done for the same reason that we reduced the memory frequency so that it would not interfere with processor overclocking. Memory can operate at high frequencies with high timings or at low frequencies with low timings. Even SPD memory sometimes stores two or more possible combinations. Reducing the frequency can be perceived as an indirect permission to reduce timings if they are set automatically by the motherboard. And if in the nominal operating mode of the processor such a combination of low frequency and low timings is quite workable, then when overclocking and correspondingly increasing the memory frequency, low timings can become an obstacle.

If for any parameters BIOS default set to Auto, the boards can control them themselves. Most often they react correctly, but not always, so if possible it is better to avoid such cases and always specify the parameter values ​​explicitly.

For example, you can recommend fixing the processor multiplier at its nominal value. There have been cases when the "smart" BIOS of the motherboard reduced the starting value of the multiplication factor. It was probably just a BIOS error, but it's better to be on the safe side.

In addition, it is advisable to explicitly indicate the nominal voltages so that the board does not overestimate them during overclocking. For memory, on the contrary, it is advisable to slightly increase the voltage in advance so as not to worry about restrictions on its part. There are certain difficulties with this point - the nominal voltage values ​​are not always known. Many motherboards explicitly indicate the nominal processor voltage in a special information line. Sometimes the standard value for a voltage in the BIOS is the minimum possible. You can often find out the rated voltage of a processor using utilities such as CoreTemp or RM Clock.

Another one is possible, although less exact way voltage determination - selection method. By default, the motherboard usually sets the nominal voltage for the processor; you can view its value using any monitoring utility or in the BIOS in the PC Health section. Then try to explicitly set the Vcore voltage in the BIOS so that it matches the previous measured value obtained during automatic installation.

It is better to disable Spread Spectrum if the motherboard does not automatically disable this option during overclocking. This option is designed to reduce noise and interference that a running computer emits during operation. However, trying to compensate for them during overclocking can limit the overclocking potential of the system.

Some motherboards declare the ability to overclock the video card automatically. If there is a load on the video card, then its frequencies increase slightly. Disable this feature. An acceptable increase in speed cannot be achieved in this way, however, unforeseen problems are possible.

5. Overclocking the processor

Perhaps now you already know enough to start overclocking your processor. The step-by-step method is very simple - you increase the FSB frequency in the BIOS, save the settings, load the operating system and test stability, not forgetting to control temperatures. If you have never seen a BIOS and find it difficult to find necessary settings, scroll through the note "How to overclock processors (guide with pictures)". At first, the frequency change step can be quite large: 50 or even 100 MHz - it all depends on the model of your processor. Previously, you should already know the approximate level of possible overclocking and set the frequency accordingly, although the capabilities of a particular instance may differ markedly from the “average” values. Then the step is reduced to 20, 10 or even 5 MHz. A smaller step is irrational. Overclocking with an accuracy of 1 MHz is possible only for the current moment, to set a record, for example. But for constant stable operation of an overclocked system, it is better to have some margin of safety in case of natural changes in any characteristics, say, temperature or voltage.

While the system works stably and passes tests, you continue to increase the frequency; as soon as errors appear, you lower it and, as a result, find the overclocking limit of your processor, which is always individual.

Is it possible to overclock it even more? Of course, but this will require an increase in voltage.

5.1 Do I need to increase the voltage?

A difficult question that cannot be answered unequivocally. First of all, you need to figure out what voltage needs to be raised. This is determined experimentally, very simply and quickly. Try increasing the processor voltage by one or two minimum steps in the BIOS. And then check whether overclocking has improved, whether the processor can now conquer the frequency from which it had to retreat a little earlier for stability. If the answer is “yes”, then continue to look for the overclocking limit in new conditions; if the answer is “no”, then you have increased the wrong voltage.

Insufficient voltage on the Vcore processor does not always limit overclocking; often the motherboard becomes such a “brake” if the system overclock on the bus is high enough. Try, just as in the previous case, increasing the voltage on the northbridge of the chipset - often it is NB Voltage that limits overclocking. Try a combination of voltages, for example, simultaneously increase FSB Termination Voltage if such a parameter is available in the BIOS. Before overclocking, we fixed all the voltages at nominal values, now try to get a hint from the board - set the Auto values ​​and see within what limits the voltages will change.

