How to Change a CPU Multiplier With an AMD Processor
Changing the CPU multiplier on an AMD processor is the most common method of overclocking the processor. The CPU multiplier controls the clock of the processor. For example, if you had a 2.2 Ghz processor and you raised the CPU multiplier one level higher, you will end up with a faster speed, such as 2.4 Ghz. However, changing the clock speeds voids the warranty of the CPU, which you must be aware of when changing the CPU multiplier.
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Instructions
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1
Turn on your computer. When the screen that lists all your computer parts in black and white shows up, press "Delete." If this screen does not show up, repeatedly press delete, F1 or F2 right after you turn on your computer. This will take you to the main menu of the BIOS on the motherboard.
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2
On the main menu of the BIOS, select "Advanced Tools." Next, choose "CPU Multiplier." Disable "Speedstep" if your motherboard supports it (XFX, EVGA and most NVIDIA motherboards do).
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3
Press enter on the CPU multiplier, and a screen will pop up asking you to type in a number. Type in the CPU multiplier that you would like; going lower will not hurt the CPU, but going higher will make it hotter. If you are going to raise the CPU multiplier, do it one multiplier at a time.
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4
Hit F10 on your keyboard to save the changes, and then restart your computer.
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5
Download Prime 95 and install it on your computer if you are raising the clock speed (a link is provided in the Resources section). Prime 95 is a program that makes the CPU run at 100 percent, making it work as hard as possible. Let it run on your computer for at least 10 minutes, and then run the "Torture Test" feature to maximize CPU usage to 100 percent.
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6
Revert the CPU multiplier back to its original level if the computer shut down during the Prime 95 test. If you still want to raise the clock speed, go to the next step.
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7
Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until your computer turns off. When it does, revert the CPU multiplier to the last stable level and restart your computer.
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Tips & Warnings
The main reason the computer shuts down when making clock speeds higher is because the CPU gets too hot and the motherboard shuts it down to prevent damage to the system. Buying a more advanced cooling solution, such as water-cooling or a high-end CPU cooler, such as the Cooler Master V10, will allow you to increase clock speeds much higher than with the stock AMD CPU cooler.
References
- Karol Harmata MD, Computer Engineering, Illinios Institute of Technology (IIT)
Resources
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Comments
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lostogre
Jul 04, 2010
This only works when you are using a CPU with an unlocked multiplier, aka Black Edition processors, and a motherboard that has the BIOS options to support such an operation, as not all do.
