Over clock tools?
Over clock tools?
I assembled my setup using an AMD FX6350 and an Asus M5A97 R2.0 Mobo. So far, everything has worked as expected, handling my current game list smoothly. Clock speeds are around 3.9 GHz, reaching over 4.3 GHz when turbo is on. I achieve reasonable frame rates in most titles but would like to push them slightly higher.
I own the motherboard's TurboV EVO software, which lets me adjust settings manually or uses an auto-tuning feature. I also just installed AMD's Overdrive, though I haven't started it yet since a restart is required for completion.
My goal is only a modest performance boost—not aiming for record speeds or widespread praise. There might be games that need a bit more power than my current setup can provide.
Any suggestions regarding these tools?
I'm new to overclocking; my first attempt was tweaking a GTX 950 GPU (already factory overclocked -SSC version) and it froze into a black screen. The reset button saved the day!
Appreciate the help.
In Advanced Mode (F7), capture a screenshot of the [Advanced (i)] tab.
I need to know which BIOS options are available in the Advanced tab—some may be hidden, others will let you enable/disable or auto. This will reveal the BIOS features your motherboard supports.
Please send back your findings.
Note: Image 1 displays the System Performance option/triangle from Performance - Quiet - Energy Saving.
With three images on the right, the far-right one is your 'Performance' option (with the Flames), but you should check which options change, including the 'Monitor' page, when you select 'Performance', save BIOS settings, reset and return to BIOS, then review...
Hello there,
For optimal overclocking, it’s best to update your motherboard’s BIOS to the newest drivers. Then enter the BIOS and explore the available options (disable or enable them).
Do you currently use an aftermarket cooler?
What are your idle temperatures and what happens during full load?
Consider using stress testing tools such as Prime95.
It’s also useful to access AMD Overdrive to check your current settings and thermal margins. Remember, thermal margins indicate how much temperature is left before reaching the maximum safe levels for your CPU—if they’re between 0°C and 10°C, an aftermarket cooler should be considered.
AMD Overdrive will also display your voltage readings. If you prefer not to rely on BIOS, remember to reset your PC with each increase in CPU specs or voltage for stability.
It’s a good idea to download Prime95 and perform a benchmark stress test before any overclocking to compare current temperatures against future targets. Also, gradually adjust BCLK/Multiplier and voltage, increasing the voltage only after achieving stability.
Please share your confirmed temperatures, current voltage readings (idle, under load, stress tested), and whether you have an aftermarket cooler so we can plan the next steps effectively.
Hope this gives you a solid starting point.
Hello there,
You should be using the BIOS for any overclocking. Update your motherboard's BIOS to the newest drivers, then enter the BIOS and check what access you have—see which options you can turn off or enable.
Do you have an aftermarket cooler?
What are your current temperatures during idle and under full load?
It’s also a good idea to use stress testing software such as Prime95.
Opening up AMD Overdrive is recommended to view your present settings and check the Thermal Margins (remember, this indicates how many degrees remain before reaching the maximum safe temperatures for your CPU—if it's between 0C-10C, an aftermarket cooler should be considered).
AMD Overdrive also lets you monitor your voltage. If you prefer not to rely on BIOS, remember to reset your PC with each increase in CPU specs or voltage for stability.
Download Prime95 and perform a benchmark stress test before any overclocking to compare current temperatures. Also, proceed with small adjustments of BCLK/Multiplier and voltage only after achieving stability.
Please share your confirmed temperatures, the current voltage (idle, under load, and during stress testing), and whether you use an aftermarket cooler so we can plan the next steps effectively.
This should give you a solid starting point.
Yes, I have an aftermarket CPU—a CM Hyper 212 EVO. I’m very satisfied with it.
Idle temperature on the core fluctuates between 19°C and 26°C, mostly near the lower end. It can drop as low as 12°C when left in a cooler room (around 65-70°F).