How long should the voltage be increased? There are three criteria that can stop you. Further increases in voltage may be limited by the capabilities of the motherboard, too high temperature or impracticality. If the system actively responds to changes in voltage and temperature indicators remain normal, then why not continue? But if overclocking by 100 MHz requires raising the voltage on the processor by 0.3 V, then this is inappropriate, in my opinion. With current processor frequencies of several gigahertz, the speed increase from such overclocking will be almost unnoticeable, but the load on the system will increase significantly and the temperature will also rise. As the processor frequency increases, the temperature also increases, but with increasing voltages it increases very sharply.

5.2 What should the temperature be?

The normal processor temperature should be considered within 40-50°C; under load it can rise to 60, but avoid temperatures of 70 degrees or more. It is not always necessary to change the cooler on the processor to reduce the temperature. If the computer is not new, then sometimes it is enough to reinstall the cooler to update the thermal paste and the temperature will drop noticeably. In a small, airtight case, the temperature will inevitably rise over time, so make sure you have case fans.

When we talk about temperature, we primarily mean the processor temperature, but this is not single object, which needs to be monitored. Be sure to monitor the temperature of the chipset, especially if you increased the voltage on it. In new Intel chipsets Thermal sensor is built into north bridge and although currently none of the utilities can control this temperature yet, over time the situation should change.

Typically, motherboards can monitor two temperatures: the processor and the system. System temperature is not the chipset temperature. Somewhere on the motherboard, usually not far from the chip that manages the input/output ports, it could be Fintek, ITE, Winbond, there is a thermal sensor, and its temperature is recorded. Depending on its location, it may be important or play virtually no role and may not even change over time.

Also, pay attention to the temperature MOSFET transistors near the processor, especially if you are using a liquid cooling system. They usually get very hot under load, but regular means Almost none of the dropsy manufacturers provide for blowing. Memory modules remain almost cool even with a noticeable increase in voltage, but become very hot if the memory is used intensively.

5.3 Do I need to reduce the multiplier?

There is another way to slightly increase system performance. Almost all modern processors allow you to reduce the multiplier; you can lower it, but accordingly increase the bus frequency, leaving the found frequency of stable processor operation unchanged. Increasing the FSB affects not only the final processor frequency, it usually affects the entire system as a whole. The higher the bus frequency, the faster the system exchanges data, the greater the speed. Therefore, a processor with a frequency of 3 GHz, operating on a 300 MHz bus with a x10 multiplier, general case will be faster than the same processor with the same frequency of 3 GHz, which runs on a 200 MHz bus with a x15 multiplier.

It would seem that this is a simple, completely safe and “free” way to increase system performance a little more, but it is not suitable for everyone. The fact is that when the multiplier changes, processor energy-saving technologies stop working, which are based on reducing the multiplication factor and voltage during idle minutes, and they play an important role in reducing power consumption and temperature. Thus, this method is suitable only for those users whose computers are constantly loaded at 100%, for example, with distributed computing programs. It will truly be "free" for them as they get the speed boost without losing anything.

5.4 Nuances of overclocking Intel Core processors

Core microarchitecture processors are the most productive at the moment, they overclock excellently, so we will pay special attention to them.

One of the unpleasant features of Core processors that must be taken into account when overclocking is the so-called FSB Wall. This new concept for us means maximum frequency bus on which this processor instance is capable of operating. In this regard, it is convenient to start overclocking Core processors by defining the FSB Wall. Reduce the multiplier to the minimum x6 and find out what bus frequency your copy can accelerate to. It is not a fact that you will be able to achieve stable operation at this frequency with the nominal multiplier, but at least you will get preliminary information about the capabilities of the CPU.

For example, processors with a nominal bus speed of 200 MHz rarely overcome overclocking above 400 MHz FSB. This factor must be taken into account when choosing a processor. There is no point in overpaying for older and therefore more expensive processors; it is much easier to overclock a junior one, but you should remember that overclocking of younger CPUs with a nominal x8 multiplier will most likely be limited due to the FSB Wall and will not exceed 3.2 GHz, but will most likely stop somewhere then in the region of 3.0-3.1 GHz. This is not enough. Why limit yourself in advance? If possible, consider purchasing a processor with a x9 multiplier.

