AMD athlon ii bios processors. The best programs for overclocking an AMD processor

CPU overclocking:
I) for K8 processors (Sempron s754 – Athlon64 s939)
Despite the fact that overclocking is mainly analyzed for the K8 platform, with other platforms (370.478.462.775) it will be almost the same story, with the exception that the BIOS may have slightly different names of tabs and parameters, the whole process is 90% similar to considered.
1. Go to BIOS. To do this, at the very beginning of the system boot (before the Windows boot screen), press and hold the Delete (Del) key.
2. Using the arrows, select the “Load Optimized Defaults” item.
3. Power Bios Setup => Memory Frequency => DDR400 (200Mhz)
4. AMD K8 Cool & Quiet => Disable (if there is such an item)
5. Save and exit. To do this, press Escape, when the message “Save changes and exit Y/N” appears, enter Y from the keyboard, then Enter.
6. After the reboot, go to the BIOS again. Go to the Advanced Chipset Features => DRAM Configuration tab, this is the tab for editing memory timing parameters. Next, in each line, instead of “AUTO” we put the number to the right of the line.
7.HT Frequency => 3x
8. Power Bios Setup-> Memory Frequency -> DDR200 (100Mhz) is a memory frequency divider, more details below.
9. Save again and exit. After the restart, go back to the BIOS.
10. Power Bios Setup => CPU Frequency => Increase HTT (FSB) from 200MHz to 250MHz (if it’s scary, you can do less, if not, more ).
11. Save and exit. Let's go to Windows.
12. Using the S&M program, we check the processor for stability. To do this, in the “Settings” tab, set the test parameters: Time “Normal” or “Long”, Load 100%. In order not to waste precious time, on the “Processor” tab, uncheck all the checkboxes and leave only the CPU (FPU) (Floating Point Unit) test, a block of floating point operations that loads the central processor as much as possible. (It is also advisable to run the 3DMark tests several times). During the test, the computer may freeze, turn off, or simply jump to a memory test. But under no circumstances should you be upset! Solution to the problem:
1) Increase the voltage on the processor. To do this: go to the BIOS again, Power Bios Setup => Vcore Voltege set to +0.1 (more is possible, in sections 0.1-0.3). Important! On different motherboards there may be such ways: 1) Simply select the added voltage; 2) indicate the added voltage as a percentage, relative to the nominal - 100%; 3) indicate the voltage itself. You can find out the rated voltage of the processor using the programs CPU-Z, CBID.
2) Improve cooling. Change the cooler on the processor.
3) If nothing helps, you will have to reduce the frequency. But most often, following the instructions of step 1 + step 2 completely eliminates all problems

So gradually, in slow steps, we increase the HTT (FSB) frequency and increase the voltage (it is not advisable to raise it above 20% relative to the nominal value). We are gradually reaching maximum operating frequencies. That's all the acceleration, scary?))
*approx. In no case should you despair that the majority of conference participants have much more overclocking than you. It all depends on luck, on the specific processor instance. I don’t have a monster either - AMD64 (Venice) with TT Big Typhoon cooling, as a result - the maximum frequency is only 2600MHz at a voltage of 1.7v. This is despite the fact that some copies easily reach the 2700MHz mark with a standard BOX cooler. Don't despair, sooner or later you'll get lucky.


Unfortunately, we do not have a working configuration for processors at hand AMD, so it had to be assembled almost from scratch.

The following configuration was collected:
1. MSI 890FXA-GD70
2. AMD BOX cooler
3. 2 x 2048 MB OCZ Platinum PC-16000 DDR3
4. ATI Radeon HD 6870
5. FSP 620 Watt
6. Operating system Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit

The following processors were selected as competing products:

1. Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 operating frequency 2.93 GHz, second level cache L2 3 MB, no third level cache. The processor is manufactured using a 45 nm process technology, maximum heat dissipation is 65 watts. The cost of the processor is around $125. Finding it on store shelves is quite difficult.

