Can all processors be overclocked? How to overclock an Intel Core processor using SoftFSB? Programs for monitoring device status

Overclocking a processor is an increase in the speed of the chip compared to the performance declared by the manufacturer. The most popular method is magnification. In this case, the processor cycle is slightly reduced in time, but it does the same amount during this clock cycle. This means that the speed of calculations is increasing. The advent of multi-core processors has given rise to another overclocking option - unlocking cores disabled by the manufacturer. But this is the lot of professional overclockers, and we will leave witchcraft with cores outside the scope of this article. Let's look at just a few of the safest options for overclocking a laptop processor.

Why overclock a laptop processor?

Let's start with the question "why". Getting more performance for the same processor price seems like a good deal. In addition, as the chip bus clock speed increases, the memory usually runs faster. As a result, applications begin to work a little faster. To be fair, it is worth noting that in modern chipsets For desktop computers you can overclock your CPU and RAM in different ways. But not in laptops.

Where might you need more laptop processor performance? Obviously, in games and heavy applications like Adobe Photoshop, which are very demanding on the CPU. Modern browsers They also actively use the processor on “heavy” pages on the Internet. Website developers today actively use multimedia capabilities HTML 5 and Flash. That is, greater performance is required in almost all daily tasks of a laptop user.

Overclocking a laptop processor: step by step

Attention! When overclocking a processor yourself using our tips, you need to remember the following things:

• Overclocking the processor increases performance, but at the same time energy consumption also increases. This means your laptop’s battery will last less time and the chip will heat up more. It is necessary to ensure good ventilation inside the case. At a minimum, do not cover the special slots located on the bottom and back of the laptop.
• In the long term, overclocking can reduce the lifespan of the processor.

Easy overclocking using Windows

The safest option for laptops is “overclocking” by changing the power supply mode.

1. Open the Power Options program in Windows 7 or 8.1.

2. Install “High Performance” - a special power supply scheme that requires maximum performance from the processor.

Thus, we overclocked the laptop processor regular means and without any risk.

Software overclocking using special utilities

Here begins a description of overclocking methods that involve a certain risk for regular user. Therefore, do everything carefully and in very small steps.. For example, if the processor frequency is 1 GHz, then demanding that it reach the peak of 1.5 GHz is stupid. The maximum that can be done safely is +10-15%. All other numbers are achieved only by special means with changes in the cooling and power supply systems of the chip.

1. Download the CPU-Z program.

It doesn't know how to overclock the processor. But CPU-ID will give us full information about the chip that is installed in our laptop. Knowing this information, we can understand how many additional gigahertz we can expect.

2. Download special utility SetFSB. This program is capable of managing clock frequency processor without using BIOS.

Carefully study the list of laptop models supported by the utility. You won’t find the latest ones on this list, since the situation with program support is currently incomprehensible. But the utility supports old laptops manufactured approximately before 2014. The sequence of actions is simple. We increase the clock frequency of the processor bus in small steps and look at the result.

3. We test the laptop for stability after overclocking. The fact that after overclocking the laptop works when you launch the Internet browser is already good. But we need to check whether it can withstand a more serious load. The Prime 95 utility will help us. Its advantage is minimum size file and no need to waste time on installation.

If you run the CPU-Z program described earlier during the test, you will see that the processor operates at the highest frequency that it is allowed. If something is unstable: a blue screen appears, freezes, then the frequency should be reduced.

Overclocking a laptop processor through BIOS

Overclocking the processor is also possible through BIOS settings. But this only applies to individual models. And, I must say, quite rare. It should be understood that a laptop is, first of all, mobile device with long battery life. The options for overclocking the processor here are not as wide as with personal computers, but you can do something. The general course of action is something like this.

1. We enter the BIOS. Depending on your laptop model, you should hold down or frequently press the Del, Esc, or F12 key when turning on the power. There may be other key combinations. This varies by manufacturer, so check your laptop online or in the user manual.
2. The item under which the settings are hidden may have different names. For example, CPU FSB Clock or CPU FSB Frequency. All we can do is slightly increase the bus clock speed.
3. We increase the clock frequency. Reboot the laptop.

After overclocking, be sure to test the reliability of the laptop using the Prime 95 utility.

Do you need to overclock your laptop?

Laptops are not designed to overclock the processor. On the contrary, mobile chip manufacturers have done everything to ensure that the user does not need such overclocking. The frequency automatically decreases when the processor is idle and increases when the system needs the chip. The most reliable way not to break anything is to use switching the laptop power supply circuit. The processor will stop reducing its frequency, which will give you a small performance increase compared to economical operating modes. To be fair, let us remind you that the high-performance mode is automatically turned on if you simply plug the power supply plug into the laptop. For not the newest laptop models, there is an additional alternative to overclocking the processor - the SetFSB utility. And you can check the stability of operation in the new overclocked state with the Prime 95 program.

Each processor is designed for a certain nominal frequency. This frequency is indicated on its surface and is indicated in price lists and other documentation. For example, the PentiumII-300 must operate at an external frequency of 300 MHz. But, as practice shows, you can achieve more from a processor. The fact is that the frequency at which the microprocessor will operate is set motherboard, so it becomes possible to increase it relative to the value specified on the processor. This is called overclocking.

Why do you need processor overclocking?

Yes, in general, there’s nothing special about it. By overclocking your processor, you can increase the performance of your system by 10 percent. In addition, you can improve your opinion of yourself in the eyes of your friends. And of course, learn some information about the structure of the computer. However, by exceeding the nominal processor clock frequency, the system loses reliability. However, in most cases this will be completely unnoticeable. So the main thing is the idea of ​​saving money by buying one processor and using it as another, faster one.

