Best BIOS Settings to Disable/Enable when Overclocking Intel-based CPU?

[IAreKyleW00t]

Hello,

I have an Intel i5 2500k that I want to overclock. I forgot which settings should be disabled/enabled in the BIOS to give the best and most stable results. (Eg: Constant Voltage, Constant Multiplier, etc.) I'm running this on a MSI Z77A-GD55 motherboard.

If possible, please explain the reasoning as to why each setting should be enabled/disabled. Might help people like me learn a few things. 😛

Thanks.

(Sorry if this has been posted before and I missed it).

 

[REALIllusion]

Enable power-saving features: Once you've overclocked, your processor will likely stay at that speed all the time, constantly drawing extra power (and producing extra heat). Luckily, your motherboard probably has some built-in power-saving features, like Intel's C-states or Speedstep. Once you're done overclocking, you can re-enable these, which will cause your CPU to "drop down" to slower speeds and smaller voltages when it's idle. However: you may need to play around with the settings on your individual motherboard. For example, on my MSI motherboard, I had to use the per-core overclocking setting in "CPU Features" in order for this to work (see below)—just setting the multiplier in the main settings wouldn't let me re-enable C-States. Other motherboards may require you to use something called "Adaptive Mode" for your voltages. Do some research on your specific board if you want to re-enable these power saving settings.

Clock your RAM: When you first build your computer, your RAM doesn't default to running at its rated speed. In fact, it's probably running at a slower speed than designed. If you want it to run faster (which doesn't make a difference in most applications, but can in virtual machines or some more recent games), you can set your RAM speed and voltage in the BIOS according to its specs. You may want to run a Prime95 Blend test (instead of Small FFT) afterwards to ensure it's stable, or try a few runs of Memtest86.

Enable per-core overclocking: most modern CPUs also allow for per-core overclocking, allowing you to get even higher clocks when your computer is only using one or two cores. This guide is a pretty good introduction to the subject.

Lots, lots more: There are a ton of experiments you can try if you really want to push your CPU to the limit, but we won't cover them here. If you want to take it even further, search around for more advanced guides on the web and you'll find a lot to get you started beyond the basics.


from
http://lifehacker.com/a-beginners-introduction-to-overclocking-your-intel-pr-5580998