2. Intel Core i3 530. This processor operates at a frequency of 2.93 GHz and belongs to the modern generation of processors from Intel based on the Clarkdale core. The processor is dual-core and has 256 KB of L2 cache on each core. The maximum heat dissipation does not exceed $73. The cost of the processor is around $120.

3. AMD Phenom II X4 945. The processor is based on the Deneb core, about which we wrote so much above. It operates at 3 GHz and has 512 KB of L2 cache per core. A distinctive feature of this generation of processors is a 6 MB third-level memory cache common to all four cores. The cost of the processor is around $140, which is $15 more expensive than the tested Athlon II X4 645 processor.

4. AMD Athlon II X4 630. These processors, like the Athlon II X4 645 test solution, are based on the Propus core. A distinctive feature of this processor is its operating frequency of 2.8 GHz. At the same time, the cost of the processor is around $100.
All prices indicated are at the time of writing the article for OEM options. The tested Athlon II X4 645 processor could be purchased for $125 at the time of testing.

Overclocking the Athlon II X4 645 processor

The operating voltage of our processor turned out to be equal to 1,35 volts At the same time, the multiplier is locked upward at 15.5. Therefore, to overclock the processor, we only have the option of working with a clock generator.
The default bus frequency is 200 MHz, by multiplying it by the processor multiplier of 15.5 we get the standard 3100 MHz. -- picture is clickable --
The absolute record achieved on this processor was 3.78 GHz, which was achieved by increasing the bus frequency to 244 MHz and the processor voltage to 1.47 volts. A further increase in voltage did not lead to an increase in overclocking potential. This is not a bad result, considering that we didn’t have to “raise” the voltage on the processor and then think about cooling it.
-- picture is clickable --
In order to exclude the possibility that we " stuck"In the motherboard's capabilities, we increased the voltage on the processor and lowered its multiplier to 12.5. This allowed us to reach a stable 298 MHz bus speed in automatic mode without any problems.
However, when overclocking, we recommend fixing timings RAM and monitor its final frequency, since, often, it is the frequency of RAM that is the limiting factor.

The Athlon 64 x2 model 5200+ was positioned by the manufacturer as a mid-level dual-core solution based on AM2. It is with his example that the procedure for overclocking this family of devices will be outlined. Its safety margin is quite good, and if you had the appropriate components, you could get chips with indexes 6000+ or ​​6400+ instead.

The meaning of CPU overclocking

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor model 5200+ can easily be converted to a 6400+. To do this, you just need to increase its clock frequency (this is the meaning of overclocking). As a result, the final performance of the system will increase. But this will also increase the computer's power consumption. Therefore, not everything is so simple. Most components of a computer system must have a margin of reliability. Accordingly, the motherboard, memory modules, power supply and case must be of a higher quality, which means that their cost will be higher. Also, the CPU cooling system and thermal paste must be specially selected specifically for the overclocking procedure. But it is not recommended to experiment with the standard cooling system. It is designed for a standard processor thermal package and will not cope with increased load.

Positioning

The characteristics of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor clearly indicate that it belonged to the middle segment of dual-core chips. There were also less productive solutions - 3800+ and 4000+. This is the entry level. Well, higher in the hierarchy there were CPUs with indexes 6000+ and 6400+. The first two processor models could theoretically be overclocked and get 5200+ out of them. Well, the 5200+ itself could be modified to 3200 MHz, and due to this, get a variation of 6000+ or ​​even 6400+. Moreover, their technical parameters were almost identical. The only thing that could change was the amount of second-level cache and the technological process. As a result, their performance level after overclocking was practically the same. So it turned out that at a lower cost, the end owner received a more productive system.

Chip Specifications

AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor specifications may vary significantly. After all, three modifications of it were released. The first of them was codenamed Windsor F2. It operated at a clock frequency of 2.6 GHz, had 128 KB of first-level cache and, accordingly, 2 MB of second-level cache. This semiconductor crystal was manufactured according to the standards of a 90 nm technological process, and its thermal package was equal to 89 W. At the same time, its maximum temperature could reach 70 degrees. Well, the voltage supplied to the CPU could be 1.3 V or 1.35 V.

