The best programs for overclocking an AMD processor. Processors Is it possible to overclock an amd athlon processor

Having looked at the previous characteristics of AMD Athlon processors, I discovered the single-frequency brother of the twin Athlon II X2 250. It is the Athlon X2 6000+ processor, which was produced using 90 nm technology and was based on a dual-core Windsor crystal. The area of ​​this crystal was 230 mm2 (1.97 times larger than Regor), the number of transistors was ~ 227 million (7 million less), and the TDP approached 125W (1.92 times higher). In my case, it turned out to be impossible to compare them with each other. The basis of the system, the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P motherboard, can only work with Socket processors AM3, while the Athlon X2 6000+ has an AM2 design:(

To briefly describe these two CPUs, AMD has released a copy of its two-year-old processor, which differs from its predecessor only in support for DDR3 memory, lower cost and less fiery temperament. In all other respects, this is the same well-known K8 architecture to all of us, which has changed little by changing the name to K10.5, but with support for some newfangled bells and whistles. Therefore, in terms of productivity, there was no strong breakthrough. At the same frequencies, due to some architectural improvements, a processor based on the Regor core turns out to be faster than Windsor by 0.5-3%, to which, depending on the type of DDR2/DDR3 memory used, another couple of percent can be added if high-frequency DDR3 is used -1600+.

But the most important “advantage” of the new 45 nm Athlon processors II was supposed to be their overclocking potential. If you take a short excursion into history, the following picture will emerge. Athlon X2 CPUs based on a 90 nm Windsor crystal using air cooling were able to work stably at frequencies of 3.3-3.4 GHz, while the most productive model of the X2 6400+ processor operated at a frequency of 3.2 GHz. This was a clear indication that Windsor's full frequency potential had been exhausted. The 65 nm process technology that replaced 90 nm also led to a core update. A dual-core representative of the K8 architecture - Brisbane (65 nm, two cores, L1/L2 - 128/512KB) entered the ring. But he also could not conquer higher frequencies than Windsor. The 65 nm Athlon X2 6000+ Brisbane operated at a frequency of 3.1 GHz, that is, even lower than the 90 nm Athlon X2 6400+ Windsor, whose frequency was 3.2 GHz. The four-core Phenom X4 processors released a year later, which were based on the Agena crystal, also produced according to 65 nm process standards, were subject to even lower frequencies. The most productive processor in this line, the Phenom X4 9950BE, operated at a frequency of 2.6 GHz and had an overclocking ceiling of 3.0-3.3 GHz when using an extraordinary air cooler.

With the release of its new Phenom II X4/X3/X2 processors, based on 45 nm Deneb/Heka/Callisto crystals, AMD managed to significantly increase their frequency potential relative to their predecessors on 65 nm cores. In addition, these products have acquired very solid overclocking potential. Only a few manage to reach the 4 GHz threshold, but results at 3.7-3.9 GHz in air are quite common. You can expect a similar result from the new 45 nm Athlon II X2.

Initially, the overclocking potential of the Athlon II X2 250 processor was tested on the motherboard Gigabyte board MA770T-UD3P with installed version BIOS F2 dated June 24, 2009.

With a supply voltage of 1.525V, the processor was able to operate stably at a clock frequency of 3705 MHz (FSB247 x 15x).

After conducting tests on the motherboard with BIOS F2 version, the recently released BIOS F3 version dated August 6, 2009 was tested.

Alas, there was no “miraculous” improvement in overclocking potential. The processor was only able to conquer the previous milestone of 3705 MHz.

Conclusions.

On this moment time, in model range There are three models of AMD Athlon II X2 processors - X2 240 2.8 GHz, X2 245 2.9 GHz and X2 250 3.0 GHz. The cost of these CPUs is 50, 55 and 60 euros respectively. Having looked at the characteristics of the processors, a reasonable question arises - Why did it have to be so small? The difference between the youngest and oldest Athlon II X2 models is only 200 MHz! In this regard, another question comes up - is it worth paying an extra 10 euros for the older model X2 250, or saving and taking the younger X2 240? My advice - It’s not worth overpaying for the X2 250! The youngest of the X2 240 processors has a 14x multiplier, while the older one has a 15x multiplier. This minor gap can be compensated for by overclocking with a slightly higher clock generator frequency.