Among processors with a nominal bus frequency of 266 or 333 MHz, the junior one with a x7 multiplier is also often chosen, but overclocking such processors can be limited not only by the FSB Wall, but also by the capabilities of the motherboard or memory. It is advisable to use such processors with a multiplier of at least x8, but here a new problem arises - FSB Strap.

FSB Strap is not a feature of the processor, but of the chipset and motherboard. In this case, this is the frequency at which the chipset switches to another operating mode, which results in an increase in latency and a drop in performance. Gigabyte motherboards with the Intel P965 Express chipset immediately slow down as soon as you start overclocking the processor. Asus motherboards on the same chipset demonstrate excellent performance up to 400 MHz, after which the FSB Strap switches too. While testing the Asus Striker Extreme motherboard on NVIDIA chipset nForce 680i SLI showed a drop in performance when going from 420 MHz FSB to 425 MHz. Judging by the first tests, motherboards based on the Intel P35 Express chipset do not have this drawback.

Some "neo-overclocking" motherboards on Intel 945 and 965 series chipsets do not know how to switch FSB Strap at all, and therefore overclocking processors with a nominal 200 MHz bus on such boards only slightly exceeds 300 MHz FSB, or even does not reach this limit. A processor modification known as . By isolating and connecting the contact pads on the “belly” of the processor, the motherboard is made to think that the nominal processor bus frequency is not 200, but 266 MHz and thereby significantly improves overclocking.

Thus, you should take into account the presence of an FSB Strap in advance, try to avoid “neo-overclocking” motherboards and choose a board taking into account the standard processor multiplier, so that when overclocking you do not fall into the frequency range where reduced performance is observed. You may even have to reduce your overclock a bit to avoid this. At the same time, one should not exaggerate the danger of FSB Strap. If your processor overclocks far beyond 500 MHz FSB, then you really don't care at what frequency the FSB Strap switches - a high processor overclock will cover the drop in performance.

5.5 Nuances of overclocking AMD processors

AMD processors are overclocked in the same way as any other, but there is one difference - in preparation for overclocking, it is useful to reduce the frequency of the HyperTransport bus that connects the processor to the chipset. Usually it is enough to set a x3 multiplier or a frequency of 600 MHz, which is the same thing.

In addition, AMD processors have a memory controller integrated into the processor. This means that the final speed of the system depends little on the chipset used and in many cases will be approximately the same. Therefore, you can take almost any motherboard, with the exception of “neo-overclocking” ones, which do not overclock processors well due to limited BIOS capabilities, poor design, or other reasons. You can find out whether the board you have chosen falls into this category from reviews or in a conference.

There is one more difference, which is also related to the integrated memory controller - for AMD processors, memory timings play a more noticeable role, especially if it is DDR memory rather than DDR2. Be sure to conduct tests; perhaps it will be more profitable for you not to increase the memory frequency, but to lower the timings.

It should be remembered that AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors based on 65 nm Brisbane cores are inferior to their 90 nm predecessors on Windsor cores due to slower cache memory and the use of fractional multipliers. To determine the memory frequency of AMD processors, it is not the FSB frequency that is used, but the processor frequency and integer divisors, so in some cases the actual memory operating frequency will be noticeably lower than that set in the BIOS, which leads to a drop in speed. In this regard, for overclocking it is more preferable dual core processors based on the Windsor core, they accelerate no worse than their more advanced but slower counterparts.

6. Life after overclocking the CPU

If you think that, having decided on overclocking the processor, you can now sleep peacefully, then you are deeply mistaken, your troubles are just beginning. A high processor frequency is not an end in itself; the result should be increased speed of the entire system, and for this you need to work a little more. A lot depends on the processor, but the speed of operation is almost always reflected in the frequency and timings of the memory, and in games, performance will often be limited by the video card.