A little later, a chip codenamed Windsor F3 appeared on sale. In this modification of the processor, the voltage changed (in this case it dropped to 1.2 V and 1.25 V, respectively), the maximum operating temperature increased to 72 degrees and the thermal package decreased to 65 W. To top it off, the technological process itself has changed - from 90 nm to 65 nm.

The last, third version of the processor was codenamed Brisbane G2. In this case, the frequency was raised by 100 MHz and was already 2.7 GHz. The voltage could be equal to 1.325 V, 1.35 V or 1.375 V. The maximum operating temperature was reduced to 68 degrees, and the thermal package, as in the previous case, was equal to 65 W. Well, the chip itself was manufactured using a more advanced 65 nm technological process.

Socket

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor model 5200+ was installed in the AM2 socket. Its second name is socket 940. Electrically and in terms of software, it is compatible with solutions based on AM2+. Accordingly, it is still possible to purchase a motherboard for it. But the CPU itself is quite difficult to buy. This is not surprising: the processor went on sale in 2007. Since then, three generations of devices have already changed.

Selection of motherboard

A fairly large set of motherboards based on the AM2 and AM2+ sockets supported the AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200 processor. Their characteristics were very diverse. But to make maximum overclocking of this semiconductor chip possible, it is recommended to pay attention to solutions based on the 790FX or 790X chipset. Such motherboards were more expensive than average. This is logical, since they had much better overclocking capabilities. Also, the board must be made in the ATX form factor. You can, of course, try to overclock this chip on mini-ATX solutions, but the dense arrangement of radio components on them can lead to undesirable consequences: overheating of the motherboard and central processor and their failure. Specific examples include Sapphire's PC-AM2RD790FX or MSI's 790XT-G45. Also, a worthy alternative to the previously mentioned solutions can be the M2N32-SLI Deluxe from Asus based on the nForce590SLI chipset developed by NVIDIA.

Cooling system

Overclocking an AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor is impossible without a high-quality cooling system. The cooler that comes in the boxed version of this chip is not suitable for these purposes. It is designed for a fixed thermal load. As CPU performance increases, its thermal package increases, and the standard cooling system will no longer cope. Therefore, you need to buy a more advanced one, with improved technical characteristics. We can recommend using the CNPS9700LED cooler from Zalman for these purposes. If you have it, this processor can be safely overclocked to 3100-3200 MHz. In this case, there will definitely not be any special problems with CPU overheating.

Thermal paste

Another important component to consider before AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200+ is thermal paste. After all, the chip will not operate in normal load mode, but in a state of increased performance. Accordingly, more stringent requirements are put forward for the quality of thermal paste. It should provide improved heat dissipation. For these purposes, it is recommended to replace the standard thermal paste with KPT-8, which is perfect for overclocking conditions.

Frame

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200 processor will run at higher temperatures during overclocking. In some cases it can rise to 55-60 degrees. To compensate for this increased temperature, a high-quality replacement of thermal paste and cooling system will not be enough. You also need a case in which air flows could circulate well, and this would provide additional cooling. That is, there should be as much free space inside the system unit as possible, and this would allow cooling of the computer components through convection. It will be even better if additional fans are installed in it.

Overclocking process

Now let's figure out how to overclock the AMD ATHLON 64 x2 processor. Let's find out this using the example of the 5200+ model. The CPU overclocking algorithm in this case will be as follows.