But we should not forget about intra-family competition. The price niches of 75 and 85 euros are occupied by the Phenom II X2 545 3.0 GHz and X2 550BE 3.1 GHz processors. If you successfully unlock the disabled cores in them, they become an unsurpassed choice in their price niche. Well, if they fail with their rather high price, they look extremely mediocre compared to the AMD Athlon II X2. At the same clock frequency, the Phenom II X2, mainly due to the presence of a 6MB L3, outperforms the Athlon II X2 by up to 5%. The cost of the youngest Phenom 545 is 25 euros higher than that of the younger model Athlon 240. In percentage terms, this means that for 8-10% of the advantages of the 545, taking into account the higher frequency, you will have to overpay as much as 50% of the cost of the X2 240!

Based on the results of my short testing, the Athlon II X2 250 processor made a very favorable impression on me. However, this same expression can be applied to all Athlon II X2 processors. While being moderately priced, these AMD processors deliver quite interesting performance for their price range. The overclocking potential of 45 nm Athlon II X2 processors, as mentioned earlier, does not differ from their two-, three-, or four-core Phenom II counterparts and in most cases is 3.7-3.9 GHz.

In general, AMD has created worthy competitors processors Intel Pentium series E5x00 and E6x00, which can compete with them, both in nominal at equal frequencies and in overclocking. But not more.

The Athlon II X2 250 processor for testing was provided by the company

I decided to write a small FAQ on how to overclock a computer’s CPU and check it for fault tolerance after overclocking.

I always wanted to overclock my “baby” at least a little, but alas, you can’t achieve much on an old Celeron 668 Mhz =) Then the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ appeared. Then I decided to try it - the cooler was good for cooling.

Unfortunately, there are no screenshots left, but I overclocked it to 2.4 GHz from 1.8 GHz. For me this was the result. Now I have an AMD Phenom II x4 960T, but I haven’t done much overclocking yet, I overclocked it a little from 3.0 to 3.4 GHz.

Overclocking a system is quite a dangerous thing if you don’t know where you’re going and what you’re pressing. Sellers do not provide a guarantee for overclocking. If something breaks or fails, no one will exchange anything for us under the guarantee. Overclocking is a matter of choice. All manipulations with the computer carried out by you are not included in the warranty! You do this at your own risk!

Well, enough background, let's get started!

I will provide instructions on my computer configuration, the inscriptions may differ, but the essence is the same.

Part 1. Preparation|Selection of components

The level of overclocking success depends very much on the system components. To begin with, you will need a processor with good overclocking potential, capable of operating at higher frequencies than the manufacturer normally specifies. To overclock a processor, it is important that other components are also selected with this task in mind. Quite a critical choice motherboard with overclocking friendly BIOS.
Temperature and other characteristics
First of all, you need to know the maximum operating temperature of the processor - the maximum permissible for me is ≈ 80-90 °C.
- you need to know the processor multiplier;

Motherboard and RAM
Overclocking requires a good motherboard and memory.

The motherboard should provide a fairly comprehensive set of BIOS features, including support for Advanced Clock Calibration (ACC), and also work well with AMD's OverDrive utility, which is important for getting the most out of the Phenom processors.

Choosing the right memory is also important if you want to achieve maximum performance after acceleration. Whenever possible, install high-performance memory, depending on your motherboard.
I have ASUS M4A87TD-EVO | Kingston DDR3 2x1024mb

CPU Cooling:
Before you think about overclocking, you must understand that overclocking is not a simple or “hot” matter. In order not to spoil the system, good cooling is necessary, which costs not only a lot, but still money.
Also, it is better to open the case cover to ensure the outflow of hot air (many have more than one or two coolers in the system, but the extra outflow still won’t hurt)

Thermal paste is a special layer of heat-conducting composition between the cooled surface and the heat-removing device.

