Sooner or later, such a moment comes when the computer processor ceases to meet the system requirements of programs and especially games. Of course, this problem can be solved by replacing obsolete iron, but not everyone can afford such a radical method. That is why many users increasingly prefer not to buy expensive components, but to the so-called overclocking.
Fortunately, programs for overclocking the processor have long been in the public domain. Moreover, now there are already so many similar utilities that the uninitiated user can simply get confused in them. To prevent this from happening to you - read this article. Here you will find a list of the most relevant programs for overclocking the processor and with their help you can give your computer a second life.
Bit of theory
First you need to figure out what the essence of overclocking is all about and why it is not as dangerous as is commonly believed. The fact is that all processors by default operate only at 60-80% of their maximum power. Thanks to overclocking, you can circumvent this limitation and achieve a noticeable increase in performance.
Of course, it is almost impossible to get the maximum possible increase in power at home and without proper knowledge. However, you can easily expect a performance increase of 20-30%, which in most cases will allow you to achieve an acceptable FPS value in modern games on a relatively outdated computer.
At the same time, by overclocking the processor through the program, you minimize the risk of burning something on your computer. The main thing in this matter is to choose a utility specifically for your device, so pay special attention to this.
ASRock OC Tuner
This is a program for overclocking Intel processors, featuring a convenient interface and excellent functionality. It is important that ASRock OC Tuner has tools not only for overclocking, but also for monitoring the status of the system. Even if the temperature of the processor rises to a critical level, you can immediately notice it and take appropriate measures.
Another advantage of the program is its ease of use. To overclock, you just need to open the Overcklocking tab and set the desired values of the bus multiplier and processor frequency in it. After that, you just have to press the GO button and wait until the utility makes all the appropriate changes.
By the way, in ASRock OC Tuner you can not only increase processor performance, but also calibrate the frequency of the PCIE bus. This is done approximately on the same principle.
Setfsb
This utility is suitable for owners of modern computers who want to squeeze even more power out of their car. Therefore, SetFSB is simply an excellent program for overclocking the Intel Core i5 processor and other devices from the same series, the frequency of which is by default limited by the manufacturers. In addition, the utility is compatible with almost all modern motherboards, which makes it truly universal.
Another advantage of SetFSB is that all the changes you make will be discarded when you restart your computer until you save them. Thus, you can test the processor after overclocking and only then, making sure that it functions without failures, confirm the changes made. Simply put, even if you overdo it and your PC reboots, unable to withstand the increased load, all settings will be reset to factory settings.
MSI Control Center II
This utility is designed to monitor the status and setup of MSI chipsets. You can use this program to overclock the processor installed on the motherboard of this company.
The application interface is divided into two categories: Overclocking and Green Power. As you might guess, the first one is designed for overclocking. Here you can not only change the frequency of the processor, but also change the voltage supplied to it, thereby increasing the stability at maximum loads. In addition, in the same menu you can see the current temperature of various components of your PC, find out the speed of rotation of coolers and calibrate the timings of RAM.
As for the Green Power section, it is a monitoring of energy efficiency. There are various options that allow, for example, to turn off the LED indicators on the motherboard.
By the way, if you do not want to bother with manual overclocking of the processor (and the entire system as a whole), then you can use one of the predefined MSI Control Center II operating modes. Just select one of them (Default, Cooling, Game or Cinema), and the program itself will make all the necessary changes.
CPUFSB
CPUFSB is a program for overclocking a processor in Russian, which immediately sets it apart from many competitors. The utility is designed to work with devices manufactured by Intel and allows not only to increase their frequency, but also to save several modes for different situations, and then switch between them. As with SetFSB (as well as many other applications), any changes you make will be reset when the system reboots until you finally approve them.
Also, the benefits of the program include support for even the most exotic motherboards. If no other utility can work with your chipset, then you should definitely try to overclock using CPUFSB.
The disadvantage of the program is the need to manually enter the PLL of your processor. Of course, this information can be preliminarily viewed in a third-party application or you can even disassemble the system unit and read the value on the sticker, but all this is not very convenient.
ASUS TurboV EVO
An application similar in function to the MSI Control Center II, but already for chipsets from ASUS. As you probably guessed, ASUS TurboV EVO is also a program for overclocking the processor with an excellent set of additional features.
In fact, the utility gives you access to BIOS settings directly from the desktop. Moreover, all the options, one way or another capable of harming the performance of the computer, are carefully hidden, which allows you to use the program without unnecessary risk, even without specific knowledge.
An interesting feature of ASUS TurboV EVO is the ability to configure not only the overall frequency of the processor as a whole, but also to perform the same operation for each core. Not to say that there is a serious need for this, but still sometimes such a function can come in handy.
Again, as in MSI Control Center II, the program from ASUS has an automatic overclocking function. With the click of a button, you can select the ideal timings and voltages for your processor, thereby increasing its frequency.
SoftFSB
And this utility is suitable for “happy” owners of very outdated computers. You can easily use this program to overclock the Pentium processor or other antique devices.
The SoftFSB interface is very modest. Here you will not find a temperature sensor, or monitoring the operation of the cooler, or any other bells and whistles. But the program perfectly copes with its main task, that is, it allows you to overclock the processor to higher frequencies.
Now about the cons. SoftFSB is a very old utility, so it is very likely that it will not work properly with modern hardware and the latest versions of operating systems. Moreover, the developers have long ceased to release updates for their offspring, so do not hope that in the future, something will change for the better. Thus, the application can be recommended only to owners of rare computers and to none other than them.
AMD OverDrive
As its name implies, AMD OverDrive is a program for overclocking AMD processors. The most interesting thing about it is that you can independently choose your level of awareness in overclocking and thus gain access to a different set of settings. For example, inexperienced users will only be able to monitor the status of the system, and professionals will have the opportunity to change the bus frequency and clock frequency multiplier.
In addition, the program allows testing of an overclocked processor. This feature, combined with different access levels, minimizes the risk of harming your computer.
Clockgen
A small but very useful program for overclocking AMD processors. Despite the straightforward interface, the utility allows overclocking, as well as monitor the status of a computer running at higher frequencies. In addition, the application practically does not load the system and takes up very little space on the hard drive.
Unfortunately, ClockGen does not support the Russian language, but this is by no means the worst. It is much worse that the developers stopped supporting the program, which means that it will not be able to work normally on modern computers.
Acceleration without a program
It is worth saying a few words about overclocking using BIOS. Of course, this method is not as convenient as software, but it is worthy of a little mention. Overclocking the processor via the BIOS is carried out by changing the bus multiplier, as well as the magnitude of the supplied voltage. The problem is that these options are not open on all devices and not on all BIOS versions.
Another disadvantage of this method is that you have to increase the processor frequency in small steps. Each time, having slightly increased productivity, you should restart the computer and wait for the operating system to fully start. As soon as a blue screen appears instead of the usual Windows icon, you will need to go into the settings and return the frequency to the previous step. In general, that is still a hassle.
Remember the risks
Despite the fact that utilities for overclocking the processor allow you to maximize the security of the overclocking process, you still should not forget about the risks associated with this procedure. Here are some tips to help you not burn your computer:
- Use only applications compatible with your computer. If the description indicates that this program is for overclocking an Intel processor, do not try to make it work with a device from AMD.
- If the utility of your choice does not have a means to monitor the temperature, then you should use a program from third-party developers for these purposes. For example, CPU-Z will do just fine with this task.
- Do not panic if something went wrong and the computer rebooted itself. Just reset the settings and everything will become normal again.
Also, do not forget to periodically check the temperature of the overclocked processor. It is best to do this under load in games or demanding programs.