  1. When you turn on the PC, press the Delete key. After this, the BIOS blue screen will open.
  2. Then we find the section associated with the operation of RAM and reduce the frequency of its operation to a minimum. For example, the value for DDR1 is set to 333 MHz, and we lower the frequency to 200 MHz.
  3. Next, save the changes made and load the operating system. Then, using a toy or test program (for example, CPU-Z and Prime95), we check the performance of the PC.
  4. Reboot the PC again and go into the BIOS. Here we now find an item related to the operation of the PCI bus and fix its frequency. In the same place you need to fix this indicator for the graphics bus. In the first case the value should be set to 33 MHz.
  5. Save the settings and restart the PC. We check its functionality again.
  6. The next step is to reboot the system. We re-enter the BIOS. Here we find the parameter associated with the HyperTransport bus and set the system bus frequency to 400 MHz. Save the values ​​and restart the PC. After loading the OS, we test the stability of the system.
  7. Then we reboot the PC and enter the BIOS again. Here you now need to go to the processor parameters section and increase the system bus frequency by 10 MHz. Save the changes and restart the computer. Checking the stability of the system. Then, gradually increasing the processor frequency, we reach the point where it stops working stably. Next, we return to the previous value and test the system again.
  8. Then you can try to further overclock the chip using its multiplier, which should be in the same section. At the same time, after each change to the BIOS, we save the parameters and check the functionality of the system.

If during overclocking the PC starts to freeze and it is impossible to return to previous values, then you need to reset the BIOS settings to factory settings. To do this, just find at the bottom of the motherboard, next to the battery, a jumper labeled Clear CMOS and move it for 3 seconds from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3.

Checking system stability

Not only the maximum temperature of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor can lead to unstable operation of the computer system. The reason may be due to a number of additional factors. Therefore, during the overclocking process, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive check of the reliability of the PC. The Everest program is best suited to solve this problem. It is with its help that you can check the reliability and stability of your computer during overclocking. To do this, it is enough to run this utility after each change made and after loading the OS and check the status of the system’s hardware and software resources. If any value is outside the acceptable limits, then you need to restart the computer and return to the previous settings, and then test everything again.

Cooling system monitoring

The temperature of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor depends on the operation of the cooling system. Therefore, after completing the overclocking procedure, it is necessary to check the stability and reliability of the cooler. For these purposes, it is best to use the SpeedFAN program. It is free and its level of functionality is sufficient. Downloading it from the Internet and installing it on your PC is not difficult. Next, we launch it and periodically, for 15-25 minutes, control the number of revolutions of the processor cooler. If this number is stable and does not decrease, then everything is fine with the CPU cooling system.

Chip temperature

The operating temperature of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor in normal mode should vary from 35 to 50 degrees. During overclocking, this range will decrease towards the last value. At a certain stage, the CPU temperature may even exceed 50 degrees, and there is nothing to worry about. The maximum permissible value is 60 ˚С, when approaching it, it is recommended to stop any experiments with overclocking. A higher temperature value can adversely affect the semiconductor chip of the processor and damage it. To take measurements during the operation, it is recommended to use the CPU-Z utility. Moreover, temperature registration must be carried out after each change made to the BIOS. You also need to maintain an interval of 15-25 minutes, during which you periodically check how hot the chip is.

How to overclock AMD Athlon?

As you know, the performance of a computer depends on the parameters of its components and their joint functioning. However, choosing a good PC “composition” is not enough; you also need to be able to configure these elements in such a way as to achieve maximum realization of the computer’s capabilities. That is why such a function as processor overclocking has attracted the interest of many users today. In this article we will talk about how to overclock an AMD Athlon processor.

How to overclock Athlone

Obviously, even the coolest PC model you choose will, after some time, acquire more powerful competitors in the form of new computer products. Some users in such situations begin to think about purchasing a new PC, others - about upgrading their computer. However, there is another method that does not require financial costs - overclocking the processor, which makes it possible to increase the performance of its components.

AMD Athlon processors have a large technological reserve, which allows you to increase performance through overclocking, usually by increasing the frequency of its bus. Overclocking the processor is carried out both using special programs (in our case, AMD OverDrive or PowerTweak2 is most often used) and through the BIOS. Experts use the latter option more often because they consider it safer for the computer.

How to overclock AMD Athlon in BIOS

We will look at overclocking instructions through the BIOS for the AMD Athlon II X2 245 processor. You can get into the BIOS by pressing the Delete key at the boot stage, before the OS loads.