I changed it once because the processor began to dissipate heat poorly and became very hot (AMD Athlon 64 3000+).
I didn't buy a very expensive one. I bought Titan paste, carefully applied it to the processor and attached the radiator (I will talk about this in the next post).

Thermal paste is very important! The better quality it is, the better it will conduct heat to the heatsink and therefore the lower the CPU temperature will be.

But you can do a small overclock on a boxed cooler, but don’t expect much - increasing the frequency by 30-60 MHz is already overclocking.
- If you have a boxed cooler installed, then we are not very limited in overclocking - there may not be enough cooling for much.
Power supply (PSU)
The power supply must be stable, providing stable voltage levels and sufficient current to cope with the increased demands of an overclocked computer. A weak or outdated power supply loaded to capacity can ruin all our efforts.
I have OCZ 500W

How to calculate..?
CPU clock speed = base frequency * CPU multiplier;
northbridge frequency = base frequency * northbridge multiplier;
HyperTransport channel frequency = base frequency * HyperTransport multiplier;
memory frequency = base frequency * memory multiplier.

That seems to be all for this part.

What is overclocking?

Of course, mindlessly pressing buttons is not right. You need to know what all these clicks will lead to. Before you press, you need to understand why you are pressing, and what will happen after that. The danger of overclocking is greatly exaggerated - but nothing is impossible! There is a very real possibility of rendering your computer unusable. Simply - the parts will overheat and begin to melt... And no one will replace them for us under warranty! I think this blog is being read smart people and Therefore, we will assume that I warned you!

Overclocking or overclocking(from the English overclocking) - increasing the performance of computer components by operating them in forced (abnormal) operating modes.

Overclocking boils down to increasing the clock speed of the processor.

Choice: how to overclock?

Currently, a computer can be overclocked using programs running under the system.
For example Clockgen
http://www.overclockers.ru/images/soft/2003/11/27/ClockGen_nf2.gif

There is also special programs for motherboards, using the example of ASUS TurboV EVO
http://www.smotherboards.ru/wp-content/gallery/0910312119/18.jpg

You can also overclock the system from the BIOS, using the settings from there.

BIOS

BIOS - basic input/output system - basic input/output system.
BIOS has many faces - there is Phoenix, AMI and other versions. But the essence is the same - you can guess what the function is by the names.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to provide my photos, since I don’t have a camera. Taking photos on my phone is too poor.. I apologize for not having my photos, but what I found in my friends’ trash is not very different from mine, and indeed from all M /b.

The board presented to me is ASUS M3A78-T

Firstly, ASUS board The M3A78-T allows you to change the HTT frequency from 200 MHz to 600 MHz in 1 MHz steps. Secondly, the user can change the HT (HyperTransport) bus multiplier:
http://www.3dnews.ru/_imgdata/img/2009/04/09/asus/bios_select_htclock.jpg
Thirdly, you can change the memory controller multiplier:
http://www.3dnews.ru/_imgdata/img/2009/04/09/asus/bios_select_nbmulti.jpg

In order to overclock the CPU, you need to increase the processor bus frequency. If it doesn’t start after this, we increase the voltage on the processor.
All this is done in the Advanced menu
CPU Frequency - the actual frequency. The default value on all the computers I worked with is 200
Processor Frequency Multiplier - multiplier. can stand - Auto, x4, x15.
Processor Voltage - Processor voltage is usually set to Auto or 1.4
Processor-NB Frequency Multiplier - memory controller multiplier.