I completed a stress test using both Prime95 and the CPU burner tool from EVGA’s OC Scanner. The CPU temperature never exceeded 46°C. Prime95 showed strong cooling performance, but even then it stayed below that mark. Under stress, AMD Overdrive displayed thermal margins of 24.8°C—excellent.
Voltage during stress was around 1.212, with a target speed of 1.2875. Idle sometimes dropped to about 0.825, but the variation is significant. This aligns with AMD’s power management design. Voltages can spike to 1.375 when the Turbo boost reaches 4.3GHz for short bursts.
AMD Overdrive does include a stability test feature. It lets you select tests over periods from one minute to seven days.
I believe I’ve addressed all your questions and am prepared to move forward.
Also, yes—the BIOS is up to date!
Initially, I focus on the metric units (Celsius), not the imperial ones (Fahrenheit). A suitable calculator would be beneficial. Would you like 'C' or 'F' next to a temperature reading, or should we use just one measurement format to avoid confusion? Because at first you mention 19-26 degrees and then talk about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit, assuming those are the same would result in -11°C below freezing.
I own the same cooler, the CM Hyper 212 Evo, which is excellent, reliable, quiet, and performs exceptionally for its price. Great choice for selecting it!
Also, are you referring to temperatures above your room settings? Because subtracting 65-70°F from a range of 16-26°C would leave you with only 1-7°C for the CPU, which is unlikely unless your PC is on. Temperatures under 15-20°C (around 35°C in room) can be risky, as they may cause condensation and potential CPU short circuits.
Next, 46 degrees with Prime95 stress testing looks promising.
Thermal margins at 24.8°C indicate you still have a comfortable buffer before hitting limits—definitely a good sign, allowing for overclocking.
If the voltage drops to .825, it suggests AMD Cool'n'Quiet is active in BIOS, which lowers both voltage and frequency when idle, helping save power.
First, turn off all Turbo features in BIOS, disable power-saving options, and adjust P-state and core C6 limits. Avoid disabling APM just yet; it might allow the CPU to exceed its TDP if not managed properly.
Once those are set, you can adjust the voltage settings gradually.
Begin with 1.212V at a standard clock speed of 3.9Ghz, then increase by 0.1Ghz (or 0.2Ghz if your clock is 200MHz instead of 100MHz) in BIOS. If that’s not an option, use AMD Overdrive.
Don’t jump directly to 4.3Ghz or higher voltages—slow the increase.
Run a stress test on Prime95; if no errors appear, repeat until you reach a stable frequency (around 4./4.3/4.4Ghz or higher). Only then proceed.
Increase voltage by 1 point at a time, from 1.212V to 1.230V or more, depending on your BIOS settings. If unavailable, use AMD Overdrive.
Avoid setting it directly above 1.45-1.5V unless necessary, as pushing too high can risk damage.
After stress testing and stability, if you hit a thermal margin below 10°C or an unstable frequency, increase voltage incrementally—repeat until you reach the safe limit.
Your guidelines:
- Keep thermal margins under 10°C
- Limit voltage to 1.45V–1.5V
- Monitor CPU temperatures (though this shouldn’t be a major concern)
- Have fun with overclocking, and I’m here to help you achieve your desired GHz if needed.
If you need clarification on BIOS options or which settings to adjust, feel free to share screenshots of the menus.
Cheers
EDIT: I’d prefer not to use AMD Overdrive’s automatic overclocking—it often exceeds what your CPU needs.
Prime95 is ideal for checking your temperatures, but you can run it alongside BIOS monitoring for extra peace of mind. Just don’t do it at the same time unless you’re sure.]
Thank you for the detailed information. I’ve also been working through the users guide, which contains a lot of details. The ASUS board offers many features and includes options to automatically overclock the CPU. I’m not sure how safe that is— the manual strongly advises installing an upgraded cooler, but it’s unclear how the software would determine what’s installed.
I apologize for the confusion regarding the temperature readings. I’m used to using Fahrenheit, as it’s my native unit, and I think I have a mixed approach when it comes to system temperatures. I generally understand what is acceptable in Celsius for my computers, but Fahrenheit helps me decide if I need to wear a jacket. It was quite late when I replied and I didn’t consider converting the numbers.
