There are several ways to optimize or configure your PC's processor (CPU), graphics card, or even RAM memory to improve overall computer performance. Thanks to some programs it is no longer necessary, as it once was, to go to touch the BIOS options and you can change the speed of the processors via software, with tools, more or less, simple to use or in any case more intuitive and safe . This article will not be so much a guide of how to do it but a list of the best free programs released by the same CPU and video card manufacturers, to be used according to the type of computer you have.
In general, they can also be used by experimenting even if it is always necessary to keep in mind that, increasing the speed (or Clock) of the processors leads, in addition to an increase in speed, also a greater consumption of energy and of the heat given off. In addition, you need to change the power of the CPU and the video card, without exaggerating, step by step, trying to use the automatic options as much as possible and checking, every time you increase the speed, that the computer remains stable and does not give errors. Obviously their use is not absolutely mandatory, these are programs that can entertain the most geeks and those who want a better computer possible with the components it has.
1) AMD Wattman
If your computer uses an AMD CPU, you can adjust its performance settings, speed and even CPU and RAM memory management directly from the Radeon control software. AMD Wattman (for older video cards is found with the name AMD OverDrive ) is a free program also quite simple to use thanks to the semi-automatic procedures to test the changes. The software allows you to control the speed of the fans and provides diagnostic tools to solve any problems with the PC components. With this utility you can manage the functions of the graphics card, enable graphics acceleration, change the power of the GPU and configure the displays.
Wattman is located on the Games tab of the AMD Control Center settings. is the program to manage the performance of the graphics card. Wattman's settings are the default GPU settings, so if you load a stable overclocking configuration into Wattman, it will be loaded the next time it starts. With Wattman you can manage the memory timing to add some extra FPS to games.
You can read a detailed guide on how to use it to overclock the AMD graphics card in another article.
2) Sapphire Trixx, for overclocking AMD Sapphire video cards. In addition to Overdrive or Wattman, it is possible to download and install Trixx to get the most out of the video card and perform a more decisive, more delicate overclock, but which can give more satisfaction. Its main disadvantage is the limited support for overvoltage and since heavy overclocking depends on the increase of the core voltage, even if the voltage regulation does not cancel the warranty in most cases, the overloaded chips can generate a lot of heat by consuming energy with the risk of damaging the components. Trixx is therefore for experts, for those who have an adequate cooling system for their video card.
3) Intel XTU (Extreme Tuning Utility)
This is the program for Intel processors to configure CPU performance and seek a balance in parameters to increase their speed.
Using XTU, it is also possible to activate a technology called Turbo Boost to obtain maximum performance without risking problems.
For older Intel video cards, you can download Intel Desktop Control Center no longer updated since 2011.
4) NVIDIA Control Panel
This is the control panel for NVIDIA video cards so you can change all your graphics card settings in one place.
In addition to several basic options, it also offers some other utilities to manage CPU, motherboard, memory and power.
For older Nvidia video cards you can also download nTune even if it hasn't been updated since 2007.
5) MSI Afterburner is a very popular app because it works with everything, both with NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards and with ATI Radeons.
With Afterburner it is possible to overclock the processor, adjust the fan speed, adjust the voltage and control the clock speed, temperature and other settings, all from the desktop.
READ ALSO: GPU Overclock: Guide to enhance the graphics card with Afterburner
6) EVGA Precision X 1 is a program similar to MSI Afterburner, specialized for NVidia GeForce processors. The Precision X program allows you to adjust the voltage, the speed of the fans and create personalized and automatic profiles to be activated in different conditions. The Precision X1 "OC scanner" has one key feature: the ability to automate the overclocking process, testing a variety of clock speeds and voltages to identify stable overclocking for your computer.
7) AMD Ryzen Master, for overclocking the Ryzen processor.
8) CPUID.com is a site that offers several small tools for monitoring CPU and video card performance.
The most popular programs are CPU-Z (mentioned in the post on RAM test, temperature, CPU overclocking, video cards and peripheral stability check), TMonitor and HWMonitor (mentioned among the programs to control the heat and temperature of the PC)
In another article there are also other programs to overclock the CPU processor and video card to increase PC performance
These above are just a few programs to use to change the speeds of CPU and GPU processors, but they are the easiest to use and also the most tested.
