Most manufacturer lean to clock GPUs guardedly to check that all units in the batch work as intend . What this means for you as an end - substance abuser is that your GPU is almost certainly capable of guide quicker than its out - of - the - box performance would suggest . That ’s where GPU overclocking software do in .
The salutary package utility for overclocking can change from card to card . In worldwide , MSI Afterburneris a pop option for GPU overclocking , and it has a lot going for it . It works with Nvidia and AMD carte , has full-bodied framerate , GPU monitoring via RTSS , and it lets you pluck the big three : nucleus voltage , core clock , and memory clock . However , there are drawbacks to it being such a platform - agnostical tool . Most of the items on our list here are exclusive to one or other vendor and they permit you do things that are n’t potential with other package . Afterburner countenance you control introductory overclocking but there are other option out there if you really need to get your hand unsportsmanlike . We ’ve curated a list of the best GPU overclocking utility here for you .
Before we set out
Make indisputable you have areliable PSU with enough wattageto supply your overclock GPU . And to avoid any serious damage to your GPU , I recommend using focus - testing software system likeUnigine Heavenand only overclocking the GPU by 5 % of the default value .
Best GPU Overclocking Software
1. AMD Wattman
Who it ’s for : The default choice for AMD users
Wattman is what I personally employ with my RX 580 and it has a good deal going in its favour . For newcomer , it ’s an official GPU overclocking tool that ’s part of the Radeon control panel . This means if you do n’t have to install anything surplus : If you have an AMD card and driver installed , Wattman is already there . You just have to flop - click , then press AMD configurations , and then select the Gaming tab and you ’re there .
Wattman give you widely - ranging control over pith clock , memory clock , lover speeds , and voltage . The user interface , with a uninfected and contrasting colour , is far better designed than the other options in this listing . It just looks dainty .
There are a couple of matter you’re able to do in Wattman that you ca n’t do in the apps . For starters , Wattman stage setting are the default options for your GPU . This means that if adulterate a stable overclocking config in Wattman , it ’ll load this the next time you boot up . You do n’t have to employ OC configurations each time you boot .
Second , you get command over a very specific setting call memory timing . Other solutions here do n’t let you adjust VRAM timings ( these are trenchant from the VRAM clock ) . in force timing can give you an supererogatory few FPS for free .
That sais , Wattman ’s not without its drawbacks : It can be mentally ill at time . And the only way to fix this is to wait for an AMD driver update to rectify it . Sometimes , AMD enigmatically pull place setting out of Wattman and then puts them back in with the next driver update . Another weakness is in terms of emf control . Wattman lets you set voltages but its max overvoltage mount is much lower than what you ’d get in Trixxx or Afterburner .
professional :
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DownloadAMD Radeon Drivers(Wattman come bundled )
2. Sapphire TriXX
Who it ’s for : AMD power users who want to evoke the most performance from their cards
Wattman is a great selection for regular substance abuser who ’re happy to finalise for temperate overclocks . However , as we mentioned to begin with , it ’s main drawback is limited support for overvoltage . Heavy overclocking depends on increasing core emf . Overvolting is n’t as shuddery as it sounds .
emf tuning is n’t going to void your warrantee in most cases . However , overvolted batting order can sire alotof heat while consuming prodigious amounts of power . So it might not be for you unless you great temporary and a hefty power provision . If youdoand you ’re look to press out every drop of useable GPU office , you might be disappointed by Wattman ’s buttoned-down electromotive force limits
TriXX permit you set GPU voltageswayhigher . We mean +100mVand beyond . If your add-in has adequate cooling and do n’t mind the increased power cargo , TriXX is actually the only option usable ( unforesightful of some very risky hacks ) to run your circuit board at such high voltages since even Afterburner top out at +100mV.
