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Do you want yourPCto get that extra power that’ll let it run games and other applications better? Well, then it’s very likely that you’ve started looking into overclocking your gaming PC. While the internet might have you believe that overclocking is a sort of dark art that only the most tech-loving individuals can master, that isn’t the case at all.
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Of course, overclocking still comes with risks like overheating and system instability. Additionally, there’s also the fact that you’re able to overclock both your GPU and CPU, something most beginners don’t know. To ensure you’re able to safely overclock your gaming PC, here’s with an easy-to-follow guide that includes everything you need to know about it.
If done incorrectly, overclocking can cause damage to your PC. Please make sure you understand the procedure fully before overclocking.
What Is Overclocking?
Overclocking refers to running your GPU, CPU, or both at higher clock speeds than their default settings.By default, both of these components run at conservative and stable clock speeds that are determined by the manufacturers. However, by overclocking these components, it’s possible to force them to operate faster and handle more processing.
The core idea behind overclocking isbringing out more power from GPUs and CPUs.After all, the default clock speeds of both components leave some extra frequency wiggle room that goes unused. It’s that wiggle room that overclocking takes advantage of to avail multiple benefits.
The Benefits Of Overclocking
Some of the most popular advantages of overclocking your PC are:
Understanding The Risks
While there are indeed a bunch of benefits to overclocking your gaming PC, there are also many risks involved with it.
Explanation
Thermal Throttling
Overclocking generates more heat. If you don’t manage this by installing coolers then the higher temperature can damage your GPU and CPU.
Component Stress
By overclocking your PC,you’re pushing your components past their set limits. This can potentially lead to a shorter lifespan for those said components.
Warranty Voiding
Many manufacturers void the warranty if they find out that a component has been overclocked.This is important to consider before deciding whether to overclock your PC.
Before You Begin
If you went through both the advantages and potential risks of overclocking your PC and still want to go through with it then that’s great. However,there are a couple of steps you should take first to ensure the overclocking process is as safe as possible.
The one thing you should do regardless of whether you’re overclocking your GPU or CPU isto benchmark your components at completely stock settings. Note the average clock speeds and temperature, writing them down somewhere to use them as a baseline for comparing overclocking gains.
Steps To Take Before Overclocking Your GPU
Before overclocking your GPU, it’s always a good idea to open up your PC case and do some spring cleaning. Ensure that the cables are routed properly and there’senough airflow to manage the higher temperaturethat’ll be produced as a result of the extra power consumption.
Speaking of power consumption, you should alsomake sure that your power supply is powerful enough to handle the extra load.If you’re barely scraping by with the wiggle room of around 100 watts then it might be a good idea to get a better-rated PSU.
Aside from that, it’s always recommended that you keep your GPU updated. Update the drivers and verify all the latest bug fixes and stability enhancements are in place.
Steps To Take Before Overclocking Your CPU
Similar to your GPU, you also want toensure that your CPU has enough airflow to manage the incoming higher temperatures.It’s always a good idea toinstall an air cooler on your CPUto give it that extra cooling factor, or even water cooling if you’re feeling confident.
You should also make sure thatyour CPU and motherboard both support overclocking.While most modern components support overclocking, you should definitely check your hardware’s specifications if you aren’t sure.
Related:A Beginner’s Guide To PC Case Sizes
Overclocking Your GPU
Now that you know everything you need to know about the lead-up to overclocking your gaming PC, it’s time to go through how you can overclock your GPU.
There are multiple ways to overclock your GPU, butthe fastest and most beginner-friendly way is through software utilities.
Using MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is what most PC gamers believe isthe easiest software to use if you want to overclock your gaming GPU.Perhaps the best thing about it is that it works for both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs.
To overclock your GPU using MSI Afterburner you should follow the steps below:
Using NVIDIA Control Panel and Radeon Software
Alternatively, if you would rather trust the official software options of the GPU manufacturers, then that’s also possible for both NVIDIA and AMD GPU users.
Overclocking Your CPU
There are also multiple methods you may use to overclock your CPU, like Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility or AMD’s Ryzen Master. However, theBIOSis by far the easiest way to overclock your CPU.
Because every BIOS is different, the labels and locations of certain settings might be different. Therefore, don’t be afraid to do a little digging around to find what you’re looking for.
