Either if the PC starts to slow down dramatically when we run relatively new programs or when we are playing the latest video game game purchased, or in the event that you really want to squeeze every computer hardware resource to the maximum, you can use some software to improve overall performance to the maximum, no need to change new internal parts. You can get to overclock components such as the processor or graphics card, or configure some internal Windows options to make it more fluid, faster and lighter on memory.
READ ALSO: Improve Windows 10 performance (also 7 and 8.1)
1) Overclocking
Overclocking is the procedure that allows you to increase the speed and performance of your computer's hardware components, so that they work above the capabilities set by the manufacturer.
PC component manufacturers, in fact, use cautious configurations, using balance to preserve the longevity of the parts.
In many cases it is possible for the user to unlock these limits, with the risk of stressing the components at a higher level than the specifications, thus decreasing their duration.
For a safe overclocking it is therefore important to proceed step by step, gradually increasing the speeds, testing from time to time until an acceptable and sustainable level is found.
Processor and RAM overclocking from UEFI settings
The processor and RAM should overclock them together, since increasing only one component will not have real benefits in terms of speed (bottlenecks would be created).
The safest way to overclock the CPU and RAM is to use the tools offered by the BIOS or better by UEFI, if possible.
To access the UEFI BIOS you have to press a key just turned on the PC (usually ESC, CANC, F1, F2 or F12 depending on the motherboard manufacturer.
We re-enter the BIOS or UEFI as seen earlier and, if we are really inexperienced, we take advantage of the overclocking features that the same motherboard can provide ( light overclocking ); usually the increments are very small and do not compromise the stability of the system, but allow to get even 400 MHz more on the CPU and 200 MHz and broken on the RAM!
So let's check if in the simplified screen of the UEFI there is a Boost mode, easily recognizable among the icons provided.
In this way, we will have obtained a light and easily manageable overclock from the system components, at the expense of a little more noise (especially with the standard heat sinks).
If we do not consider this overclock sufficient and / or we want to act manually, we open the UEFI advanced mode and go to the Ai Tweaker or Overclock screen .
With the fans at maximum cooling power, we increase the offsets for the Vcore and in parallel the CPU frequency by a few points, until the system is stable (checks the temperatures as detected by the motherboard).
On compatible processors we can also act on the multiplier to increase the CPU frequency (K models of Intel and AMD).
Let's go to the RAM section and proceed by increasing voltage (slowly) and frequency (very slowly), until a stable overclock is obtained.
NOTE : increasing the frequency increases the latency of the RAM, so we are aware of this limitation.
When everything is ready (hoping not to blow anything up!) We restart UEFI or the BIOS and check if Windows is stable, also using the programs that we have recommended to monitor the temperatures (we can later also adjust the speed of the fans to reduce noise but without exaggerating) and the stress test programs present at the end of the guide.
More easily and without having overclocking options on the UEFI BIOS, you can use the CPU and video card Overclocking programs described in another article.
Temperature control
Very important, when overclocking the CPU, it is keeping the heat generated under control.
Among the programs to control temperatures we mention:
- CPUID HWMonitor, to effectively control the temperatures of the CPU and the individual cores inside it.
- Core Temp shows all the temperatures as detected by the motherboard, the information relating to the temperature communicating the processor (Package and the various cores), the fan speed, the applied voltages and the GPU temperature in the video card.
- RealTemp which measures the temperature in real time precisely.
Cooling management
Linked to the discussion of internal PC temperatures, there is the management of cooling.
In another article we saw how to manage the PC fans for better cooling and air flow .
From the UEFI Bios you will find the Advanced mode and in the Monitor or Tweak section, you can check the rotation speed of the fans on the PC ( CPU Fan, Chassis Fan and others possibly present).
If present, you can activate the Turbo mode which is the maximum one or the User or Manual mode to manually set the maximum cooling speed (100% RPM).
If the motherboard is not very recent and has the classic BIOS we can try to install the SpeedFan program, downloadable for free from here -> SpeedFan .
In addition to showing the temperatures of all the main components of the PC, it allows you to adjust the speed of the fans using the items available below (at least on old BIOSes and compatible motherboards).
Another very interesting feature for those who overclock is the generation of temperature graphs for each component, so as to monitor the temperature trend in a certain period of time.
GPU overclocking
To enhance the graphics card or GPU you can use the Afterburner program already described in another article, which works with all video cards.
ASUS GPU Tweak II can be used on ASUS cards.
We can use both the predefined profiles dedicated to overclocking ( OC Mode ), so as to apply a light overclock and well managed by the video card, and switch to professional mode and decide how much to increase the voltage, the frequency (also for video memory) and the speed of rotation of the fans (possibly to always push to the maximum if we do not know how to intervene).
For the latter, we can also create the so-called cooling curve, that is, program the fan speed based on the temperature reached by the GPU at any time; to do this, just reach the fan control system ( GPU Fan Speed ) and use a customized profile.
General tips to avoid damage
Overclocking to improve PC performance may seem very easy, in reality it takes very little to destroy a good, perfectly functioning desktop PC !
To avoid mistakes and make safe overclocking we follow the advice of the experts that we have collected below:
- We try to keep the core temperatures of our CPU always below 80 ° C for Intel and 70 ° C for AMD (temperatures above these values for a long time can damage the CPU)
- For the GPU of the video card, the ideal temperatures are below 55-60 °
- We remove all dust from the fans and the heat sink
- We act if possible with open or semi-open houses to facilitate the passage of air
- CPUs usually turn off automatically when we exceed 95 ° C, we try to avoid reaching this value
- During the overclocking we must keep the CPU cooling system always at 100% (maximum fan speed) and slowly lower it to stable overclocking reached (take into account the reference temperature)
- We use air cooling systems with turret or liquid to obtain better results
- We carry out stress tests on Windows to check if the overclocking is stable at maximum load; we use Prime95 (CPU), MemTest86 (RAM) and 3DMark (video card) with the fans at maximum power, respecting the recommended temperatures.
2) Windows Tweaks
If you don't want to overclock hardware, those who know Windows know that there are many hidden options and more or less visible tools to use to optimize the system and make it faster than it is just installed.
To use all these tools and to apply those system changes without having to handle with registry keys or search in Windows settings, you can take advantage of some "all in one" programs that contain many different options to be activated or deactivated only by pressing a cross .
These types of programs have been grouped together in this blog under the name "Tweak" for Windows .
Among the best of these we can remember Winaero Tweaker, also reported in the list of programs to modify everything in Windows 10
In other articles, to do even more, we wrote:
- Speed up Windows 10, 7 and 8.1 with 10 hidden options
- Optimize Windows 7 for a fast PC and better performance
- Tricks to speed up Windows 10
