the overclocking it is nothing more than increasing the clock speed of a processor above the factory value. There are models within a family of processors that have the ability to increase their performance beyond other more expensive models. How to identify which processor models are the fastest? So who benefits the most?
Not all processors have the ability to receive an increase in their clock speed, specified in MHz or GHz in their technical specifications. Since it will depend on the type of computer they were designed for. So the processors no overclocking capabilities will be those designed for very low power systems and passive cooling systems or almost non-existent. While at the opposite end of the scale, those designed to work with a Very high TDP
That is why if we have acquired the necessary parts to have a tower with a good cooling system, we will be very interested in an Intel or AMD processor that we can overclock. The reason behind this is none other than deep inside us, we buy a processor at a lower price than the one that gives us its performance compared to others of the same family. Let’s see how to identify them.
What is the best Intel or AMD processor for overclocking?
The first thing to keep in mind is that not all processors are suitable for overclocking. However, this is something we can easily tell for desktop processors just by looking at the name of the processor.
- And the name of an AMD processor ends with X this means then that it is prepared for serial overclocking and, therefore, we will be able to vary the clock speed of the processor.
- In the case of Intel processors, these carry the slogan unlocked in the box.
Another way to tell is by the TDP of the processor, usually those with a TDP of 65 W are not suitable for overclocking. On the other hand, those that reach this value with more than 100 W have this capacity. This is why it is important to look at the specifications of the future processor of your PC on the official pages of Intel and AMD. Another point you need to consider is the motherboard, the cheapest chipsets usually do not support overclocking functions.
Special cases
Since we cannot guarantee that all processors on the same wafer will come out exactly the same. In some cases, it may even be that a particular CPU model shipment can achieve higher clock speeds than officially specified. Of course, in return for this much higher consumption. These models are usually detected in quality tests and often labeled as higher range models. So it’s very difficult for that to happen and it’s like finding a gold nugget.
We also cannot forget when a specific model of processor appears on the market and it is discovered that it has a very large overclocking margin. This allows users to go further than other more expensive models. Like the previous case, this is not the norm, but if it usually happens, it has the consequence of removing the CPU that was obsolete and a possible price increase. Let’s not forget that in the world of processors, the main value is processing capacity. In other words, the faster it is, the more expensive it is.