  1. In the main menu of the program you need to find the “Advanced” section.
  2. Its subsections contain the basic settings that are necessary for overclocking. Here you need to select the “JumperFree Configuration” section to which changes will be made:
    • The “Al Tuning” subsection from “Auto” should be changed to “Manual” to be able to set the necessary parameters manually.
    • “CPU Frequency” - processor system bus frequency, which should be increased. Therefore, from the “Auto” status it is changed to 260 MHz.
    • “PCIEX16_1 Clock” (operating frequency for the first PCI Express 16x slot) from the “Auto” value is set to 160 MHz.
    • “PCIEX16_2 Clock” (operating frequency for the second PCI Express 16x slot) is also changed from “Auto” to 160 MHz.
    • “CPU Voltage” - the supply voltage of the processor core; from the “Auto” mode it changes to 1.5000 v.
    • “CPU Multiplier” is the ratio of the processor operating frequency to the frequency of its system bus. The “Auto” status here needs to be replaced with the last value - 14.5x.
  3. After all the manipulations, the changes in the BIOS need to be saved and rebooted.

Remember that in different BIOS versions the settings may have different names, although their essence does not change. “CPU Frequency” or system bus frequency is the main value that is changed when overclocking the processor. So in some cases you can only get by by changing this parameter. But it is recommended to start with minimal changes, save them and restart your PC for the changes to take effect. Remember that overclocking, especially if you are an inexperienced user, can lead to serious problems for your computer.

Overclocking various computer hardware components (also called overclocking) is both a hobby and a professional necessity for a wide range of IT specialists. Each chip is accelerated according to special algorithms. The processor, as the main chip of the PC, too.

On the one hand, overclocking a processor is not difficult. As a rule, the matter is limited to making literally a few changes to a certain kind of settings. However, determining what kind of numbers and indicators should be present in them sometimes requires almost engineering, professional knowledge. It’s not for nothing that overclocking is the prerogative of not only amateurs, but also experienced IT specialists.

There is a version among IT experts that the most overclockable chips are produced by the Canadian company AMD. Therefore, chips of this brand are especially popular among overclockers. Of course, this point of view has ardent opponents who believe that the eternal competitor of the Canadians - Intel (by the way, is still confidently winning in terms of global sales volumes) - is capable of producing chips that are compatible with overclocking procedures no worse. However, according to many experts, AMD chips have the ability to overclock by at least 20%, or even more. Perhaps, they admit, chips from Intel are capable of showing better results, but guaranteed acceleration from AMD, regardless of the specific brand of chip, will most likely look preferable.

How to overclock an AMD processor and achieve optimal performance? What nuances of microcircuit acceleration should be taken into account? What programs should I use?

Why overclock your processor?

As we have already said, overclocking is a way to artificially increase the performance of the processor (and after it, the entire computer as a whole). This operation is carried out, as a rule, by making appropriate changes to the operating settings of the main PC chip. Somewhat less often, overclocking is carried out using hardware methods (this is understandable - there is a possibility of damaging the processor). Changing software settings is one way or another associated with an increase in the clock frequency of the chip. If in the factory state the processor operates at, say, 1.8 GHz, then by overclocking this figure can be increased to 2-2.5 GHz. At the same time, the computer is highly likely to continue to work stably. Moreover, it is quite possible that it will load games and applications that the processor in the factory state would not support. Thus, overclocking is also a way to increase the functionality of a PC.

The fastest AMD processors

The best AMD processor for overclocking - what is it? Experts recommend paying attention to the following microcircuit models. Among the inexpensive chips is the Athlon 64 3500 processor. Despite the fact that it is single-core and far from the most modern, its architecture, as experts admit, is well compatible with overclocking. If you take more expensive chips, you can pay attention to the Athlon 64 X2 chip. However, according to many experts, the AMD FX processor in a wide range of modifications has the greatest overclocking ability. Of course, each model has different acceleration compatibility. It often happens that microcircuits of the same series, but with different indices, show completely different results during performance testing in an overclocked state. There are even cases when chips of the same brands, the capabilities of which are studied in parallel on separate computers, behave very differently.

Many IT specialists try to compare the performance of AMD processors based on overclocking. But regardless of the results obtained (which, as we said above, may differ even for chips of the same brand on different PCs), experts note a pattern: as the technology of microcircuits increases, the Canadian manufacturing company, as a rule, expands the capabilities for overclocking its chips .

