How to Overclock a Motherboard CPU

Overclocking a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is connected to a motherboard, is a great way to increase your computer's performance. To overclock a CPU is to change the factory clock speed of the processor to a higher speed through use of the motherboard's BIOS. For example, overclocking a computer that has a Quad core 2.4 Ghz processor would make the processor run at a a higher speed, such as 2.6 Ghz, instead of the factory speed of 2.4 Ghz.

Things You'll Need

• Prime 95 (freeware)

Instructions

1. Turn on your computer. A screen will appear that lists all of your computer's components in black and white letters and shows the BIOS manufacturer's name in the top, which is most likely going to be Phoenix. Click the "Delete" key on the upper right-hand corner of the keyboard to access the main BIOS menu while the black and white screen is still showing.

2. In the main menu of the BIOS, go to "Advanced Tools" and select "CPU Multiplier." Raise the multiplier one level higher; if the CPU multiplier is at 6x, raise it to 7x. Save the changes by clicking "F10" and reboot your computer.

3. Run Prime 95 on your computer for at least 10 minutes. Select the "Torture Test" feature of Prime 95 to maximize CPU usage. If the computer crashes at this point, your CPU is not stable enough for overclocking. Return to the BIOS and reset the previous settings for your CPU Multiplier.

4. If your computer did not crash during Prime 95, reboot your computer and return to BIOS. Go to the CPU Multiplier and raise it one step higher. Save the changes by clicking "F10," reboot your computer, and run Prime 95. Keep on repeating this process until your computer crashes. After the crash, go to the BIOS and reset the CPU multiplier to the last stable multiplier for optimum performance.

Tips & Warnings

• CPUs crash during overclocking because they become extremely hot, and the motherboard shuts down to prevent damage to the computer. In order to achieve stable overclocks, you have to buy an aftermarket cooling solution, depending on how much you plan to overclock. If you plan to overclock from 2.4 Ghz to 2.7 Ghz, all you need is a taller heatsink with a slightly larger fan, such as a 92mm fan. For more intense overclocking, such as 2.4 Ghz to 3.2 Ghz, you should get a more high-end heatsink and fan(s), such as the Coolermaster V10, or watercooling, to keep the CPU stable.

References

• Karol Harmata MD, Computer Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
• Majorgeeks.com: Prime 95 Download