How to Overclock Ryzen 7 2700x Step By Step Guide
The processors from Ryzen 7 series are considered one of the most powerful series-produced by AMD Ryzen. In this series, the 2700x comes with eight cores and sixteen threads to produce tremendous power. But still, gamers always want to squeeze more juice for enhanced power, and overclocking the CPU is the best option in this matter.
By knowing how to overclock Ryzen 7 2700x, you can take your PC to the ultimate power level. No matter how much pressure you put on the processor after overclocking, the CPU will easily handle the situation. You will also have a buttery smooth, and blazing fast user experience.
What is Overclocking of a CPU
The term clock speed of a computer processor refers to how quickly retrieving and interpreting instructions can be done. If the processor of your computer has a higher clock speed, then it is capable of completing more tasks by getting them done faster.
Clock speeds are measured in gigahertz (GHz), and now overclocking the CPU means speeding up the performance of that CPU. By overclocking a CPU, you can make the PC system run at a higher speed and enhance the operational performance per second.
Ryzen AMD Ryzen 7 2700x has a 3.7Ghz clock speed. some chip such as the Intel i7 7700k has a clock speed of 4.5Ghz on default and it is possible to get more from that chip by overclocking the Intel i7 7700k.
You can’t just start overclocking your Ryzen 7 2700x processor out of nowhere without considering the surroundings. Consider some crucial factors before you start overclocking this CPU from AMD Ryzen. Those essential factors are:
Motherboard
The motherboards play a vital role in the entire PC system. If you have made up your mind about overclocking the CPU, you need to make a list of the best possible motherboards first. These need to be powerful and capable enough to handle the overclocking pressure of the Central Processing Unit.
The high-quality motherboards are crucial in the entire process of overclocking. So, it is better if your system consists of aftermarket motherboards, or you can purchase one if you don’t have one. You can consider using either the MSI X470 Pro Carbon or the Gigabyte X470 Aorus Ultra, as both can handle overclocking pretty well.
Cooling System
You might not have given enough concentration to the cooling system, but you must. Overclocking a CPU generates enormous heat, which is not that much easy to handle. Even the stock cooler of the Ryzen 7 2700x will face difficulties to cool down the system heat up caused by overclocking.
That’s why you should think of a powerful cooling system to cope with the enormous heat. A high-end aftermarket CPU Air or Liquid cooler can be the perfect cooling system for overclocking the AMD Ryzen 7 2700x. If there is a chance of the system getting too hot, a liquid cooler will be a better choice.
How to Overclock Ryzen 7 2700x – The Step-by-Step Process that You Must Go Through
The AMD Ryzen 7 2700x is quite a powerful processor itself to be a part of your computer system. It is a CPU that is highly capable of providing powerful multi-processing performance. In addition, the availability of a 3.7 GHz Eight-Core AM4 Processor has made it powerful enough to deal with heavy pressure situations.
You will get a 3.7 GHz of base clock speed from this amazing CPU from the Ryzen 7 series. While boosted, you will get a maximum turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz out of it. It will be beneficial for both official tasks and gaming performance. Before we start discussing the process, let’s assume we are using the X470 motherboard.
Now let’s see the steps to follow for overclocking your AMD Ryzen 7 2700x processor for boosted frequency:
Step-1: Set the Processor Up for Overclocking
The first thing in the process is obviously setting up the processor. In this matter, the first difficulty that you will face is the lack of headroom for overclocking. But still, there is a path available for pushing your CPU to gain the maximum clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
As this is the limit of your processor, you can run a stress test on the CPU according to that. This stress testing is for pushing the CPU of your PC system to the maximum capacity it can bear. You can perform this testing procedure through some computer applications like Prime95 and Cine Bench.
While you are running the test, the processor will be operating at the highest possible potential. At that period, you will have to note the voltage frequency and temperature down for further usage later.
By performing this stress test, you will be able to gather information about the clock speed, voltage, and safe temperature range of each core of the processor.
Step-2: Enter into BIOS and Adjust the CPU Ratio
After you have gathered the information from the stress test of the processor, you need to restart your PC. Then it is time for entering into the BIOS settings section of your computer. The next task is to locate the “OC Tab” from BIOS and navigate to the “CPU Ratio” option situated below it.
It is also known as the CPU multiplier, as we are discussing the procedure according to the MSI X470 Carbon Pro motherboard. By default, the “CPU Ratio” will be set to “Auto,” and you need to change it to 42 in the given box, beside the option.
Step-3: Calibration of the CPU Load Line
After changing the “CPU Ratio,” it is time for CPU Load Line Calibration or also known as LLC. If the processor is going through a heavy workload, and suddenly there is a voltage drop, this CPU Load Line Calibration comes into the game. At that time, this LLC supports the processor with extra voltage for continuing the operational process.
