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They also handily monitor clock speed, power consumption and device temperature. The old-fashioned way is to go through BIOS, but there are now software assistants available from Intel and AMD, which can control a compatible CPU from the desktop. Once you've confirmed that the chip can be overclocked, there are a few paths to enabling it in your operating system. Make sure your system is clean and dust-free, as dust will exacerbate overheating and performance issues. (You can also see your processor's current speed under "base speed" in the bottom-right of the Performance tab.)
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The manufacturer's website will likely be the best resource for finding the exact specs and features of the component. You can check your CPU's exact model designation in Windows by opening the Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC), clicking over the Performance tab, and finding it listed just under the CPU section. Many consumer-grade chips, especially those in laptops, have this feature permanently locked away. Older CPUs measured in megahertz, or millions of cycles per second.įirst thing, check if your particular processor is able to be overclocked. In 2021, consumer processors can commonly be found running between 2 and 5 gigahertz speeds. The clock speed measures the number of cycles a CPU can execute per second, measured in gigahertz, or billions of cycles per second. The clock speed of any given CPU is managed by its controller software, called BIOS. This rating is a multiple of the clock speed, measured as a frequency in hertz. However, the practice comes with the downsides of greater power consumption and heat buildup, and may be discouraged by manufacturers.Įvery computer processor, be it a CPU or GPU (graphics processing unit) comes with a factory speed rating.
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While overclocked, a computer's CPU or central processing unit (the electronic circuitry that executes computer program instructions), can do more tasks at once, render media faster or display video games at higher frame rates. Overclocking, in simple terms, allows computer hardware to run at speeds faster than the manufacturer intended. A technician lays a CPU chip in the motherboard's socket of a computer.
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