One of the first steps we took in preparation for overclocking the processor was reducing the memory frequency. Now is the time to increase it, if possible. In general, the highest possible frequency ensures maximum performance, so we leave the memory timings unchanged, we also increased them previously, and try to achieve the maximum in memory overclocking. Increasing the voltage usually helps very well, but don’t get carried away; for DDR2 memory it is not advisable to raise it above 2.1-2.3 V. Found the maximum frequency? Great, now we are trying to determine the minimum possible timings for this frequency. Unlike frequency, the lower they are, the better.

The recommendations I give are general character, so feel free to check your achievements in practice. It may very well be that when increasing the memory frequency, you will have to install an “inconvenient” divider or increase the timings too much. It is quite possible that in your case it would be more beneficial from the point of view of overall system performance to slightly reduce the memory frequency, but at the same time significantly reduce the timings. Run tests using multiple various combinations frequencies and timings, then select the best combination.

Gaming performance is mainly determined by the video card, so if you are into games, be sure to overclock it too. Overclocking video cards is a fairly broad topic that requires a separate article. Long gone are the days when it was enough to increase the frequency of the GPU and video memory to get the best possible performance. Now you need to take into account the presence of several blocks in the kernel operating at different frequencies, monitor the appearance of “freezes” - freezing of the picture, reflash Video card BIOS to correct frequencies and timings... As a starting point, I can recommend reading the article "How to overclock video cards (illustrated guide for beginners)", but for now you will have to figure out the details on your own, with the help of friends more experienced in overclocking, or ask for advice in conferences .

Now that your entire system is overclocked and showing significantly (hopefully) increased performance, you can now rest easy. But I don't think you will succeed. After all, first you need to inform everyone you know about your successes and actually try the capabilities of your noticeably stronger iron-silicon friend. Good luck with your overclocking!

Overlocking is a subtle process of configuring computer components, causing natural bewilderment and even fear among uninformed users. And all because of vaguely composed information taken out of context from various sources. You can strengthen your knowledge and understand the question “how to overclock an Intel Core processor” in just five steps.

Collecting processor information

It is impossible to turn a modern processor into a piece of scrap metal in a matter of minutes, armed with the wrong methods. After all, the system is protected at the hardware and software level from any unforeseen events.

But it’s better to evaluate the potential for overclocking right away:

• Information. You will have to collect all the data about the system, mother memory and overclocked “stone”, for example, factory clock speed and voltage. This will help to determine the initial state of things in advance and limit future potential. If you get under the lid personal computer or there is no time in the BIOS menu, then CPU-Z will resolve all issues.

• Temperature. CPU cooler should perfectly dissipate thermal energy even before acceleration. It’s better to immediately forget about the box type of cooling (usually supplied with the processor) and move on to heat pipe systems that perfectly remove excess energy. Hence the conclusion - the more powerful the cooler, the higher the potential for future overclocking.

Processor overclocking methods

The normal operating mode of the chip is 50-80% of the maximum power, which is due to restrictions introduced to increase service life, increase stability and average temperature conditions.
Overlocking allows you to increase productivity, at the cost of additional costs - time to select the ideal characteristics (frequency, voltage), money to purchase cooling and a guarantee for a positive result. There are too many nuances, like the Intel Core family of processors!
There are three ways to increase processor performance:

1. Set the desired frequency.
2. Change multiplier.
3. Raise the supply voltage.

But not all at once - easy introductory information will help you understand the basics and understand once and for all everything about the state of things. So, FSB is a system bus that interacts from the chip side with all components connected to the computer.

The interaction occurs at a certain frequency and it is the FSB that adapts to each type of component using multipliers and dividers. For example, information exchange with RAM occurs at a frequency of 333 MHz. And the processor clock frequency is 2664 MHz. So the multiplier is 8.

Hence the conclusion - increase clock frequency You can change the system bus settings or add multipliers.

With voltage, everything is simpler - the motherboard is capable of independently distributing the load, you can set the settings manually to correctly and fully support the clock frequency or the set multiplier. Without changing the voltage, malfunctions may occur!

CPU overclocking via

There are several methods for overclocking an Intel processor - it all depends on access to the multiplier, the user’s skills and the risks assigned to the process. It’s better to start with something simple – increasing the system bus frequency.