Why is overclocking possible?

In order to understand the theory of overclocking, it is necessary to understand how processors are manufactured and tested. Models created within the same technological framework (for example, 0.25 microns, voltage 3.3 V) are produced on the same production line. Then some samples of the series are randomly tested. Testing takes place under extreme (voltage and temperature) conditions. Based on these tests, the processor is marked with the nominal frequency for which the processor is designed. Considering that the frequency is taken with a certain margin of safety, and that not all crystals have been tested, we can predict with a high degree of probability that most products have a power margin of 10-15%, or even more, in frequency. In addition, additional overclocking resources can be obtained by providing the processor with good cooling, since the manufacturer tests its products under very harsh temperature conditions.

Almost all motherboards for Pentium and Pentium II processors are designed to work not with one type of crystal, but with several. That is, they provide the user with the opportunity to indicate which processor is installed on them. The choice of its clock frequency is carried out by multiplying the external frequency (the one at which the system bus and RAM of the PC operate) by one of the fixed multipliers (these multipliers are usually multiples of 0.5 and are in the range of 1.5 - 4). The method for setting a particular multiplication and external frequency is always indicated in the manual for the motherboard and sometimes on the board itself. The ability to select the external frequency and multiplication factor of the internal processor frequency gives rise to the possibility of passing off the processor as a faster one.

Overclocking can be done in two ways. Firstly, it is possible to increase the external frequency multiplier of the processor (for example, from 2.5 to 3), since in this case only the speed of the processor itself increases, and the speed of the system bus (memory) and other devices does not increase. However this method, although reliable (failures can only be expected from the processor), does not provide a large increase in the performance of the entire system as a whole. In addition, recently the leading manufacturer of PC processors, Intel, decided to block this possibility by fixing the multiplication on its crystals.

The second method is to increase the external frequency without changing the ratio or both (for example, from 60 to 66 MHz). The fact is that the speed of such computer components as the second level cache, RAM and PCI and ISA buses (and therefore all expansion cards) depends on the external clock frequency. Currently, almost all motherboards support external frequencies of 50, 55, 60, 66, 75 and 83 MHz. However, when experimenting with an external frequency, you should remember that the risk of encountering system failures increases sharply, since not only the processor is overclocked, but also all other system components. Therefore, when overclocking the system in this way, you should be confident in the quality of the components (this especially applies to RAM modules).

Relabeling processors

However, it is unfair to think that only end users in Russia are so smart. Many Chinese, and even our, offices specialize in relabeling crystals. That is, when checking the overclockability of processors, they destroy the old one and apply a higher clock frequency to it. In order to remark a processor, it is enough to destroy (scrape off) the top layer of paint on its case and apply new marks corresponding to the older model. Having bought such a crystal, a person unwittingly overclocks it, and if the computer then works flawlessly, he may not even know that his processor is sawn.

It is almost impossible to protect yourself from purchasing such a microprocessor. However, you can buy processors in a box or lower models in the same technology series (for example, Intel Pentium 166 MMX). There are only indirect signs for determining whether a processor is sawn - an uneven surface, mismatch of markings on the upper and lower sides of the crystal body, poorly applied markings.

The danger of overclocking

The question that many people ask when overclocking is whether the processor or other system components will burn out. It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. However, cases of processor combustion are extremely rare. Statistics show this. Only in approximately 0.1% of cases are irreversible problems possible. Cyrix/IBM processors, which burn most often, are especially dangerous in this sense. In addition, if the motherboard is equipped not with a switching power supply (distinguished by the presence of a toroidal coil on the board), but with a linear power supply, then the motherboard may be damaged when overclocking Cyrix and AMD processors due to high current consumption. When the external frequency increases, and, consequently, the PCI bus frequency, data loss on the hard drive is possible, but HDD at the same time remains operational. In any case, most of the problems described can be solved. This is discussed below.

How to overclock a processor

1. First you need to determine what to strive for. That is, decide for yourself what you will change - the external frequency or the multiplication factor. Keep in mind that it will almost always be possible to increase the frequency by one step, and increasing the frequency multiplier will give a smaller effect than with the same increase in the external frequency. In addition, new Intel processors, to prevent overclocking and relabeling, have the ability to set only nominal coefficients for frequency multiplication. Therefore, in this case, only manipulation of the external frequency is possible.
2. Learn how the jumpers are set on your motherboard for the values ​​you choose. Many motherboard manufacturers do not document external frequencies above 66 MHz, because such frequencies are not documented for Intel chipsets, on which the vast majority of motherboards are built. You can see undocumented jumper settings for your motherboard. And yet, multiplication by 3.5 is set in the same way as 1.5. Therefore, if the manual for your motherboard does not indicate multiplication by 3.5, you can safely use the setting for the multiplier of 1.5
3. Turn off the computer and reinstall the jumpers in accordance with step 2
4. Turn on your computer. If the system does not start (black screen), it means that you have overclocked the processor and the computer will not work in this configuration.
5. If the computer starts and boots, then you need to check the stability of its operation. This check is performed by running the multitasking operating system(Windows 95/NT) and running applications that require active work with memory, since data transfer operations heat up the crystal the most. As an example, we can offer the simultaneous launch of a pkzip archiver, viewing an mpeg file, and running a couple of copies of the Quake game, continuously switching between them. Fifteen minutes of stable operation in this mode is enough to draw a conclusion about the stability of the system.
6. If the computer starts but does not boot (hangs after displaying the table with the system configuration), then you can fight for its stable operation. This behavior is most likely caused by the inability of the hard drive, memory, or ISA cards to function properly. How to overcome such problems is written below.
7. If the operating system and applications are unstable, the root of the problem most likely lies in insufficient cooling of the crystal. Sometimes, however, such effects are observed when the level of the logic signal is insufficient. This problem is solved on motherboards equipped with the ability to select the processor supply voltage by increasing it by 0.1-0.2 V. However, in this case, you need to think even more about cooling. Cooling issues are discussed below.