Preparing for overclocking

Before you start overclocking your processor, you should do some preparatory work. Conventionally, it can be divided into two stages - hardware and software. Within the first one, the most important task is to acquire a high-quality cooling system. The fact is that overclocking a processor is almost always accompanied by an increase in the operating temperature of the microcircuit (this can result in instability of its functioning and even failure). There is a high probability that the standard cooler will not be able to cool the chip effectively enough. Therefore, if we decide to do overclocking, we buy a good fan for the processor.

Regarding the software stage of the preparatory work, it should be said that it is important to acquire the appropriate software. We will need a good program to overclock the processor. In principle, you can get by with a standard tool in the form of a BIOS interface (especially since a significant part of our work will be carried out in it). But experienced specialists still recommend using third-party software. What is the best program for overclocking an AMD processor? According to many experts, this is AMD OverDrive. Its main advantage is its versatility. It is equally well suited for overclocking most processor models from the Canadian brand.

We will also need a program for measuring processor temperature in real time via Windows. A utility like SpeedFan is quite suitable. It, like AMD OverDrive, can be easily downloaded using simple queries in search engines.

The most important parameter is frequency

As we said above, the performance of a processor is determined mainly by its frequency. But this is far from the only parameter of this kind. There are also other important frequencies:

North Bridge;

HyperTransport channel (used in most modern AMD processors).

The basic rule regarding the frequency ratio: the value for the northbridge should be identical to that set for HyperTransport (or a little more). With memory, everything is somewhat more complicated (but we will not overclock it in this case, so we do not take into account the nuances associated with RAM now).

As such, the frequency for each of the specified components is calculated using a simple formula. The multiplier set for a specific microcircuit is taken, and then the product of it and the so-called base frequency is calculated. The user can change both parameters in the BIOS settings.

Having completed a short theoretical excursion, we move on to practice.

Working with the OverDrive program

As we said above, AMD OverDrive, according to many experts, is the best program for overclocking a processor under the Canadian brand. At least, as experts note, it is ideal for the typically overclocked AMD 700 series of chips. There are no problems with how to overclock the AMD Athlon processor in most modifications, experts believe.

Having opened the utility, you immediately need to switch it to the operating mode, which is called Advanced. Then select the Clock/Voltage option. Check the box next to Select All Cores. After this, we can begin to increase the processor frequency through a multiplier. The characteristics of AMD processors, as a rule, allow you to immediately set the figure to 16 (with a default base frequency of 200 MHz). If the computer works stably and the chip temperature does not exceed 75 degrees (measured using the SpeedFan program or its equivalent), then you can try increasing the multiplier to 17 or more units.

Is it worth increasing the voltage?

Some overclockers talk about the usefulness of changing not only the chip frequency, but also the voltage. The AMD processor overclocking utility that we use allows us to do this. Experts recommend: it is better to increase tension in extremely small portions. You need to add literally 0.05 volts at a time, and then measure the stability of the system and the temperature of the chip. If all parameters are normal, then add the same amount.

Working with BIOS

The AMD processor overclocking program, the capabilities of which we studied above, is not the only tool for accelerating the operation of the chip. The BIOS interface provides no less opportunities, as many experts admit. As you know, it is in every computer. There is no need to install anything additional in terms of software. How to overclock an AMD processor via BIOS?

First of all, we go into the software interface of this system (usually this is done by pressing the DEL key at the very beginning of the computer boot). The names of menu items are very different, depending on the specific motherboard model. Therefore, it is quite possible that some values ​​in the instructions below will not coincide in location with the actual ones. In this case, the user should look at the factory manual for the motherboard - it is usually included when the computer was delivered.

Options related to overclocking the processor are usually located in the Advanced section of the main menu. The item that contains frequency settings in many cases sounds like JumperFree Configuration. In order to set the required values ​​manually, you should set the AI ​​Overclocking line to the Manual parameter. After this, the user will have the opportunity to change the frequency and multiplier settings.