The extra voltage provided by LLC is for the stabilization of the processor as it is going through a heavy workload. Now for CPU overclocking, you will have to make some changes in the settings section of LLC. At first, you will have to enter the control panel section of the CPU Load-Line Calibration.
In the control panel, you will see the mode is set to “Auto” by default, like the previous one. Then you need to change it and set it to either “Mode 3” or “Mode 4” as per the requirement.
Step-4: Adjustment of the Core Voltage of the CPU
After adjusting the mode of the LLC, you need to go back to the main “OC Tab” to make further changes in the core voltage of the CPU. While on this tab, keep scrolling downwards until you locate the CPU Core Voltage option. This section of settings is mainly for controlling the amount of voltage supplied to the CPU.
The voltage you have noted down during the stress test will come into play in this case. Let’s assume the values count while stress testing was 3900 MHz at 1.28V, which can differ based on your experiments. As you are wanting to overclock the speed, you will require more voltage than 1.28V to get the job done.
That’s why you need to access the given box beside the “CPU Core Voltage” first. In that box, change the older voltage amount to 1.35V for overclocking 3.9 GHz speed to 4.3 GHz.
Step-5: Save the Changes and Exit
By doing all these, you have completed all the changes that were required for your AMD Ryzen 7 2700x CPU overclocking. You will have to press F10 to save the changes you made recently in the BIOS section. As a result, a small window containing the summary of all the changes will pop up on the screen.
You need to select the “Yes” button and finally apply those changes for overclocking your CPU. As you pressed the F10 button a while ago, your computer will restart itself after selecting the “Yes” option.
Step-6: Test the New Overclock Settings
Now, as you have made all those changes in the BIOS settings section, it is time for testing those new overclock settings. If everything is in the proper position, you will be able to log into Windows Operating System without any problem. But problems like system crashes can also appear if the voltage is still low.
Then you need to increase the voltage as you increased it from 1.28 to 1.35. In this case, you will have to increase it gradually by 0.0125V at a time up to 1.45V until the system starts operating correctly. When all these are done, for more safety, you can run a stress test as well to check the stability of the system.
When all these are done, you should try installing a CPU cooler. When you will put on a heavy workload, with the help of a CPU cooler, the processor won’t remain hot for a longer period.
Benefits of Overclocking the AMD Ryzen 7 2700x
Before you get benefits from overclocking your AMD Ryzen processor, make sure you have performed the overclocking procedure perfectly. Only then you will be able to gain benefits from this action. Though it might increase the power consumption rate, it won’t be a serious matter to think about.
The possible benefits that you will get from overclocking this Ryzen 7 2700x CPU are:
- The proper implementing procedure will allow this processor from Ryzen 7 series to operate at higher clock speeds than usual times
- You will be able to complete the resource-intensive tasks faster and more smoothly without facing lags or hiccups
- Professional tasks like photo and video editing or gaming will feel buttery smooth along with improving your performance in those sectors
- By overclocking this AMD Ryzen 7 2700x, your computer will feel snappier than ever before with a visible difference
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I overclock the Ryzen 7 2700x from its base clock speed?
The AMD Ryzen 7 2700x comes with an amazing stock clock speed of 3.7 GHz. But still, if you need more power and enhanced performance from this CPU, you can try overclocking it. In most cases, the boost clock speed will be near 4.1 GHz to 4.2 GHz.
But if you have good samples of this processor from Ryzen 7 series, you can boost it up to 4.3 GHz to 4.4 GHz.
What is the minimum voltage supply requirement while overclocking the Ryzen 7 2700x processor?
Before overclocking, you will get a 3.7 GHz clock speed of 1.28V in maximum scenarios. While overclocking, you can set it to 1.35V from the BIOS settings section. But if it still doesn’t work, you need to increase the voltage even more to avoid system crashes.
In this matter, you will have to increase the voltage by 0.0125V at a time gradually and check. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700x can handle up to 1.45V without causing any harm to itself.
Is overclocking the Ryzen 7 2700x capable enough to meet the expectation?
The AMD Ryzen 7 2700x is a powerful CPU itself with the capability of handling high-end PC systems. If you want to overclock its base speed, you can try so, and you won’t be dissatisfied. Proper implantation of overclocking will boost the speed to at least 4.3 GHz, which is enormous.
As a result, your computer will operate at a buttery smooth rate without any lags, hangs, or hiccups.
Final Thoughts
Overclocking the CPU from its base speed is not a rare idea anymore. Many users worldwide are performing this to enhance the performance of their PC systems. You can also strengthen the power of your PC system if you know how to overclock Ryzen 7 2700x.
The overall process isn’t complex if you follow the correct path with all the necessary overclocking stuff. Once you boost the base clock speed to the maximum level, you will get a smooth and lag-free user experience. Along with these, you should try installing a CPU cooler to keep the system cool.