CPU cooling

One of the most important tasks faced when overclocking a processor is its cooling. Overheating of the processor can be considered the main circumstance preventing overclocking. In 90 percent of cases, when an overclocked system starts up, but after a while it starts to crash and freezes or crashes when running applications that heavily load the processor, the reason should be sought precisely in processor overheating.

Therefore, it is worth getting a good radiator with a fan that provides the best heat dissipation. The better the entire system unit is ventilated, the more stable the computer will operate. By the way, the ATX form factor is much better from this point of view, since PC cases and motherboards made in accordance with this form factor are very well ventilated due to the well-placed components. However, a regular Baby AT case can be equipped with an additional fan.

How to choose the right fan? When choosing a radiator, you should pay attention to the height and structure of the iron part itself (the higher the radiator, and the more protrusions on it, the better), and the height of the fan (the higher, the better, usually 20 or 30 mm). It is also worth considering that it is preferable to use fans that work “for exhaust” (i.e., driving the air flow upward, away from the radiator).

Secondly, when purchasing, it is very important to pay attention to the way the radiator is attached to the processor. There are several types of fasteners.

However, in the best case, the heatsink is attached to the processor using a curved metal bracket that clings to special protrusions at the Socket 7 (Pentium) and Socket 8 (Pentium Pro) connectors. This method should be considered the most acceptable, since the curved bracket presses the radiator well against the processor, leaving virtually no space for air cushions. But even with other radiator mounting schemes, good results can be achieved. The best mount is one that minimizes the air gap between the processor and the heatsink. This can be achieved both by increasing the pressing force on the radiator surface and by grinding the contacting planes.

It should be noted that the Pentium II solves the problem of attaching the radiator to the processor much better, however, some (especially early) models are supplied only with passive radiators (without a fan). Users of Pentium II processors may be advised to attach the fan to the radiator themselves.

However, no matter how firmly you place the heatsink on the processor, small air gaps will still remain between the surface of the heatsink and the top of the processor. And air, which has very low thermal conductivity, greatly interferes with the heat exchange between the processor and the radiator. These layers are usually eliminated by using heat-conducting paste KPT-8, made on the basis of beryllium oxide (BeO), it conducts heat well, is chemically low-active and is used in the nuclear industry as a neutron reflector. The paste is placed in a thin layer between the processor and the radiator, providing better thermal conductivity.

Main problems

In unstable operation at frequencies of 75 and 83 MHz the following were noted:

• HDD Quantum Fireball, Fireball TM, Fireball ST (the problem is solved by using a cable of no more than 10-15 centimeters)
• SVGA on the ET6000 chip - mainly due to chip overheating.
• SoundBlasters - old releases - problem solved by increasing IO Recovery

In addition, the following problems are possible:

• Unsustainable work. This problem can be solved by changing the timing characteristics of your memory modules (SIMM/DIMM) in the setup. For example, increase wait state cycles.
• Unstable operation of the disk subsystem. Either the operating system does not load at all, or messages like “Missing operation system” are displayed, when creating archives they are created with errors, when copying files are copied with errors, the CD-ROM drive is not recognized by the operating system. In this case, try to shorten the cables of the IDE devices, or if this does not help, try to force the PIO-mode of your HDD and CD-ROM drives to be set to a lower level in the setup.
• Unstable operation of ISA devices. Set the setup to a larger ratio for dividing the ISA bus clock frequency and the I/O recovery delay.

useful links

• Additional information on overclocking and optimizing PC performance can be found on our partner website www.sysopt.com

CPU overclocking | How does a processor become an overclocking legend?

Since the birth of the IBM-compatible PC, certain processors have been positioned as exceptionally suitable products for aggressive overclocking. Some models are famous for their outstanding overclocking potential, while others are famous for their low price. We even remember several unique examples where functions that were initially disabled on the chip could be unlocked.

We decided to take a short excursion into history and compile a list of some of the most interesting ones from the point of view of CPU overclocking.

CPU overclocking | Intel i486

Although overclocking existed before the advent of this chip, this process became much more interesting with the advent of the Intel 80486 thanks to its flexible clock settings and the first implemented internal clock multiplier in the i486 DX2 model. Introduced in 1992, DX2 was available in three variants: 40 MHz (20 MHz x2), 50 MHz (25 MHz x2) and 66 MHz (33 MHz x2). Computer enthusiasts could buy a cheaper version of the i486DX2-40 and increase the clock speed to 25-33 MHz using a jumper on the motherboard, resulting in the performance of the flagship i486DX2-66 model.

This may not seem like much today, but such overclocking provided a 60% increase in frequency when computer manufacturers were paying $600 for the 486DX2-66 in batches of 1,000, and the cost of a CPU upgrade kit could exceed $1,000. Purchasing the i486DX2-40 and DX2-50 could save hundreds of dollars, making overclocking a very attractive option for PC enthusiasts.

