How to Overclock AMD Sempron Processors
Quite a few store-bought computers that have AMD hardware will use their less-expensive Sempron variant. These processors are slower than the Athlon, Opteron and Phenom processors. However, they are just as tolerant of overclocking. The difference is that the store-bought computers that have these less-expensive processors tend to have lower quality RAM that is not very tolerant of overclocking. Therefore, the overclocking process is a bit different than if you had a high-end motherboard and RAM.
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Instructions
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Enter your BIOS by pressing the "setup key" that is displayed on the first or second screen during computer boot up. This is often the "Delete" key.
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Open the "DRAM Configuration" and change it from "Auto" to "Manual."
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Reduce the DRAM speed by 66 MHz. For example, if your DRAM speed was at 200 MHz then set it to 133 MHz.
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Look at the keys next to the functions listed at the bottom of the screen. Press the key to "Save."
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Go to the "FSB" or "Cell" menu.
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Locate the "FSB frequency" setting. Change the "CPU frequency" to manual.
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Increase the FSB frequency by 33. This will essentially increase your processors clock speed, but bring your RAM speed back close to its default.
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Look for the option on the same page called "CPU Clock Ratio" or "Multiplier" and drop it down one setting. If there are ".5" settings available, use those. For example, if the ratio was on 10 and the next one down is 9.5, use that one. If the only option is 9, then of course use that.
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Save the changes and exit. This is usually done with the "F10" key.
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Your computer will then restart. Allow the computer to boot into Windows and use it for several hours. If your computer does not show any issues, you may try going back into the bios and bumping up the "FSB Frequency" a couple more MHZ at a time, while dropping the DRAM speed. If you get to 10 more "FSB" without issue, you will need to drop the "Multiplier" down another half or full notch before going any further. You can then continue using that "Multiplier" for the remainder of your overclock, as you will not likely reach the next stage of bus speeds.
If you are unfamiliar with overclocking, it is best to take it very slowly and just use the suggested overclocks indicated here, or even lower.
As you go higher and higher, you will have to increase the voltage setting, which also is found on the FSB page. Without proper cooling or knowing what you are doing, this can damage your processor, RAM or motherboard very quickly.
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Tips & Warnings
There are quite a few different BIOS versions. If you cannot find the settings listed, you will need to refer to your manual for the equivalent settings.
The overclock that was provided in this article is a very basic overclock to get you started. This is the maximum recommended overclock to start at.
If after making modifications to your BIOS the computer fails to boot, you will need to restore the default BIOS settings. There are many different ways to restore the BIOS settings. Motherboards may have jumpers or may require you to press a combination of keys while the system is powered on. However, universally, all computers will have a CMOS battery. Simply remove the battery, wait 10 seconds and then replace it. The BIOS will return to its default settings.
Overclocking is done at your own risk. Be patient and test your machines functionality thoroughly between each modification.
References
- Photo Credit processor image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com
