OC Newbie! Advice requested
OC Newbie! Advice requested
Hello everyone! So I've never overclocked before but I want to. I dont have any reason to except for simply learning how.
I will say that I have no idea what I'm doing and Tom's has never let me down before. I have:
AMD Athlon 860K
MSI A88X-G45 Motherboard
16 GB 1333 Ram
R9 380 GPU (not sure if this is relevant)
I just did a BIOS update a few days ago, and here is what ive got:
Alrighty then... So now what
The Athlon 860K features an unlocked multiplier in the BIOS, which you must adjust slightly for overclocking. Initially, gather necessary tools and preparations. Use a quality CPU cooler, Inet BurnTest Tool (IBT), Prime95, and a comprehensive game. Once everything is ready, enter the BIOS settings and increase the multiplier slightly—such as from 37 to 39 for a 3.9 GHz boost. After that, restart Windows and run IBT Test for 20 passes. If it fails, consider raising your CPU voltage a bit more via BIOS, but be cautious not to exceed safe limits. Increase by small increments of 0.02 or 0.01 volts until the test succeeds. Monitor CPU temperature closely to ensure it stays below 80°C. Once successful, continue with Prime95 for at least 24 hours; this will significantly heat up your CPU. If you pass, you’ve achieved a stable overclock—if not, adjust voltage further. You can progress step by step and stop when the temperature reaches 80°C on Prime95. For maximum performance, use a better cooler to push your overclock further. Good luck!