Let's go to the BIOS. Find the parameter CPU Speed ​​or Lock, CPU (HOST) Frequency and change the numerical value to 20, 30, or maybe 50 MHz. It’s difficult to say or give precise advice - there are many systems, boards and chips, and everyone is different.

After increasing the frequency, you will have to save the settings and reboot to check stability. If software problems arise, you will have to gradually reduce the bus frequency or increase the voltage in the CPU Voltage panels.
Attention! You should not raise the voltage by more than 0.3 V from the nominal value!

With a free multiplier, everything works in a similar way: go to the BIOS, search for the CPU Clock Ratio value, get acquainted with the basic values ​​and then gradually increase the parameter in steps.

To increase your confidence in success, you should disable all additional gadgets, such as “Turbo” modes and accelerators that automatically increase processor performance.

Multiplying the bus frequency by a user-specified number can produce amazing results, the main thing is to find the golden mean.

If stability problems arise, changing the voltage will help - turning to the CPU Voltage indicator averages the indicators and provides the necessary power for other operations.

The BIOS can also change the voltage - just set the corresponding setting in the menu to AUTO.

Don’t forget about the huge number of limiters that affect the overclocking process - bad option processor with a locked multiplier, limits of component capabilities, unsuitable motherboard, unstable voltage supplied by the power supply.

Even RAM can refuse to work at the wrong frequency. Well, the temperature - for quality results, go to the store for a new cooler.

And you should definitely monitor all indicators while overclocking your computer:

AIDA64 and CoreTemp for monitoring, OCCT checking the interaction of memory and processor, Sandra Lite - obtaining information about the system, 3Dmark - an ideal option to load the system and identify failures.

Using programs to overclock the processor

Help eliminate interaction with the BIOS and simplify the overclocking process special utilities, suitable for both a wide range of systems and specific ones.

CPUFSB

modern instrument complex customization chip and monitoring of individual components. Fully translated into Russian, supports a lot of motherboards.

To work, you will need a few settings - selecting component models, changing the frequency and multiplier, saving parameters before and after reboot.

SoftFSB utility

Allows you to configure everything at once literally on the fly. There is no need to introduce functions, the interface is clear, the menu is detailed. You can control frequency, temperature and voltage by moving the sliders.

ASRock OC Tuner

Designed for maternal ASRock boards a utility that combines a huge range of overclocking, monitoring and configuration functions.

MSI Control Center II

A tool with a self-explanatory name. Performs all functions declared by competitors. Easy to use.

ASUS Turbo V EVO

CPU overclocking software: instant parameter changes, easy setup, support for various components.

Overclocking a laptop

Changing the power mode

An affordable option for increasing productivity that does not require additional knowledge or extra responsibility.

To get the desired result, just set “High Performance” in the “Power Options” section.

Software way to increase productivity

Firstly, you should get all the information about the system in advance using the CPU-Z utility. Chip name, performance indicators, voltage.

Secondly, you should not count on record performance indicators - you will be able to speed up the system by 10-15% from the nominal indicators.

Next, install the SetFSB utility and proceed to a slow but steady increase in the processor clock frequency in small steps. Upon completion of the work, it is better to perform additional tests with Prime 95, monitoring changes in real time in CPU-Z. If problems with freezing and the appearance of “blue screens of death” are not detected, then the frequency can be increased.

Overclocking an Intel processor via BIOS

In the extensive settings menu, you need to find the names CPU FSB Clock or Frequency, indicators responsible for increasing the bus frequency. Again, a small step, a confident check of functionality, tracking the results. In case of problems, it is better to reduce the set values.

Mode Turbo Boost. Automatic overlocking option, activated through the OS interface or in the BIOS menu.

You can set the “Minimum and Maximum processor state” indicators to 100% in the “Power Options” tab under the “ Extra options nutrition."

Or reset all settings in the BIOS to factory settings using the “Load Default” function.

When increasing the processor frequency, it is worth remembering safety - increased processor power consumption will increase the load on the battery and reduce the operating time without a network.

It will also raise the temperature several times, and this is completely unsafe, because it is definitely not possible to comprehensively change the cooling method on a laptop without losing its portable qualities.