Users of modern motherboards (for example, the same ASUS M4A87TD EVO) can simply press a button and the system itself will select the optimal overclocking settings :)

RESULTS: Checking stability

Well, we have overclocked the processor, now we need to check it for stability (fault tolerance). This will allow us to understand whether the CPU can cope with the load placed on it. During the test, if “everything is that bad,” the computer may reboot, go into BSOD, or simply freeze. This means that the computer will crash after overclocking. We return to the BIOS and lower the frequency and voltage of the processor. we launch, check - if everything is fine, leave it. If not, then go back to the BIOS and do the same trick with the bus frequency and processor voltage multiplier.

Be sure to monitor your temperature during the test!
For this you need the following programs:
Sensor data monitoring:
FanExpert, CPU-Z, AIDA64Everest, AMD Over Drive.
To test the system you need:
LinX, S&M, AMD OverDirve.

We run tests, look at the temperature.

That's all, actually:) Please do not judge strictly, do not criticize strongly and cruelly.
Good luck!

The Athlon 64 x2 model 5200+ was positioned by the manufacturer as a mid-level dual-core solution based on AM2. It is with his example that the procedure for overclocking this family of devices will be outlined. Its safety margin is quite good, and if you had the appropriate components, you could get chips with indexes 6000+ or ​​6400+ instead.

The meaning of CPU overclocking

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor model 5200+ can easily be converted to a 6400+. To do this, you just need to increase its clock frequency (this is the meaning of overclocking). As a result, the final performance of the system will increase. But this will also increase the computer's power consumption. Therefore, not everything is so simple. Most components computer system must have a safety margin. Accordingly, the motherboard, memory modules, power supply and case must be more High Quality, this means that their cost will be higher. Also, the CPU cooling system and thermal paste must be specially selected specifically for the overclocking procedure. But it is not recommended to experiment with the standard cooling system. It is designed for a standard processor thermal package and will not cope with increased load.

Positioning

The characteristics of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor clearly indicate that it belonged to the middle segment of dual-core chips. There were also less productive solutions - 3800+ and 4000+. This First level. Well, higher in the hierarchy there were CPUs with indexes 6000+ and 6400+. The first two processor models could theoretically be overclocked and get 5200+ out of them. Well, the 5200+ itself could be modified to 3200 MHz, and due to this, get a variation of 6000+ or ​​even 6400+. Moreover, their technical parameters were almost identical. The only thing that could change was the amount of second level cache and technological process. As a result, their performance level after overclocking was practically the same. So it turned out that at a lower cost, the end owner received a more productive system.

Chip Specifications

AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor specifications may vary significantly. After all, three modifications of it were released. The first of them was codenamed Windsor F2. It operated at a clock frequency of 2.6 GHz, had 128 KB of first-level cache and, accordingly, 2 MB of second-level cache. This semiconductor crystal was manufactured according to the standards of a 90 nm technological process, and its thermal package was equal to 89 W. At the same time, its maximum temperature could reach 70 degrees. Well, the voltage supplied to the CPU could be 1.3 V or 1.35 V.

A little later, a chip codenamed Windsor F3 appeared on sale. In this modification of the processor, the voltage changed (in this case it dropped to 1.2 V and 1.25 V, respectively), the maximum operating temperature increased to 72 degrees and the thermal package decreased to 65 W. To top it off, the technological process itself has changed - from 90 nm to 65 nm.

The last, third version of the processor was codenamed Brisbane G2. In this case, the frequency was raised by 100 MHz and was already 2.7 GHz. The voltage could be equal to 1.325 V, 1.35 V or 1.375 V. The maximum operating temperature was reduced to 68 degrees, and the thermal package, as in the previous case, was equal to 65 W. Well, the chip itself was manufactured using a more advanced 65 nm technological process.

Socket

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor model 5200+ was installed in the AM2 socket. Its second name is socket 940. Electrically and in relation software it is compatible with AM2+ based solutions. Accordingly, it is still possible to purchase a motherboard for it. But the CPU itself is quite difficult to buy. This is not surprising: the processor went on sale in 2007. Since then, three generations of devices have already changed.