CPU overclocking | Intel Pentium 166 MMX

Intel released the Pentium MMX in 1997, providing it with an expanded instruction set and twice the large volume L1 cache (a colossal 32 KB at that time) compared to the first generation of Pentium processors. In addition to being noticeably faster than their predecessors, these chips also offered extensive overclocking capabilities. The top-of-the-line Pentium MMX 233 cost about $600 at launch, but the 166 MHz version was $200 cheaper and usually allowed you to reach 233 MHz without much effort. Many of these CPUs were capable of hitting the 250 MHz mark when the FSB was increased to 83 MHz, making the Pentium MMX 166 a top-end processor at a reasonable price.

CPU overclocking | Intel Celeron 300A

Despite its advanced age, the Celeron 300A is still respected in overclocking circles, and it is this chip that is responsible for many people joining the ranks of overclocking enthusiasts in 1998 (including the site's staff). The processor was based on the Mendocino core, designed for low-budget PCs. Intel decided to cut costs by placing the L2 cache directly on the CPU die instead of using an external cache card, such as it produced for the top-end Pentium II processors. Although the Celeron had only 128 KB of L2 cache instead of the Pentium II's 512 KB, placing the cache on the chip meant that it ran at the processor's own speed, and in many cases this gave the Celeron 300A an advantage over more expensive CPUs. In addition, the $180 Celeron 300A had incredible overclocking potential: raising the FSB from the factory 66 MHz to 100 MHz allowed it to reach 450 MHz - on par with the $500 Pentium II 450. For the first time in history, overclockers could get the performance of a flagship CPU for less than $200 with minor tuning. It is not surprising that the Celeron 300A is fondly remembered by representatives of the overclocking community, to the emergence of which it was directly related.

CPU overclocking | Pentium III 500E

If Celeron brought a very large number of advanced PC users into the ranks of overclockers, then the Pentium III 500E successfully continued its legacy. This chip, introduced in 2000, was made using a 180 nm lithographic process, was equipped with a 256 KB L2 cache memory and led to a change in the Slot 1 interface to the more modern Socket 370. Unlike the stripped-down Celeron processors, the Pentium III 500E (cost $240 at the time of release) from an architectural point of view was identical to the Pentium III 750 MHz ($800). Naturally, it provided aggressive overclocking to 750 MHz by simply increasing the FSB to 150 MHz, closely approaching the performance of the rare and expensive ($1000) Pentium III 1 GHz.

CPU overclocking | AMD Athlon and Duron 600 (Thunderbird/Spitfire)

The first generation Athlon was a cartridge that hid a processor board with an installed CPU and cache memory chips. The cartridge was installed in a Slot A slot connector with 242 contacts. Since the cartridge design was completely closed to the user, a separate device called the Gold Finger was used to unlock the multiplier, which could also be used to change the CPU voltage. These processors themselves had excellent overclocking potential, but in 2000 they were replaced by the next generation on the Thunderbird/Spitfire core in the Socket A version, and overclocking by multiplier became easier thanks to the famous L1 bridges. All you had to do was connect four small bridges on the CPU case using a graphite pencil (or better yet, use a special conductive pen) to unlock the multiplier. The Duron 600 for $80 could be overclocked to 1 GHz, which brought it very close in performance to the Athlon 950 ($360). The cost of CPUs that are of interest from an overclocking point of view has dropped below $100.

Additionally, the more expensive Athlon processors could be overclocked above 1 GHz at a time when Intel's top-end Pentium III models were relatively overpriced, if they could be found at all: Intel processors over 1 GHz were extremely rare for several months after the announcement. After the appearance of Thunderbird's successor - the Athlon processor on the Palomino core - the trick of closing the bridge with a pencil became obsolete, but this happened after Athlon and Duron were able to attract great amount overclockers to your camp.

CPU overclocking | AMD Athlon XP-M 2500+

After AMD blocked the multiplier in desktop CPUs, overclockers realized how great the overclocking potential of the multiplier was, which was preserved in mobile versions. At a cost of $25 more than desktop versions of the CPU, mobile processors Barton offered a lower stock Vcore (1.45V) and an adjustable multiplier. As a result, the Athlon XP-M 2500+, running at 1.83 GHz, could often be overclocked to 2.5 GHz without much effort. Some overclockers were able to reach a frequency of 2.7 GHz when overclocking this processor.

CPU overclocking | Intel Pentium 4 1.6A

The first Pentium 4 processor was based on the little-known Willamette core, a design that failed to impress at launch and was even a step back in some performance and power consumption tests. But in 2001, Willamette was replaced by the Northwood architecture, which has double the L2 cache (512 KB) and is based on a thinner 130 nm process technology.

For the first time, computer enthusiasts began to reconsider their opinion about the Pentium 4 precisely at the heyday of Northwood - due to the increased scalability of this architecture. The Pentium 4 1.6A sold for about $300 and was easily overclocked to 2.4 GHz with the factory cooler. This was slightly faster than the flagship Pentium 4 1.8 GHz priced at $560.

CPU overclocking | AMD Opteron 144

While AMD's Athlon 64 processors provided excellent performance, they generally did not have as solid overclocking potential as the Pentium 4. However, in 2005, AMD introduced a 1.8 GHz version of the Opteron 144, priced under $150. Opteron processors have always been chips aimed at use in servers and workstations and required the use of expensive register memory. However, the Opteron 144 was a version for regular socket 939 single-processor boards that use unbuffered memory. Equally important, it had incredible overclocking potential. Many copies could be overclocked to 3 GHz, while the most powerful Athlon FX-57 models had a frequency of 2.8 GHz and cost $1000.

