How To Tell If a Motherboard Supports Overclocking?
Overclocking is prominent- How to Tell If a Motherboard Supports Overclocking? It is a great idea to make your CPU run faster than its original speed by using the setting present on the motherboard. But, it costs increasing heat production results possible reduction of lifespan. So, if you’re interested in overclocking, it’s a must to have the right type of motherboard that supports overclocking. Because the majority of CPUs and motherboards’ multipliers are locked and unable to hold up overclocking. Here are some ways to find out if a motherboard supports overclocking. Let’s find out!
How to Tell If a Motherboard Supports Overclocking?
What is Overclocking?
Overclocking is the strategy of increasing the clock rate of a computer operating speed that is certified by the manufacturer. Normally, the target of overclocking is to improve the performance of a major chip or subsystem, like the main processor or graphics controller. But other components such as system memory (RAM) or system buses (generally on the motherboard) are frequently involved.
Facts of Consideration
Factors that enable the process of successful overclocking are having a well-designed motherboard with a fast enough bus or having a fan or other cooling devices that will keep your system cool enough.
Another factor you should take your consideration is the actual overclocking-related features of the motherboard you own. Any motherboard that has the overclock feature will be able to overclock, but some motherboards have built-in tools to make the procedure easier. For example, some ASUS and MSI motherboards essentially have an automated overclock feature. Just click the BIOS (software that controls the motherboard), and it will automatically load up a stable overclock.
Choosing the write model
Overclocking is not as complex as you might assume. But the issue of overclocking gets a bit more complicated with the motherboard. So it is indispensable to choose the right motherboard, if not it can cause drastic harm to your hardware.
For Intel chips, a motherboard that has a “Z” in the chipset name must be in your thought. The Z170 and Z270 motherboards are both compatible with the recently released Intel CPU i7-7700k. AMD, on the other hand, is a bit different. Most of their motherboards are overclock-enabled, but before deciding whatever motherboard you are considering buying, you should look over the manufacturer’s website.
In Short:
Intel; all motherboards design with “Z”, (Z170)
AMD; most of the AMD motherboards support overclocking
How to Overclock?
Now, if you’re almost ready to start the motherboard overclocking process. There are three methods to choose from:
Use the motherboard’s automatic overclocking tools. Go through your motherboard’s manual for additional details – this formula is useful for those who are new to overclocking but doesn’t always give the best results in terms of performance.
If you’ve automatically overclocked before, you’ll notice it tends to increase the voltage too much too early, causing the temperature to rise too high making your PC wobbly.
Use your operating system’s software to manually overclock. This is the simplest way to overclock GPU.
Manually overclock in your motherboard’s BIOS. It’s more stable and you’ll execute remarkably improved performance by using the BIOS to overclock.
Firstly, back up all the important data, check that you’re running the latest version of your motherboard’s BIOS and, install the following free software. You can use this to verify if your system is safe for the overclocking process:
CPU-Z: uses real-time information to monitor your processor’s clock speed and to check the voltage being applied.
Prime95: check if your systems’ stability overextends period.
Real Temp: keep an eye on the temperature of your CPU and allows you to ensure it doesn’t go over 70 degrees (which means your CPU is at full capacity)
Risk and Possible Damages
If you have an automated overclocking featured motherboard, take note; the system is NOT perfect. Usually, the automated overclocks are a bit conventional, which assures a higher level of stability, at the cost of not fully utilizing the potential of your chip. If you’re a dabbler who wants to get every drop of performance out of your system, a manual overclock of the motherboard is much more effective.
To go contiguous with your overclock-able CPU, you need a motherboard that supports overclocking. For Intel, any motherboard with “Z” designation, including the Z77, the Z87, or the recent Z97, (depends on the socket you have). Things are a bit easier on the AMD side in that most motherboards support overclocking of some sort. However, take into account that, overclocking increases the amount of power flowing through the motherboard to the CPU. That power is implemented by a section of a motherboard called the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM).
You can damage your motherboard if you pair a power-hungry CPU with a low-cost motherboard, and then proceed to overclock it. If honestly speaking about Intel, their existing elementary chipsets don’t support overclocking, which mitigates this problem, unlike AMD which is much more moderate (80$ BX50-class board).
Precautions
It will not harm your CPU or motherboard if overclocking is for the short term or you have a good cooling system that can take care of extra heat produced due to overclocking. Also, thermal garroting will occur if the temps surpass the safe range of operation of the CPU to keep the temps in check.
Before You Overclock Your Motherboard…You must look out for additional cooling. As overclocking causes your CPU to produce additional heat, you’ll need to prevent your system from becoming too hot – otherwise, it’ll result in hardware damage.
Make sure there’s good airflow throughout the PC’s case. To make the overclocking process more secure, make sure you properly remove the heat from CPU.
Heat sinks work well. Try to buy in an additional heat sink or a more powerful CPU fan to help remove the heat faster.
Water cooling works better than air cooling. Any heat inside your PC’s case will be captivated by the water and then pumped out and oust into the air. If you prefer air cooling, the Noctua NH-D15 is well-known for its great cooling performance.
The most important thing to consider is if your CPU and Motherboard even support overclocking. For Intel computers, any CPU with a “K” on the end of its name, such as i7-7700k, will be able to overclock. AMD has somewhat different rules, with many more of their CPUs being unlocked for overclockers to tinker with. Always check the exact SKU that you’re seeking on the manufacturer’s website, and be sure that it’s unlocked!
Those cheapest motherboards available in the market usually can’t convey much more power than the CPU lineup requires at stock speed. So, if you plan to overclock your motherboard for a better CPU experience you must inspect that if your motherboard supports overclocking. Otherwise, it will cost extreme hardware damage.
About the Author Michael E. Yates
Hi! The words you are going to read comes from me! A geek passionately and a writer of 5+ years professionally. If you ask about my likings, well, I love to tag along with upcoming technology trends. Though I also have contributed to many more technology sites through my writings. If you ask about my dreams, then one of them is finding an instant solution for every device malfunction, so I am creating a blog post. A blog post that will help more people like me. I, introduce thepcstuff.com the result of my hard work and patience. Do not worry, with me and my team behind the computers will make sure every vital information related to technology reaches all of you people. So, if you are ready to go on an adventurous ride with thepcstuff.com and me, let's get started!
