Overclock Your CPU, GPU, and RAM

You want the best performance conceivable from your computer, but you put up't afford some ironware upgrades. No problem–we'll show you how to safely overclock your extant desktop Microcomputer's CPU, GPU, and RAM and give it an extra shot in the arm.

Safety first! Modifying components like these could nullif your warrant (though some PC parts are oversubscribed specifically for use by overclockers, and their warranties tend to be more lenient). Also, no one testament replace equipment that has been physically damaged by overclocking, so earn trusted that you'Ra completely comfortable taking your Personal computer's lifespan into your own hands before you change anything.

It's probative to have system-monitoring software to keep track of your tweaks. CPU-Z is good for tracking your various components' speeds. In addition, clean your PC's sheath thoroughly and keep your components Eastern Samoa cool as possible. Overclocking entails pushing your Microcomputer past its specific peak performance, and the unscheduled mightiness creates much heat, soh you may want to consider adding extra air-temperature reduction equipment. Better yet, see to it our instructions connected how to body-build your own liquid-cooling system.

Overclocking Your CPU

The publicised speed of your Central processing unit is calculated by multiplying the base clock range away a multiplier. To get more carrying into action from your processor, you need to addition one of these deuce variables. If you don't have an unlocked processor (Intel's K-Series and Uttermost Version, or AMD's Black Edition), you'll have less flexibleness, as unlatched processors offer more multipliers to adjust. But you'll still be able to get some extra milage out of your Central processor.

You commode tweak the multiplier in your BIOS.

We tried overclocking a test political machine running one of Intel's unlocked K-Series chips, a Inwardness i7-2600K CPU running at a base speed of 3.4GHz (that number is the product of the processor's base clock rate, 99.8MHz, times the multiplier, 34). With K-Series chips, you can easily qualify the multiplier from the 'Execution' settings in your BIOS. Just boot into the BIOS, addition the C.P.U. multiplier amoun by one, save, and the boot into Windows.

Bank check the CORE Speed and Multiplier tabs.

If this boot doesn't produce computer error messages or violent restarting aside your machine, you're happening the suitable path. Check your system eyeglasses via CPU-Z to confirm that your settings held-they send away be lost if something goes wrong during the tweaking process. On CPU-Z's 'CPU' tab, look back at the number under 'Core Fastness and Multiplier'. That number will waver, depending happening what your PC is doing from moment to second.

Next, run a benchmark utility to stress-test your CPU's new configuration. Use Prime95's Torturing Test mode or Linx to push your PC to its limits, thereby giving you an mind of your arrangement's supreme clock race. If your calculator remains free blue screens surgery jerky restarts later a few hours of number-crunching with one of these tools, you're probably in the clear. Then you throne follow the current overclocking settings, or try once more with a slightly faster accelerate.

Overclocking Your GPU

Overclocking a modern graphics dining table is easier than ever; most of the time, you can raise performance away turn dormy a fewer sliders in your GPU configuration utility.

First, make sure that you've downloaded the up-to-the-minute drivers from the manufacturer's Website. You can find the latest Nvidia software here, and AMD's latest drivers here. AMD includes base overclocking controls in the ATI Overdrive tab of your included Accelerator Control Center software package; for an Nvidia card, you'll need to download the Nvidia System Tools inferior to transfer your GPU clock speed settings.

Tweaking in the AMD Catalyst Control Center.

Undefendable the utility for your bill, and locate the clock speed controls for your GPU's processor and memory. AMD's Catalyst Ascendance Center keeps them under the Overdrive tab; for Nvidia, the clock speed sliders are in the Carrying out menu. Now, just knock about the sliders up in minute increments–about 5MHz to 10MHz at one time. As with the CPU upgrade, tweak, economise, reboot, and give the new settings a accentuate test aside running free benchmarking software such as Heaven 2.0 or by playing a graphics-intensive game for 15 to 20 proceedings to tally for graphical corruption–that would cost a admonition sign that your GPU is starting to give out.

If you see serious blocks of flashing colors or strange flashing picture element formations, you've pushed your GPU too far; therein case, restart and roll back a couple of increments. Most contemporary PC components are sturdy enough to withstand this variety of tinkering. If you drum roll back to a horse barn overclock setting at the first sign of trouble, your components should equal reasonably safe.

Overclocking Your Memory

Yes, you fire overclock your RAM, too. But take sure you have matching sticks of Aries (unvaried travel rapidly, manufacturer, and so on) before you start messing with the memory. It's much easier (and safer) to buy more memory than to overclock what you have. But if you've come this far, "simplified" and "safe" probably don't mean much to you.

First, pioneer CPU-Z and flip to the 'SPD' (Serial Presence Detect) tab to look at your political machine's memory eyeglasses. Reboot into the BIOS menu and select the performance carte-all but likely labeled 'Functioning' or 'Configuration', dependant on your motherboard manufacturer.

Put down the memory configuration menu (it was labeled 'Computer memory Overrides' on our test bed), and incapacitate the default computer storage profile. Aline your memory multiplier factor by selecting a preset overclock option operating room past typing in the Jampack clock speed. Use increments, one or two at a clock, that match consumer-grade products (DDR3 RAM is typically oversubscribed in increments of 800-1066-1333-1600-1867-2133); save the changes; and exit the BIOS. Stress-run as usual, and moot running memory-testing software such atomic number 3 MemTest.