CPU overclocking | Intel Pentium D 820 and 805

In 2005, Intel's Pentium family was often inferior in performance to AMD's Athlon 64 line. So, the most budget processor The Pentium D 820 was priced at $240, which is about a hundred dollars cheaper than the Athlon 64 X2 4200+.

Although the performance of the budget Pentium left much to be desired at factory frequencies, it was a full-fledged dual-core processor, which in capable hands reached a frequency of 3.8 GHz, and some copies even conquered the 4 GHz bar.

In 2006, the Pentium D 805 processor cost $130 was born - the same processor that we overclocked to 4.1 GHz in the article "Overclocking Pentium D 805: dual-core 4.1 GHz processor for $130". The Pentium D was able to shift the attention of enthusiasts to Intel, and this in an era of AMD dominance.

CPU overclocking | Pentium Dual Core/Core 2 Duo E2000/E6000/E8000

Back in 2006, the release of Core 2 Duo processors based on the Conroe architecture allowed Intel to reclaim its crown as the industry leader while ushering in the golden age of overclocking. If we had decided to devote a page to each model in the line that had outstanding scalability, this article would have been at least twice as long.

Let's start with the budget Pentium Dual Core, which was essentially a version of the Core 2 Duo with the L2 cache trimmed to 1 MB. Pentium Dual Core E2140 (1.6 GHz) and E2160 (1.8 GHz) cost $80 and $90 respectively at launch, and easily reached the 3 GHz mark. The Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.866 GHz) cost less than $200 at launch, but could be overclocked to approximately 4 GHz - on par with flagship model Core 2 Duo E6700 (factory frequency 2.667 GHz) for $580.

At a later stage life cycle The Wolfdale Core 2 core, during the production of which a transition was made to a 45-nm process technology, allowed processors like the 3 GHz Core 2 Duo E8400 model to overcome the 4 GHz barrier with minimal resistance. This in no way applies to all Core 2 models, but in our memory there was not a single representative of the line that did not have good opportunities for overclocking.

CPU overclocking | Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

Core 2 Quad Q6600 was introduced in 2007. But even now, there are enthusiasts who still embrace the capabilities of this quad-core processor, making it something of an anomaly in the fast-paced world of technological advancement.

Based on the revolutionary Core 2 architecture and 65nm process technology and with a factory clock speed of 2.4GHz, this CPU easily reaches the mid-3GHz frequency range. At the time, this was surprising given the complex architecture of the quad-core CPU.

Although the Q6600 was priced at $850 at launch, by 2010 it had dropped to $200, making this processor popular with computer enthusiasts on a budget. In 2011, the Q6600 was replaced by the Core 2 Quad Q9550, another CPU with an excellent reputation among overclockers.

CPU overclocking | Intel Core i7-920

Intel's Nehalem architecture was introduced in 2008 along with the Core i7 brand. Quad-core Core 2 Quad processors have proven themselves well, but rethinking the Hyper-Threading feature allows the Core i7 to take a step forward in the types of workloads associated with parallel computing. In addition, the LGA 1366 platform is equipped with a three-channel memory subsystem, and the memory controller is implemented directly in the processor itself.

Flagship model Core i7-965 Extreme(3.2 GHz) sold for $1000 and had an open multiplier. But the $285 Core i7-920 (2.67 GHz) offered identical architecture for less than a third of that price. Although it had a locked multiplier, it was possible to increase the frequency to 4 GHz through BCLK overclocking. In fact, the Core i7-920 is still quite powerful and provides stable performance after overclocking, which speaks to the long life of the Nehalem architecture and the X58 Express platform.

CPU overclocking | AMD Phenom II X2 550 and X3 720 Black Edition

The flagship model Phenom II from AMD has never shone with overclocking potential (overclocking efficiency did not reach 4 GHz). But the Black Edition processors at least made configuration easier thanks to an open multiplier. The Phenom II X2 550 and X3 720 had their own unique features, namely in some cases they allowed you to unlock additional cores if the motherboard you were using supported such a function.

While some of these processors did have defective cores that could not be revived (making overclocking a gamble), many were capable of operating as quad-core processors, sometimes at speeds in excess of 3 GHz. In 2010, when top-end quad-core Phenom IIs cost $180, you could take a risk, and as a result, often become the owner of a processor more than high class, having spent $100. In the worst case, for relatively little money you became the owner of a dual-core or triple-core CPU, which could still be easily overclocked thanks to an open multiplier.

CPU overclocking | Intel Core i5-2500K

Intel presented its chips based on the architecture Sandy Bridge in 2011, and they were based on the 32nm process technology. Compared to top-end Core i7 models, Core i5 processors lacked a shared 3 MB L3 cache and Hyper-Threading function. None of these measures resulted in a significant difference in performance except in highly parallel workload scenarios.

On the other hand, the Core i5-2500K includes an unlocked multiplier, making it possible to overclock the CPU from the factory frequency of 3.3 GHz all the way to 4.5 GHz using air cooling. We think the $225 price tag is reasonable given the high performance potential of this chip. Even today, the architectures' relatively meager advantages are what make the 2500K a worthy choice for computer enthusiasts.