Selection of motherboard

A fairly large set of motherboards based on the AM2 and AM2+ sockets supported the AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200 processor. Their characteristics were very diverse. But to make maximum overclocking of this semiconductor chip possible, it is recommended to pay attention to solutions based on the 790FX or 790X chipset. Such motherboards were more expensive than average. This is logical, since they had much better overclocking capabilities. Also, the board must be made in the ATX form factor. You can, of course, try to overclock this chip on mini-ATX solutions, but the dense arrangement of radio components on them can lead to undesirable consequences: overheating of the motherboard and central processor and their failure. As specific examples You can bring PC-AM2RD790FX from Sapphire or 790XT-G45 from MSI. Also, a worthy alternative to the previously mentioned solutions can be the M2N32-SLI Deluxe from Asus based on the nForce590SLI chipset developed by NVIDIA.

Cooling system

Overclocking an AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor is impossible without a high-quality cooling system. The cooler that goes to boxed version This chip is not suitable for these purposes. It is designed for a fixed thermal load. As CPU performance increases, its thermal package increases, and the standard cooling system will no longer cope. Therefore, you need to buy a more advanced one, with improved technical characteristics. We can recommend using the CNPS9700LED cooler from Zalman for these purposes. If you have it, this processor can be safely overclocked to 3100-3200 MHz. In this case, there will definitely not be any special problems with CPU overheating.

Thermal paste

Another important component to consider before AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200+ is thermal paste. After all, the chip will not operate in normal load mode, but in a state of increased performance. Accordingly, more stringent requirements are put forward for the quality of thermal paste. It should provide improved heat dissipation. For these purposes, it is recommended to replace the standard thermal paste with KPT-8, which is perfect for overclocking conditions.

Frame

The AMD Athlon 64 x2 5200 processor will run at higher temperatures during overclocking. In some cases it can rise to 55-60 degrees. To compensate for this increased temperature, a high-quality replacement of thermal paste and cooling system will not be enough. You also need a case in which air flows could circulate well, and this would provide additional cooling. That is, inside system unit There should be as much free space as possible, and this would allow the computer components to be cooled by convection. It will be even better if additional fans are installed in it.

Overclocking process

Now let's figure out how to overclock the AMD ATHLON 64 x2 processor. Let's find out this using the example of the 5200+ model. The CPU overclocking algorithm in this case will be as follows.

1. When you turn on the PC, press the Delete key. After this it will open blue screen BIOS.
2. Then we find the section related to work random access memory, and reduce the frequency of its operation to a minimum. For example, the value for DDR1 is set to 333 MHz, and we lower the frequency to 200 MHz.
3. Next, save the changes made and load operating system. Then, using a toy or test program(for example, CPU-Z and Prime95) we check the performance of the PC.
4. Reboot the PC again and go into the BIOS. Here we now find an item related to work PCI buses, and fix its frequency. In the same place you need to fix this indicator for the graphics bus. In the first case the value should be set to 33 MHz.
5. Save the settings and restart the PC. We check its functionality again.
6. The next step is to reboot the system. We re-enter the BIOS. Here we find the parameter associated with the HyperTransport bus and set the system bus frequency to 400 MHz. Save the values ​​and restart the PC. After loading the OS, we test the stability of the system.
7. Then we reboot the PC and enter the BIOS again. Here you now need to go to the processor parameters section and increase the system bus frequency by 10 MHz. Save the changes and restart the computer. Checking the stability of the system. Then, gradually increasing the processor frequency, we reach the point where it stops working stably. Next, we return to the previous value and test the system again.
8. Then you can try to further overclock the chip using its multiplier, which should be in the same section. At the same time, after each change to the BIOS, we save the parameters and check the functionality of the system.

If during overclocking the PC starts to freeze and it is impossible to return to previous values, then you need to reset the BIOS settings to factory settings. To do this, just find at the bottom of the motherboard, next to the battery, a jumper labeled Clear CMOS and move it for 3 seconds from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3.