Overclocking is a forced increase in the processor clock frequency above the nominal one. Let us immediately explain what these concepts mean.

A clock cycle is a conditional, very short time period during which the processor executes a certain number of program code instructions.

And the clock frequency is the number of clock cycles in 1 second.

Increasing the clock frequency is directly proportional to the speed of program execution, that is, it works faster than an unoverclocked one.

In short, overclocking allows you to extend the “active life” of the processor when it is standard performance no longer meets user requirements.

It allows you to increase the speed of your computer without spending money on buying new equipment.

Important! The negative aspects of overclocking are an increase in computer power consumption, sometimes quite noticeable, an increase in heat generation and accelerated wear of devices due to operation in abnormal mode. You should also know that when you overclock the processor, you also overclock the RAM.

What should you do before overclocking?

Each processor has its own overclocking potential - a clock frequency limit, exceeding which leads to inoperability of the device.

Most processors such as intel core i3, i5, i7 can be safely overclocked to only 5-15% of the original level, and some even less.

The desire to squeeze the maximum possible clock frequency does not always pay off, since when a certain heating threshold is reached, the processor begins to skip clock cycles in order to lower the temperature.

It follows from this that for stable operation of an overclocked system, good cooling is necessary.

In addition, given the increased power consumption, it may be necessary to replace the power supply with a more powerful one.

Immediately before overclocking, you need to do three things:

• Upgrade your computer to latest version.
• Make sure that the installation is in good working order and reliable.
• Find out the initial clock frequency of your processor (look in the BIOS or through special utilities, for example, CPU-Z).

Also useful before overclocking test the processor for stability at maximum load. For example, using the S&M utility.

After this, it’s time to begin the “sacrament.”

Review of programs for overclocking Intel processors

SetFSB

SetFSB is an easy-to-use utility that allows you to overclock the processor on the fly by simply moving the slider.

After making changes, it does not require restarting the computer.

The program is suitable for overclocking both older processor models like Intel Core 2 duo and modern ones.

However, it does not support all motherboards, and this is an absolute necessity, since overclocking is carried out by increasing the reference frequency of the system bus.

That is, it affects the clock generator (PLL chip or, as it is called, a clocker) located on the motherboard.

You can find out if your board is included in the list of supported ones on the program website.

Advice! To avoid processor failure, it is recommended to work with SetFSB only experienced users who understand what they are doing and know about possible consequences. In addition, an untrained user is unlikely to be able to correctly determine the model of his clock generator, which must be specified manually.

So, to overclock the processor using SetFSB, you need:

• Select from the list " Clock Generator» model of the clocker installed on your motherboard.
• Click the “Get FSB” button. After this, the SetFSB window will display the current frequency of the system bus (FSB) and processor.
• Carefully move the slider in the center of the window in small steps. After each slider movement, it is necessary to monitor the processor temperature. For example, using the Core Temp program.
• By selecting optimal position slider, you need to click the Set FSB button.

The advantage (and for some, the disadvantage) of the SetFSB utility is that the settings made in it will only be valid until the computer is rebooted. After restarting, they will have to be installed again.

If you don’t want to do this every time, the utility can be placed in startup.

CPUFSB

CPUFSB is the next program in our review for overclocking processors Intel core i5, i7 and others, which can be downloaded from the developer’s website.

If you are familiar with the CPUCool utility - a comprehensive tool for monitoring and overclocking a processor, then know that CPUFSB is a dedicated overclocking module from it.

Supports many motherboards based on Intel, VIA, AMD, ALI and SIS chipsets.

Unlike SetFSB, CPUFSB has a Russian translation, so it is much easier to understand how to handle it.

The operating principle of these two programs is the same: increasing the reference frequency of the system bus.

Operating procedure:

• Select the manufacturer and type of your motherboard from the list.
• Select the brand and model of the PLL (clock oscillator) chip.
• Click “Take frequency” to display the current frequency of the system bus and processor in the program.
• It is also necessary to increase the frequency in small steps, while controlling the processor temperature. After selection optimal settings Click "Set Frequency".

CPUFSB allows you to set the FSB bus frequency the next time you start the program and when you exit. Current settings are also saved until the computer is restarted.