Overclocking veterans: This Asus P2B motherboard brings back fond memories of the past. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Variety of software

In this article we will tell you about several different applications, allowing you to overclock the processor and video card. Some of them can even change the memory frequency and latency. It's clear what you're using similar programs at your own peril and risk, but if you do not go beyond reasonable limits, then there is no great danger of damaging the hardware, and the advantage in additional performance is quite often significant.

Two favorites: CPU-Z and GPU-Z

Before we begin describing overclocking programs, we would like to dwell on two applications that, in our opinion, are necessary sources of system information: CPU-Z and GPU-Z. These two small utilities (which actually have nothing in common except similar names) allow you to display information about the components of your system. CPU-Z reports information about the processor, motherboard and memory, while GPU-Z provides information about the graphics card.

CPU-Z

CPU-Z is a very complete and effective program, written by French developers, which is regularly updated to provide support for most processors and chipsets available on the market. It allows you to obtain detailed information about installed processor, system bus frequencies, CPU voltage, memory frequencies and latencies (via SPD), etc. This utility also includes functions to check the validity of overclock values ​​to avoid fraud.

Before you start overclocking your system, we recommend downloading the CPU-Z program.

Tip: Make sure you have the latest version CPU-Z programs, if you want to have a function to check the validity (validate) of overclocking values. If you are using an older version of the program, the validity check may not work.

Despite the similar names, the GPU-Z program is not the brainchild of the CPUID development team that created CPU-Z, and has no connection with them. GPU-Z is a compact program that is capable of displaying extremely important information about video cards: its exact name, type of GPU used, graphics processor, memory, shader unit frequencies (if the video card is compatible), number of raster operator units (ROP), memory bus width and much more. This utility is still under development, and from a practical point of view it can still be improved, although it is already fully usable.

The latest version of GPU-Z can be found.

SetFSB utility for overclocking CPU

SetFSB is easy way overclock the processor. This small program allows you to adjust the FSB frequency directly from Windows. It supports a wide range of motherboards and only requires you to know the PLL used by your board.

PLL of our motherboard. Click on the picture to enlarge.

PLL (Phase Locked Loop) is a chip on the motherboard that generates frequencies for various components. Many modern motherboards have at least four reference frequencies: FSB, memory, PCI Express bus and PCI bus; it is the PLL that generates these frequencies. In practice, on most motherboards, the FSB and memory frequencies are related (using a coefficient that can be selected in the BIOS), while the frequencies PCI bus Express and PCI are fixed (100 MHz and 33 MHz, respectively). On some motherboards, like the one shown in the picture above, the PCI Express and PCI bus frequencies are also related.

Tip: PLL chips are usually produced by ICS. You only need to find a chip with that name to find out the PLL version.

SetFSB in progress. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Changing frequencies

Select the name of your PLL chip from the drop-down menu and click on "Get FSB". The program should find current frequency FSB, after which it will allow you to change it simply by moving the slider.

It's important to remember two things. Firstly, do not get carried away with excessive frequency changes, otherwise it may harm your computer. Second, not all PLL chips provide the same frequency ranges; Some motherboards limit the available frequencies. Please also note that if you check the "Ultra" mode, you will have access to additional frequencies (depending on the PLL). Once you select a new frequency value, click on "Set FSB" to start using that value (and pray that nothing bad happens to your computer). If the system crashes, reboot it and try again. Here you don't adjust the voltage, so at least the hardware won't be harmed.

SetFSB is an essential overclocking utility that is updated frequently to support new versions of PLL chips. The latest version of this program can be downloaded.

Utilities for motherboards

If you are not interested in an application like SetFSB, then it will be useful for you to know that major motherboard manufacturers provide overclocking programs included with their boards.

Asus

Asus includes a fairly wide range of software in the package. Perhaps the most notable utility in the AI ​​Suite is the AI ​​Booster program. It allows you to overclock your system from Windows, like many other overclocking programs. It is worth noting that here you will not have to look for the type of PLL chip, since the AI ​​Booster utility only works with Asus motherboards. In addition to adjusting the FSB frequency, it allows you to change the CPU voltage (VCore) and memory frequency. Therefore, despite its limited compatibility, this program is actually much more functional compared to common universal utilities.

The EasyTune6 utility is much less attractive in appearance than Asus program; in its ergonomics it resembles CPU-Z. However, EasyTune6 is a completely complete program that allows you to obtain information about your hardware, as well as overclock the processor and fine-tune the frequencies and voltages of components on the motherboard.

MSI

If Gigabyte's utility looks very modest, then MSI (like Asus) likes to dress up its product (in this case, even too much). Dual Core Center utility included with some motherboards MSI boards, is a rather catchy program with its own vision of beauty. However, like competing apps, Dual Core Center allows you to overclock the system and adjust voltages. In any case, it is a functional alternative to SetFSB.

Other manufacturers also include overclocking software with their high-end motherboards; we just stuck with the utilities from the largest vendors.

nTune and OverDrive: overclocking from AMD and Nvidia

AMD and Nvidia also provide their own overclocking utilities: OverDrive and nTune, respectively. They are less specialized than utilities from motherboard manufacturers, although they are limited to specific chipsets rather than motherboards.

nTune only for nForce

Nvidia nTune utility. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Nvidia's own nTune utility only supports chipsets from this manufacturer (at least when it comes to CPU overclocking). It will not work with first generation Nvidia chipsets or mobile versions. But if you have an nForce chipset, then the nTune program will allow you to overclock the processor and memory, change their voltages, as well as the chipset voltage.

The latest version of nTune can be downloaded.