In most cases , though , unless you ’ve got a urine block , you ’re not going to have adequate cool to fully make use of TriXX ’s stupendous OC capabilities . Whenever I get a fresh AMD card , I notice myself press limit with TriXX initially , and then decide for a more viable farseeing - term OC via Wattman . It also has its own set of limitations . Most relevant is the want of RTSS integrating . This makes its GPU and frame monitor tools a lot less racy than the competition
Download TriXX
3. EVGA Precision X1
Who it ’s for : Nvidia users who desire a great , one - sink in OC solution
EVGA Precision X1 only works on Nvidia cards so if you ’re sporting something from Team Red , you ’re out of luck . For Nvidia user , though , Precision X1 offers enough great functionality to make it our good word . in person , I ’ve used different translation EVGA ’s Precision software series for the Nvidia cards I ’ve have or retrospect . Precision X1 ’s “ OC Scanner ” is a key feature . It addresses one of the key pain point colligate with overclocking : Users have to spend alotof clock time manually stress - testing their computer hardware to happen a unchanging OC .
I ’ve spentdaystweaking particularly temperamental bill . An older reference RX 480 only run unchanging at a very specific voltage - clock focal ratio combining I discovered after several days of hair - pull frustration . Precision X1 ’s OC Scanner does aside with this annoyance by automating the overclocking process . It accent - examine a range of clockspeeds and voltages to distinguish stable overclocks for you .
OC Scanner wo n’t take your card to the absolute limit but it can get youveryclose to your circuit board ’ max potential . RTSS consolidation is present here . What this means is that you get a knock-down suite of in - game framerate and GPU monitoring tools , allow you to supervise temps , voltages , and burden clocks in - biz . The only real con here is that Precision X is limited to Nvidia cards .
Download Precision X1
4. Intel XTU
Who it ’s for : Intel HD users who want to squeeze a spot of extra execution out of iGPUs
Intel GPUs get a tough repp and it ’s not entirely unwarranted . The Intel HD demarcation offersthe worstGPU functioning you may get . We would only recommend gaming on Intel HD Graphics if you have no other option . And , honestly , with the proliferation of cheap AMD APUs which combine adequate graphic performance with Ryzen CPU oink , there ’s little reasontogame on an iGPU unless you ’re stuck with the one in your laptop computer or pad . Now that ’s an exclusively unlike scenario .
My Smartron Tbook laptop - tablet intercrossed sports a Core M central processing unit and the Intel HD 5500 iGPU . This is n’t even the most herculean Intel GPU , but it ’s just about enough to let you get aside with playable framerates in low-cal seventh - gen titles . A pile of the clock time , though , framerates brood frustratingly in the high - twenties : the HD 5500 just needs alittleboost there to press matter into the playable district .
Unfortunately , most GPU overclocking puppet on the market do n’t work out with iGPUs . Install Precision XOC or TriXX and , well , nothing will happen . Thankfully , Intel themselves came up with a decent overclocking usefulness called XTU ( Extreme Tuning Utility ) . Its primary stress is on CPU overclocking . But it does let you play with the GPU clock and voltages .
Keep in mind that Intel like to shut away down features in most of their SKUs . I establish that , while XTU did n’t in reality have me overclock my iGPU , it allowed me to adjust GPU voltage .
In thermic and power - stiffen kind factor like laptops and tabs , undervolting can be just as in effect as overclocking : You dangle the voltage to allow the GPU to operate at peak frequency for longer . XTU is n’t a real reserve for a GPU overclocking prick and it isverylimited in term of what you’re able to do with it . But something ’s still better than nothing , right-hand ?
Download Intel XTU
Closing Words
Each of these overclocking utility has its strengths and drawbacks . They ’re intend for a chain of mountains of unlike substance abuser , too . Precision X1 is for Nvidia drug user seeking elementary , automatic overclocks . Wattman and TriXX , meanwhile are utilities targeted towards AMD users . Wattman offers great functionality out of the box , but foreclose you from hit extreme overclocks ( presumptively since AMD does n’t want you to electrocute your Radeon Si ) .
TriXX let you take things a footstep further , but it ’s limited in term of supervise capabilities . Finally , Intel XTU is the option of last resort for Intel users . It offers very limited GPU tweaking functionality . However , in thermally limited situations , a good core undervolt in XTU can permit you pass your iGPU at peak frequencies for long .
If you expend all your cash on a monster GPU , you ’ll want to check out these not bad , free open - source gameswhile you wait for your wallet to recharge .
