What Is Overclocking? Boost Your CPU and GPU for Free Performance

What Is Overclocking?

Overclocking means running a component — typically a CPU or GPU — at a higher speed than the manufacturer's rated specification. Because chip manufacturers test and rate components conservatively to guarantee stability across all units, most chips have headroom above their rated speeds.

CPU Overclocking

Intel CPUs with a K suffix (e.g., i9-13900K) and all AMD Ryzen CPUs support overclocking. You raise the clock multiplier and/or voltage in the BIOS. A stable overclock requires:

• Adequate cooling: An overclocked CPU generates more heat. A quality air cooler or AIO is essential
• Voltage headroom: More frequency needs more voltage, which increases heat
• Stability testing: Run tools like Prime95, Cinebench, and gaming sessions to verify stability

GPU Overclocking

GPU overclocking is done through software like MSI Afterburner. You can raise the core clock offset (typically +50 to +200 MHz) and the memory clock. GPU overclocking is generally lower risk than CPU overclocking because modern GPUs have automatic safety limits.

Is It Worth It?

A CPU overclock of 10% typically yields about 3–7% more FPS in CPU-bottlenecked games. A GPU overclock of 10% might yield 5–8% more FPS. These gains come free — no hardware purchase needed. The downsides are increased heat, potential instability, and voided warranties on some components.

Undervolting: The Better Option for Most

Undervolting means reducing the voltage your CPU/GPU uses while maintaining the same speed. This lowers heat and noise while keeping performance the same. For gaming PCs that run hot, undervolting is often a better choice than overclocking. MrGameFix's scripts include safe, tested performance configurations for popular CPU and GPU combinations.