Whether you want to be on the cutting edge, or you are
looking to give an older system new life, overclocking can help boost the
performance of your computer to new heights. For the purpose of this article,
the overclocking aspect we will be focusing on is the CPU, GPU, and memory. It
is important to note that not all CPU are overclockable, so make sure to check
your specific unit to see whether or not it is compatible. Please understand
that there is potential risk involved with overclocking any of your components.
Make sure to follow this guide and consult your user manuals for your products
to ensure success. First, when adding power to your components, more heat is
going to be generated. Always monitor your system temperatures so things do not
overheat, and potentially fail. Also, the higher you attempt to go, the more electricity
will be used and all components will have a threshold, which will vary due to
the differences resulting from the manufacturing process. So, to begin the
actual process, check to see if your CPU or GPU comes with overclocking
software. Having this software will allow you to see your idle and max load.
This software will also allow you to see average temperatures of individual cores.
If the option is available, utilize the stress test to see what your components
are capable of. Now that you have done all of this, continuing the test and
then restart your computer. Make sure to head into your BIOS before your
operating system loads. The BIOS will be different depending on the manufacturer.
Look for the auto-overclock option. Most BIOS will contain preconfigured
profiles allowing for varying degrees of overclock. For most CPUs, a clock
speed between 4GHz and 4.5GHz is a good speed. Anything higher than 4.5 will be
hard to maintain, but is achievable with proper cooling. If you do not wish to
use the pre-loaded profiles, there are a number of options to teak the settings
to reach the speed you want. Once you have reached a speed you are comfortable
with, exit the BIOS and continue on to your home screen. At this point use the
software from earlier to check and see where your temperatures are at. Also,
check to see what the max load is. If the level is acceptable, head back into
the BIOS if you want more speed. It will become obvious when the system is no
longer capable of running at the attempted speed. Either the operating system
will crash resulting in a BSOD (Blue screen of death), or the CPU with
self-throttle to reduce temperatures. So, now that the CPU has been
overclocked, the CPU should be able to run harder loads and no longer be a
bottleneck. Next, we look at the GPU. Overclocking the GPU will result in
faster card capable of playing games at higher resolutions, higher settings,
and higher framerates. GPUs overclocking software is usually available on the manufacturer’s
website, free to download. With the software installed, there are going to be
two options for you to mess around with. The base clock speed and the memory
clock speed. There will usually be an axis showing where the danger zones are.
When applying the new settings, and testing them, it will become obvious if the
settings cannot be maintained. For instance, either the card will not be
performing well at all, i.e., the framerate will be very low, or the will
artifacting, which is when geometry lines are being shot all over the screen,
making the game unplayable. That said, once you have found the right settings,
you will be able to game at a higher level than before. In the same vein as the
CPU overclocking, RAM overclocking follows a similar set of instructions. Enter
the BIOS again and access the tab for memory, and apply the same steps as
before. Make sure that the voltages are not too much for your memory sticks,
else a critical failure may occur. Now that all the components that you wanted
to overclock have been, it is time to ensure that these newly overclocked
components do not overheat and cripple the entire system. There are several
ways that this can be achieved. Cooling can be achieved by installing more case
fans, or opening ventilation holes if the option is available. Consider also
using a modular case that can help configure parts to achieve better airflow
through the case. Ideally, the air should be going back, up, and out. For the
GPU consider installing an aftermarket cooling solution. For the CPU, high-end
heatsinks are almost always necessary.
There is the option to get one with bigger fans or air-looped cooling. For
the very high-end overlcockers, the best method for cooling will be
liquid-cooling. This option is very costly compared to the other solution, and can
more complicated to implement than the others. Though, if done, liquid-cooling can
add a nice flair to your case, as well as the lower temperatures. So, while it
may seem like a lot of work to overclock your system, it can absolutely be
worth it if you are willing to take the proper steps and ensure that everything
is safe. In turn, your system will be much more capable than it was before,
whether it was an older system, or already high-end, now its life has been
prolonged. I hope that you have enjoyed this guide as much as I have. I know
that I was very happy once I overclocked for the very first time. It allowed me
with flexibility that I did not know my system was capable of. I hope that you
enjoyed it too. If you have any questions or concerns, please leave your
feedback and comments below and we will respond in a timely manner to the best
of our ability, and hopefully answer your questions. As always, keep striving
to maximize your esports experience. Thanks again!
*Electronic Sports Entertainment is not liable for any
damage that may occur with your system. Please take precautions when attempting
to overclock.
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