How to Overclock an AMD Processor and How to Unlock Cores to Make a Perfect Gaming Desktop
Custom gaming computers are what pushing overclock trends, regular consumers do not care too much about performance or lack needed enthusiasm to push custom computer hardware beyond it's limits.
Currently AMD processors offer a few ways to increase performance though overclocking and unlocking.
First you have to take care in selecting processor for gaming computers - some AMD CPU's are Black Edition labeled - in sexy black boxes and with much better than stock coolers included.
Black edition means that they have unlocked multiplier - it's the easiest way to overclock a processor.
Basically with such CPU you just have to get to the BIOS of the motherboard (usually pressing DEL key during POST screen) and change CPU multiplier in the appropriate BIOS options field.
Usually it would be under advanced settings or something similar - just look it up in the manual.
Now be careful here, don't go too high.
To calculate required multiplier you need to know how it works.
Every CPU has an internal FSB bus speed which is usually 200Mhz for AMD, now every processor comes with it's own multiplier that when multiplied on FSB gives you resulting CPU frequency.
For example - Athlon II X3 440 works on 3.
0Ghz - it means that 3000/200=15 is the multiplier for it.
If it would have unlocked multi than setting it to 16x would make CPU run at 200x16=3200Mhz (3.
2Ghz).
That is how it works.
Now every AMD CPU also linked with motherboard through HT link - it usually should not exceed 2000Mhz speed for Athlon and 2600 for Phenom processors.
It also has it's own multiplier and 200Mhz default speed before multiplier applied.
If you increase FSB beyond 200Mhz you will increase HT link, so lowering it's multi to 8x or 9x instead of 10x will make it more stable.
Last thing you have to watch is memory speed - it also goes up together with FSB, it also has it's own multi, just watch for it not exceed manufacturer set limits, at least not too much.
So the easiest way to increase CPU speed is to up it's multiplier, if it's not possible then you increase FSB in small increments like +5Mhz until either PC becomes unstable or temperatures hit too high.
Too high is usually 60'C for AMD, keep them below that level if you want them last.
Above mentioned Athlon II X3 440 can work on 3.
5Ghz by increasing FSB to 227Mhz and lowering HT link to 8x and memory to DDR3 1333Mhz - it will go up with FSB to around 1510Mhz (that is if you have DDR3 1600 standard) Some lucky processors can have their cores unlocked - it's done by enabling ACC (advanced clock calibration) in BIOS - most motherboards have it.
Some processors may need little extra voltage to work with enabled extra cores since some of them may be little or completely defective there is no guarantee on that.
Do not increase voltage beyond 1.
5V for the CPU.
Test your PC with something like Prime95 for a few hours on stability.
Never do overclock if you are not comfortable with it or you do not understand what you are doing.
But again - above mentioned Athlon II X3 440 worked on 3.
5Ghz (vs stock 3.
0Ghz) with all 4 cores enabled - it registered as Phenom II X4 B40 - it's a great free upgrade!
Currently AMD processors offer a few ways to increase performance though overclocking and unlocking.
First you have to take care in selecting processor for gaming computers - some AMD CPU's are Black Edition labeled - in sexy black boxes and with much better than stock coolers included.
Black edition means that they have unlocked multiplier - it's the easiest way to overclock a processor.
Basically with such CPU you just have to get to the BIOS of the motherboard (usually pressing DEL key during POST screen) and change CPU multiplier in the appropriate BIOS options field.
Usually it would be under advanced settings or something similar - just look it up in the manual.
Now be careful here, don't go too high.
To calculate required multiplier you need to know how it works.
Every CPU has an internal FSB bus speed which is usually 200Mhz for AMD, now every processor comes with it's own multiplier that when multiplied on FSB gives you resulting CPU frequency.
For example - Athlon II X3 440 works on 3.
0Ghz - it means that 3000/200=15 is the multiplier for it.
If it would have unlocked multi than setting it to 16x would make CPU run at 200x16=3200Mhz (3.
2Ghz).
That is how it works.
Now every AMD CPU also linked with motherboard through HT link - it usually should not exceed 2000Mhz speed for Athlon and 2600 for Phenom processors.
It also has it's own multiplier and 200Mhz default speed before multiplier applied.
If you increase FSB beyond 200Mhz you will increase HT link, so lowering it's multi to 8x or 9x instead of 10x will make it more stable.
Last thing you have to watch is memory speed - it also goes up together with FSB, it also has it's own multi, just watch for it not exceed manufacturer set limits, at least not too much.
So the easiest way to increase CPU speed is to up it's multiplier, if it's not possible then you increase FSB in small increments like +5Mhz until either PC becomes unstable or temperatures hit too high.
Too high is usually 60'C for AMD, keep them below that level if you want them last.
Above mentioned Athlon II X3 440 can work on 3.
5Ghz by increasing FSB to 227Mhz and lowering HT link to 8x and memory to DDR3 1333Mhz - it will go up with FSB to around 1510Mhz (that is if you have DDR3 1600 standard) Some lucky processors can have their cores unlocked - it's done by enabling ACC (advanced clock calibration) in BIOS - most motherboards have it.
Some processors may need little extra voltage to work with enabled extra cores since some of them may be little or completely defective there is no guarantee on that.
Do not increase voltage beyond 1.
5V for the CPU.
Test your PC with something like Prime95 for a few hours on stability.
Never do overclock if you are not comfortable with it or you do not understand what you are doing.
But again - above mentioned Athlon II X3 440 worked on 3.
5Ghz (vs stock 3.
0Ghz) with all 4 cores enabled - it registered as Phenom II X4 B40 - it's a great free upgrade!
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