Tip: nTune will run on platforms that do not use the nForce chipset, but will only allow you to configure video card parameters, but you will not be able to overclock the processor.

OverDrive: AMD and overclocking

AMD OverDrive utility. Click on the picture to enlarge.

The AMD OverDrive utility is equivalent to Nvidia's nTune program: it is an application for monitoring motherboards that use the manufacturer's processors. OverDrive only works with AMD chipsets (7 series) and AMD processors. At the same time, you can overclock your processor in very measured doses. For example, you can choose different frequencies for each Phenom core. Of course, the memory and performance of the HT (HyperTransport) channel can also be adjusted, as can the voltages.

The latest version of OverDrive can be downloaded.

Tip: We tested OverDrive with the Phenom processor in one of our articles called " New AMD 790GX chipset: RV610 integrated graphics for enthusiasts?"However, the new SB750 southbridge options such as ACC (Advanced Clock Calibration) are only available on motherboards that feature the new I/O logic.

The applications discussed above are very good for overclocking the processor and memory, but their capabilities are limited when it comes to memory. Luckily, there's Memset, another program written by French developers, that allows you to fine-tune memory latency without having to go to the BIOS (by the way, if you're using an AMD or Nvidia board, OverDrive and nTune will give you many of these functions).

Arsenal of delays

Memset allows you to change memory delays. And not only the standard CAS and RAS-to-CAS parameters, but also less common settings such as Read Delay, Write to Read Command, Read to Precharge, etc. However, keep in mind that changing latency on the fly is quite dangerous, and if you configure the memory subsystem for the highest possible performance, then system failures are possible.

Tip: Underclocked memory (eg DDR2-800 in 667 mode) generally allows for more aggressive latency, and some overclockers prefer latency over raw clocks.

Drivers make overclocking easier

Unblocking frequencies using Catalyst. Click on the picture to enlarge.

The simplest way is AMD drivers

The easiest way to overclock a video card is to use drivers. In the case of AMD, this is easy to do because there is an "ATI OverDrive" panel right in the Catalyst driver. The downside is that there is a limit to the available frequencies, as AMD apparently doesn't want to show frequencies that will likely cause the system to overheat and become unstable, causing frustrated gamers to attack tech support.

The most fresh drivers for AMD video cards can be found.

Tip: The "Auto-Tune" feature takes care of everything: it automatically checks your overclock settings for stability and then automatically applies the new frequencies. This method is less effective than manual overclocking, but it is simpler.

Nvidia ForceWare + nTune

ForceWare + nTune. Click on the picture to enlarge.

In the case of Nvidia, overclocking features are not built into standard drivers ForceWare, but they can be activated using nTune. As with AMD drivers, this method limits the available frequencies. Please note: To use nTune with a graphics card, the nForce chipset is not required.

Fresh Nvidia drivers can be downloaded.

"Overclocking" tab of the RivaTuner program.

There is an effective solution for overclocking video cards: RivaTuner. This feature-rich app is unlimited Nvidia video cards; it can also be used to overclock AMD video cards. (If you remember, the first Nvidia accelerators were called Riva. You can read about the history of Nvidia video cards in the article " History of nVidia in video cards: 13 years of success ".

Metered acceleration

RivaTuner allows you to overclock the system without any frequency restrictions (in any case, you can go much further than AMD and Nvidia would like when using the overclocking interface in their own drivers), and can also desynchronize certain frequencies. An interesting feature of the RivaTuner program is that it can change the shader unit frequency independently of the GPU, while other programs can only act in accordance with the GPU (the shader unit frequency is set relative to the GPU frequency).

The RivaTuner utility can be downloaded. By the way, it was this utility that we used to adjust the fan speed of the 4800 family video cards before the Catalyst 8.10 driver appeared.

PowerStrip cannot overclock GMA 950.

One of the oldest overclocking programs is PowerStrip. This utility for managing PC graphics options has been helping overclock video cards for many years and is quite mature. Its only drawback is that it is not free, unlike other programs that we have discussed. However, PowerStrip can be used for more than just overclocking.

A program that is worth the money

The big advantage of PowerStrip is that it works with most video cards on the market, not just models from AMD and Nvidia. It can be launched from the panel Windows tasks, which means you can set the necessary parameters faster than through drivers. In addition, PowerStrip can customize many display parameters, such as refresh rate, and, more interestingly, output resolution: a necessary option for some HDTV users.

The PowerStrip program can be found.

ATI Tray Tools and ATITool are two different programs

The next two utilities have very similar names, but in fact they are completely different. ATI Tray Tools only supports AMD video cards, and ATITool (despite the seemingly self-explanatory name) works with both AMD models, and with Nvidia.

ATITool and its test image.

This overclocking program is compatible with all Nvidia and AMD graphics cards and is interesting for at least one reason: it has 3D animation rendering that loads the graphics core of the video card and allows you to check if the overclocking settings are working by detecting artifacts. It also has a function for determining the maximum frequency that the GPU can accept (similar to the Auto-Tune function of the Catalyst driver).

The latest version of ATITool can be downloaded.

ATI Tray Tools for AMD only

ATI Tray Tools. Click on the picture to enlarge.

This little program sits in the system tray (hence the name) and helps tune AMD (formerly ATI) video cards. ATI Tray Tools has one small problem: its maximum frequency detection function is too optimistic, which leads to crashes. Like some other applications, this utility is capable of storing profiles that can be loaded in accordance with a particular program, for example, a profile for games, a profile for office applications, etc.