Checking system stability

Not only the maximum temperature of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor can lead to unstable operation of the computer system. The reason may be due to a number of additional factors. Therefore, during the overclocking process, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive check of the reliability of the PC. The Everest program is best suited to solve this problem. It is with its help that you can check the reliability and stability of your computer during overclocking. To do this, it is enough to run this utility after each change made and after loading the OS and check the status of the system’s hardware and software resources. If any value is outside the acceptable limits, then you need to restart the computer and return to the previous settings, and then test everything again.

Cooling system monitoring

The temperature of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor depends on the operation of the cooling system. Therefore, after completing the overclocking procedure, it is necessary to check the stability and reliability of the cooler. For these purposes, it is best to use the SpeedFAN program. It is free and its level of functionality is sufficient. Downloading it from the Internet and installing it on your PC is not difficult. Next, we launch it and periodically, for 15-25 minutes, control the number of revolutions of the processor cooler. If this number is stable and does not decrease, then everything is fine with the CPU cooling system.

Chip temperature

The operating temperature of the AMD Athlon 64 x2 processor in normal mode should vary from 35 to 50 degrees. During overclocking, this range will decrease towards the last value. At a certain stage, the CPU temperature may even exceed 50 degrees, and there is nothing to worry about. The maximum permissible value is 60 ˚С, when approaching it, it is recommended to stop any experiments with overclocking. A higher temperature value can adversely affect the semiconductor chip of the processor and damage it. To take measurements during the operation, it is recommended to use the CPU-Z utility. Moreover, temperature registration must be carried out after each change made to the BIOS. You also need to maintain an interval of 15-25 minutes, during which you periodically check how hot the chip is.

I don't even want to talk about them. Two hundred dollars for an AMD Athlon 64 3000+? Six months ago one could only laugh at such predictions, but it was better to call an ambulance for the prophet. Having seen such a price tag, I had to boldly break the windows - any court would have acquitted me. Now you won’t be able to laugh – your cheekbones are cramping, such prices have become a reality.

In the recent news about the shortage of AMD processors, there is, at first glance, an encouraging, but essentially terrible phrase: “... in this case, the partners failed, negotiations with them are already underway, and AMD expects to solve the problem in the next quarter.” When when? Not tomorrow? Not after the New Year? Not in a month? Next quarter? That is, at normal prices, AMD processors will only be available for purchase in four months, or even in six months?

I don’t even know what to tell you... Don’t buy computers at all? It won't work... Buy Intel processors Pentium 4 with a nominal bus frequency of 533 MHz, since they are not becoming more expensive? But their performance is lower, even with good overclocking... There is hope that the new Intel processors based on Presler and CedarMill cores, based on the 0.065 micron process technology, will be able to please with good overclocking at moderate power consumption and temperature. If this is really the case and from the very beginning of 2006 Intel will be able to provide these processors to everyone, then AMD's share in our computers will be significantly reduced. Everything gained in recent years can be lost overnight. No matter how good AMD processors are, if their price is high or, what is much worse, they are simply not on sale, then it is quite natural to pay attention to competitor processors. And if they also accelerate better than Prescott stepping E0...

The price of new Intel processors should not be higher than that of old ones - traditionally, the company, out of inertia (or perhaps based on a sober and far-sighted calculation), takes additional money only for increasing the clock frequency, and gives away new technologies for nothing. This works to our advantage - with the help of overclocking, we will increase the frequency almost free of charge and also get a new technical process for free (or rather, at the same price). I believed that only a new generation of Intel processors, abandoning the NetBurst architecture, could return the company to its former glory. However, it is possible that in light of the current situation this will happen much sooner. It may very well be that Presler and CedarMill will become the first Intel processors for which their owners will not be very ashamed, since the appearance of the infamous Prescott core.

