Overclocking (OCing) any component means increasing its clock speed, or the rate at which it accomplishes its intended purpose, above and beyond that which the manufacture designed it to perform. Overclocking can refer to a graphics processing unit (GPU) or a computer's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), but most commonly refers to the central processing unit (CPU). Although it's possible to overclock your the AMD processor on your laptop, the best results occur when using a desktop PC.
Headroom
Select an AMD processor with plenty of headroom, allowing the amount of overclocking that a processor can withstand without burning up. Some CPUs are known to possess more headroom than others; AMD's Phenom II Black edition is one of them.
Motherboards
Select a motherboard, the control center of every PC, made for overclocking. The motherboard houses the CPU seating socket, the BIOS chip, the GPU interface slot, the random access memory (RAM) slots and all the integrated circuits (ICs) and ancillary components required to run the computer. Be aware that the major computer manufacturers generally select a motherboard for its cost: the cheaper, the better. They also often lock the BIOS, making adjustments impossible. If you want to overclock an AMD processor, either replace the factory installed motherboard or build your computer from scratch with a motherboard that is made for the hobbyist.
Memory
Install as much RAM as the operating system (OS) can use. RAM is used by the CPU to store or "stack" command functions. The more memory the CPU has access to, the less effort it has to make and thus the cooler it runs.
Heat Is the Enemy
Mount the best heat sink you can afford. Be sure the contact surface is flat and smooth. Make certain the heat-sink surface that makes contact with the top of the CPU touches every part of the CPU's exposed surface. This is referred to as "lapping" and ensures the CPU has no hot spots developing that can cause it to overheat and fail. Add additional internal case fans wherever they can be installed. The more air that is moving about inside the computer case, the cooler the internal environment and the better the CPU will perform.
Software
Download and install AMD Overdrive and follow the directions. To quote an avid overclocker known as Thunderman, "Beginners and even experts need not touch the BIOS anymore to overclock the Phenom or X2 processors with AMD's excellent Overdrive software."
Overclock the Processor
The best way to overclock an AMD CPU is slowly. Stop at each 10 to 15 percent boost to make sure the CPU is stable and the temperature is within an operationally acceptable range at the increased clock speed before attempting an increase in voltage again. Watch for temperature spikes. They can appear very rapidly and seemingly out of nowhere. If the temperature spikes, reduce the power immediately. Otherwise, be prepared to acquire a very expensive paperweight. Any damage caused by overclocking isn't covered under any warranty.
Tags: clock speed, processing unit, temperature spikes