As I type, my room temperature is around 18-19°C, while the system displays temperatures near 12°C. Is that accurate? Can the 212 EVO cool below the room temperature? I wonder if it’s possible using similar heat pipe principles as refrigeration. I’m not sure.
When I’m ready, I’ll let you know the outcome.
Also, I’ve seen YouTube videos where systems are tested for FPS ratings across different games. Do you know what software they use for that?
Thanks again for your helpful answer.
In any case, I plan to get familiar with the BIOS before making any changes. The ASUS system should have an "F12" print screen feature in the BIOS, so I’ll try that out.
Understanding all BIOS options before making any overclocking adjustments is essential. If you're uncertain about a feature, avoid interacting with it until you have more information or seek further clarification. The mentioned temperatures of 12 degrees C are likely calculated from CPU and ambient temperatures using the formula (CPU temps) - (ambient temps) = 12 degrees C. However, this can vary depending on the application used for monitoring. I suspect the 212 Evo won't cool your CPU below room temperature ambient levels, as I haven't experienced it with my current configuration. For instance, during idle, I typically see temperatures between 34-38 degrees C in a room around 20C, which means my CPU temps are around 14-18 degrees C—similar to what you mentioned. This explanation makes sense. It would be clearer if you could observe the actual temperatures (room temperature plus CPU temps) since that reflects the real CPU temperature. Otherwise, with your setup, try keeping CPU temps at a maximum of about 45-50 degrees Celsius to allow for ambient fluctuations. This approach provides flexibility. Does this make sense? Enjoy discovering what your motherboard can do!
Sorry for the delay in replying; things have been quite busy.
I'm trying to understand how various programs track CPU temperatures. The core temperature is displaying 24°C, while HWiNFO64 and Core Temp show 40°C. My ambient temperature is around 18°C. How can I estimate the actual CPU temperature from these readings? Also, I've heard that AMD sensors only provide reference values—they don't actually measure real temps. Is that accurate?
I also wanted to know how to keep an eye on FPS while gaming. Using EVGA Precision X showed rates fluctuating between 24 and 200 FPS depending on the screen activity during a trial of Battlefield 4. I only have four days left before the game ends. Are there other tools I can use to monitor this? I'm curious to see what happens when I attempt overclocking. Many settings were optimized by Nvidia Geforce, and the graphics performed well with smooth performance.
Additionally, I read that enabling Cool'n'Quiet might cause stutters during games, especially in titles like Diablo 3. It seems like a trade-off I could consider for now.
Everything is moving fast, but I'm trying to step away from gaming and experiment with overclocking instead. I didn't spend all the money on unlocked hardware just to try it out.
Thanks again!
For temperature tracking, rely on AMD OverDrive (viewing 'Thermal Margins' under CPU view, also known as TM). This tool accurately shows how much cooling capacity remains before the processor shuts down to prevent damage. It’s the most reliable software for this purpose. If you need more precision, consider CoreTemp, though I prefer AMD OverDrive. For frame rate monitoring, use RivaTurner with the appropriate game executable and configure the FPS display as desired. Any concerns about setting up the FPS counter in RivaTurner? Feel free to ask. It took some time to figure out how to enable it—either by adjusting a slider or pressing a button. Also, make sure to disable Cool'n'Quiet in your BIOS if you’re gaming; leaving it on can lead to stuttering and other issues. Aim for a stable CPU clock rather than using stock with turbo enabled, as even minor fluctuations between power states may cause problems. Avoid depending on third-party tools for temperature readings—AMD OverDrive is the best choice for both CPU and motherboard monitoring. Cheers
Hello! I reviewed the BIOS or UEFI settings and tried turning off the Cool n' Quiet option. I chose the "Always disable" setting, saved it, but the system froze during boot. Switching to "disable by CPU" caused a BSOD, and each time I needed to use the reset button to return to BIOS. Did I make a mistake?