If this happens, then I will also stand in line for new Intel processors, but for now I propose to return to reality and evaluate the capabilities of the AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ trio. They all belong to the same batch and were released in the 41st week of this year, as evidenced by the second line of the label: CCB2E 0541XPMW. Knowing the first line - ADA3800AA5CD– we can find out the characteristics of processors on the AMD website:

So, these are processors made on the Toledo core, which is halved in terms of cache memory, and we were told about their good overclocking potential back in the summer.

The CPU-Z utility claims that the processors are based on the Manchester core, formally this is true, but it would be more correct to say Toledo/512. This is exactly how the OverSoft CPU Informer 0.95 and RM CPU Clock Utility 1.8 utilities determine processors, but they were unable to correctly display the frequency when Cool"n"Quiet technology was enabled.

In the configuration of our open test bench no new elements appeared:

• Motherboard – Abit Fatal1ty AN8 SLI, rev. 1.0, BIOS 19;
• Memory – 2x512 MB Corsair CMX512-4400C25;
• Hard drive – Western Digital Raptor WD740GD;
• Cooler – Zalman CNPS9500 LED;
• Thermal paste – Zalman;
• Power supply – SilverStone Zeus ST65ZF (650W);
• Operating system – WinXP SP2.

The testing methodology has not changed either: we reduce the operating frequency of the memory and HyperTransport bus, select the best copy from the three using the SuperPi express test, and then conduct more detailed tests with it.

The first processor won my heart. It easily worked at a nominal voltage of 1.35 V and a x10 multiplier at a clock generator frequency of 260 MHz, but did not pass tests at 265 MHz. The second processor serial number differed from the first by only a few units, it turned out to be a little worse - at a frequency of 260 MHz the SuperPi test passed, and at 265 it was no longer able to load Windows. The third processor belonged to the same batch, but its serial number differed by several hundred, and it turned out to be the best, performing the test in SuperPi at a frequency of 275 MHz. At this frequency it failed to pass the test in S&M 1.7.6 beta, but passed it at a frequency of 270 MHz.

I was simply delighted - two cores at 2.7 GHz at a nominal voltage of 1.35 V - fantastic! The temperature during testing by the S&M utility at 100% load in the “norm” mode rose to only 53°C at room temperature 21°.

By the way, I tried to use the newfangled OCCT utility for tests. I don’t know what it checks and how it works, but, unlike S&M, it loads only one core, and it won’t start in two copies. During the test, the temperature only rose to 41°C.

I wouldn't blindly trust the CPU temperature readings on Abit board Fatal1ty AN8 SLI. Some time ago they were adjusted in the BIOS and seem to me to be somewhat underestimated, if only because at rest the temperature dropped to 28°C - something a bit low... However, this is not so important. The main thing is that the temperature is within normal limits, and the processor runs stably at 2.7 GHz. I was already looking forward to the same easy overclocking to 2.9 GHz, or even higher, but it turned out that the processor responded very poorly to increased voltage. 2.8 GHz is the maximum frequency of stable operation, and the voltage needed to be increased by only 0.1 V, to 1.45 V.

When heated with the S&M utility, the temperature increased to 62.6°C.

So, the tests are completed, but I really didn’t want to part with such a wonderful processor, although the day before I hadn’t even thought about the prospect of an upgrade. The gloomy introduction to this note spoils the impression and does not make it possible to convey the almost fan-like delight from such an easy and inspiring acceleration. The mind had to endure a difficult struggle with the Inner Voice.

Firstly, the processor is not cheap at all. (What about a gift for yourself for the New Year? New Year, gifts are sacred!) Secondly, next year there will be a transition to the new M2 socket. By the way, it is possible that the AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ processors will never switch to it, remaining on Socket 939. (Did you realize that you were being stupid? What do sockets and transitions have to do with it? now There will be a new beautiful dual processor that can easily run at 2.7 GHz. New processors will appear - then we’ll look at them. You can buy gifts for yourself in the middle of the year.) And most importantly, I don’t need a processor with two cores now. I don’t have any tasks that a single-core couldn’t handle.