Updated versions of the ATI Tray Tools utility are located.

Using the utilities we described, it is quite possible to overclock laptops, although they rarely have a programmable PLL, and the cooling system is not designed for overclocking. Of course, this doesn't stop specialty shops from assembling and overclocking "desktop replacement" machines.

EeeCTL

EeeCTL is a program that can change the processor frequency of laptops that are equipped Celeron processor M (factory clocked at 900 MHz) such as the Eee PC 701 and 900, and models using the Atom N270. Regarding the latter, 2 GHz (compared to the factory clock speed of 1.6 GHz) seems quite acceptable. EeeCTL also allows you to adjust display brightness, fan speed and CPU voltage.

The latest version of EeeCTL can be found.

Conclusion

In this article, we've outlined some of the most useful overclocking utilities, most of which are available for free (provided you purchase the required hardware from a qualified vendor). Of course, we have not covered all available applications.

We also wanted to show you that the image of an overclocker armed with a soldering iron and jumpers is a thing of the past. Even the most advanced overclockers use overclocking programs; this is much more convenient than adjusting in the BIOS (even though the Extensible Firmware Interface specification has improved the situation; read more about EFI technology, in English).

Finally, remember that the art of overclocking is constantly evolving. All the utilities presented here evolve very quickly, since processors and video cards are components that are updated frequently. In fact, the release of the Core i7 will likely usher in a new generation of software as new processor very different from the current Core 2 in the way they control frequencies.

Finally, we will give this recommendation: sometimes it is better to overclock the system through the BIOS. This makes sense for two reasons: first, because of efficiency (for example, some programs do not display frequencies correctly), and second, because of the choice of operating system (most of the programs we covered are intended only for for Windows).

It's probably no secret that the performance of a computer can be increased not only by replacing a part with a more efficient one, but also by overclocking the old one. If it’s still a secret, then I’ll explain.🙂

Overclocking, overclocking- this is an increase in the performance of PC components (processor, , and ), due to an increase in their standard characteristics. If we are talking about a processor, then this means increasing the frequency, multiplier coefficient and voltage thereof.

2 Frequency increase

One of the main characteristics of a processor is its frequency. .

Any processor also has such a parameter as a multiplier (number), which if multiplied by the FSB bus frequency, you can get the real processor frequency.

Therefore, the simplest and safe way Overclocking a processor through bios is an increase in the frequency of the FSB system bus, due to which the processor frequency increases.

In all variants the processor frequency will be 2 GHz

— bus 166 and frequency multiplication factor 12;

— bus 200 and frequency multiplication factor 10;

- bus 333 and frequency multiplication factor 6.

The simplicity lies in the fact that the FSB frequency can be changed directly in the BIOS or programmatically in 1 MHz steps.

If earlier, this method could easily end sadly for the processor (burning out). Then for today kill multi-core processor, simply increasing the frequency is very problematic.

As soon as a novice overclocker goes too far with the processor frequency, the system will immediately reset its settings to default and after a reboot everything will be fine.

To change the bus frequency you need to go to BIOS and find the CPU Clock value there, as shown in the picture.

Press Enter on this value and enter the bus frequency. next to it you can see the processor multiplier and the effective processor frequency of 2.8 GHz.

Please note that the processor multiplier in the example is quite high - 14x at FSB 200MHz; in this case, I would recommend increasing the FSB in steps of no more than 5-10MHz (that is, the frequency will increase by 70-140MHZ).

In the case of other multiplier and frequency values, increase the bus frequency in increments of no more than 10%. There is no need to rush during acceleration, and with this step it will be easier for us to calculate the most optimal frequency for your CPU in tests.

If you want to achieve tangible results when overclocking. Then you cannot do without a good cooler, pay attention to the Zalman cooler.

We carry out tests with temperature measurements and maximum load per processor. This can be done with programs such as Everest, 3D Mark.

If the temperature at maximum load is above 65-70 C, then it is necessary to either increase the cooler speed to the maximum or reduce the FSB frequency.

3

The processor multiplier can also be changed. This will affect the increase in CPU frequency. For example, at frequency:

- bus 133 and frequency multiplication factor 10; (1.33 GHz)

you can change the coefficient to 15 and as a result get 2.0 Ghz instead of 1.33 Ghz. Not a bad increase, right?

There is just one thing, your processor must be unlockedmultiplier, such processors are usually labeled as Extreme if Intel processor and Black Edition AMD processor.

But even if you don’t have the extreme version, you shouldn’t be upset. After all, when the right approach The first option can achieve excellent results. Although, most likely, you cannot do without...

4 Voltage increases

The principle is simple. If you apply more voltage to a light bulb than it needs to glow, it will burn brighter. A processor is a more complex thing than a light bulb, but the meaning is approximately the same.

Increasing the voltage allows you to more seriously overclock the processor. To achieve stable operation of the processor at higher frequencies, it is necessary to increase the voltage on it. There are several points to consider here:

- be sure to install a good cooler.

- do not increase the voltage by more than 0.3 V.

To do this go toBIOS (Del key when starting the PC), after that go to Power Bios Setup => Vcore Voltegeand increase the value by 0.1 V. Next, set your cooler to maximum and set the FSB frequency higher.

We test, if everything is fine and the performance suits you, then you can stop there.
When you reach a critical level of processor performance (that is, if you increase the frequency by 3-5%, a reboot will occur), I advise you to reduce the frequency by 5%, this way you will secure your overclocking with stable operation for a long time.