The rules for setting values ​​for each of the parameters are the same as in the AMD OverDrive program. You should not get too carried away with large numbers for multipliers and a sharp increase in voltage. You also need to keep in mind that if we increase the performance of AMD processors through the BIOS, then to activate the configured settings we need to reboot each time (after saving the values ​​- as a rule, to do this you need to return to the main menu and press the F10 key). This, as many users rightly believe, is less convenient than through the OverDrive program.

At the same time, according to some experts, the BIOS interface allows in some cases (it all depends on the specific motherboard model) to work with advanced settings for the processor frequency and multipliers. In particular, through the BIOS you can disable energy saving modes, which can limit the intensity of the cooler speed, which should be at the maximum during overclocking.

How to reach maximum frequency?

One of the key points of overclocking is finding the limit values ​​for the chip frequency. How to overclock an AMD processor to the maximum? The main thing here, experts say, is to identify the limit values ​​for all components of the formula that we described above. That is, the overclocker will have to experiment not only with the multiplier, but also with the base frequency. Experts recommend identifying its limiting value very gradually. At the same time, it is not recommended to increase the multiplier (as well as the voltage). The criterion for achieving the maximum value of the base frequency is the overall stability of the system while, of course, maintaining the processor temperature within normal limits.

Frequencies of other components

As we said above, in addition to the chip frequency, there are other parameters that are important from the point of view of the overall speed of the computer. What are the patterns here? How to overclock an AMD processor and at the same time other hardware components - such as memory, northbridge and HyperTransport channel?

Experts note that it is RAM that lends itself best to increasing the frequency. In particular, modules whose standard value is 800 MHz can be overclocked to 1000 MHz and higher. In turn, the frequency of the northbridge is effectively increased by increasing its voltage. At the same time, by the way, the performance of some controllers may also increase. The frequency of HyperTransport, as we said above, is better not to make it too high. Let it be equal to the values ​​​​set for the north bridge. Experts note that it does not need to be changed - the fact that the HyperTransport frequency is lower than that of the northbridge, as a rule, does not affect the overall performance of a computer running on an AMD processor.

Overclocking the FX processor

As we said above, the AMD FX chip, according to many experts, is one of the best for overclocking. What are the features of its acceleration? How to properly overclock AMD FX processors?

At the very beginning we talked about the stages preceding acceleration. This rule is also relevant for working with FX. As for the hardware stage, in addition to installing a powerful cooler, it is necessary to carry out one more procedure, highly recommended by many experts - replacing the factory thermal paste with fresh one. To do this, we have to remove the cover of the system unit case and remove the processor from the motherboard connector. This must be done extremely carefully - the surface of the chip is very sensitive to external influences. Thermal paste should be applied in a thin, even layer.

The software stage of preparation for overclocking FX will include slightly different procedures compared to those that we described at the beginning of the article. We will not use AMD OverDrive in this example. However, we will need another useful utility - CPU-z - it is designed to track processor frequency values ​​​​in real time. You can download it on a large number of portals. The request is simple: “download CPU-z”.

So, we go into the BIOS again. Many motherboard models on which the FX processor is installed have a modern UEFI interface. Therefore, this small instruction is designed to work in it. After entering the UEFI BIOS, the user should select the Extreme Tweaker item. In the window that opens, you need to find the line CPU Ratio. The default value should be replaced with the number 24.

Just below is the line NB Voltage. There we need to activate the Manual option, which will allow us to set the voltage manually: set the number to 1.5 volts. The next setting we are interested in is Power Control. It is slightly higher than NB Voltage. Having selected it, set the Load Line Calibration value to Ultra High.

We return to the main UEFI menu. Find the CPU Configuration item and select the Cool and Quiet line. Set the value to Disabled. Save the changes in the BIOS settings by pressing the F10 key. Let's reboot.

We wait for Windows to load and launch CPU-z. We study the program logs. If the frequency we set (it should be approximately 115-120% of the factory one) is maintained at stable values, then the overclocking was successful.

Did you like the article? Share it
Print this article
Top