The Inner Voice could not object and this time I managed to refrain from an unplanned upgrade. You will pay attention to the AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ if you really need dual-core processors. Similar Intel Pentium D processors based on the SmithField core have only one advantage - a lower price. The article "AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Review: Dual-Core and 64-bit Goes to the Masses" clearly shows the power of dual processors from AMD. At that time, the processor with the E4 revision core was only able to overclock to 2.4 GHz, and it looked very decent. Our current copy with overclocking to 2.7 GHz would tear all its rivals into small silicon crumbs.

The line of processors from AMD is one of the most popular and can compete on equal terms with Intel. The main advantage of processors from this manufacturer is the ability to overclock, while with Intel there may be many restrictions.

How to overclock AMD processors

Since the company relies on the ability to independently increase performance, you can use the official software for this purpose - AMD OverDrive. However, if you do not have the opportunity to use this program, then you can use the old method of overclocking through the BIOS, but in this case the risk of unsuccessful overclocking increases.

Option 1: AMD OverDrive

Conventionally, this option can be divided into three separate stages - preparation for overclocking, overclocking and tuning after overclocking. Let's look at each in more detail.

Preparatory stage

First, you need to make sure that the processor is supported by the program. It must have one of the following names: Hudson-D3, 770, 780/785/890 G, 790/990 X, 790/890 GX, 790/890/990 FX. A more detailed list of supported models can be viewed on the official AMD website.

If everything is fine with the processor, then you may need to set special settings or check their presence in the BIOS. The necessary settings are set according to the general instructions:

1. Go to BIOS. To do this, you need to restart your computer and until the Windows logo appears, click on Delete or keys F2-F12. Sometimes key combinations can be used to enter the BIOS, for example, Ctrl+F2. More details about how to enter the BIOS on your computer are written in the official documentation for it, but most often you use either the key to enter Delete, or F2.
2. Now go to the section "Advanced" or "CPU". The section name may vary depending on the BIOS version. Control is performed using the arrow keys on the keyboard and the key Enter to confirm your selection.
3. Find and select an item "AMD Cool 'n' Quiet". A menu will open where you need to set a value for it. Put "Disable".
4. You need to do the same with the points "C1E"(may also be called "Enhanced Halt State"), "Spread Spectrum" And "Smart CPU Fan Control". They are usually located in the same section as "AMD Cool 'n' Quiet", but some of them may not exist.

After completing the initial settings, you need to download the installation file from the official AMD website and begin installing the overclocking program. Fortunately, the whole process just boils down to confirming the actions and following the installer’s instructions. The only thing that deserves attention is the installer's warning. You need to carefully study it and confirm or reject further installation.

The message is entirely in English, but its essence boils down to the following:

• Incorrect actions to overclock and optimize the processor can lead to system slowdown, image display failures, damage to the motherboard, processor, power supply, cooler, reduced processor operating time, loss of user data, and complete computer breakdown;
• It is advisable to do all actions in the program in strict accordance with the instructions;
• For breakdown and/or loss of user data during use AMD programs does not bear any responsibility.

When you're done AMD installation OverDrive proceed to the next step.

Overclocking stage

Now you can move on to manipulations within the program itself:

This completes the main part of the overclocking.

Testing phase

There is nothing complicated here. All you have to do is use the computer at the specified frequencies for a while and see how much it has sped up and how stable it is.

It is recommended to monitor the processor temperature when running “heavy” programs and operations. At maximum load, the processor temperature should not exceed 80 degrees. If this value is exceeded, it is recommended to reduce the frequency.

Option 2: BIOS

You can overclock almost any processor through the BIOS, but this method has significant drawbacks. For example, you won't be able to track the temperature in real time, which is very important during overclocking. Another significant disadvantage of this option is the increased likelihood of harming the computer.

However, sometimes there may be no options other than BIOS. Before you start overclocking, read these instructions: