Introduction
The most revolutionary computer processors in a decade have arrived, and AMD chipset drivers Ryzen CPUs are multithreading beasts.
The first wave of high-end Ryzen 7 processors shredded productivity and content creation workloads, bringing the power of 8-core, 16-thread CPUs to more accessible rates. Meanwhile, Ryzen 5 processors such as the 6-core, Ryzen 5 1600X, 4-core, and Ryzen 5 1500X outperform their competitors as the finest mainstream CPUs for demanding users.
While Ryzen CPUs perform well out of the box, enthusiasts may crank knobs and modify settings to push the processors even farther. Here are some tips and tactics that cutting-edge adopters may utilize to get even more performance out of their Ryzen PCs:
Pick The Right Motherboard
Let’s start with a brief suggestion if you haven’t yet bought your PC since one of the most crucial components of getting the most out of your system comes before you ever put it together.
All Ryzen CPUs are compatible with AMD’s new AM4 motherboards. However, those motherboards are constructed with distinct chipsets, directly impacting your computer’s capabilities. Not only does each chipset support different interface technologies, such as USB 3.0 ports and NVMe storage, but some chipsets also enable CPU overclocking and multiple graphics cards, while others do not.
Update Your BIOS Regularly
Due to the minor but the real potential of bricking your hardware, it is usually best to disregard motherboard BIOS upgrades unless they are required to offer a particular new function. Ryzen is not one of them.
BIOS upgrades for Ryzen motherboards are arriving quickly.
Because Ryzen’s AM4 platform is new, BIOS updates from motherboard manufacturers are quickly approaching. Revisions provided in the early months significantly boosted the speed, reliability, and accessible features of AMD computers. You should remain up to current throughout Ryzen’s early days. To be cautious, download AMD Chipset Drivers and back up your current UEFI BIOS to a flash drive before proceeding.
RAM Speed
Early studies reveal that Ryzen reacts dramatically to memory speeds, particularly in gaming workloads (where Ryzen’s performance may sometimes be slower than Intel CPUs). However, various motherboards support different memory speeds, and your BIOS may not be set to take advantage of the optimum out-of-the-box performance.
Entering the BIOS and then navigating to the Advanced Memory Settings section allows you to set an Extreme Memory Profile (XMP), which raises the RAM’s frequency to 2,933MHz. The 800MHz difference is significant, and you’d never know your RAM wasn’t operating at full speed until you messed about in the BIOS.
Assume your motherboard lacks pre-configured profiles and settings for your selected memory kit. In that case, one should be able to manually overclock the RAM in the system BIOS or set it to the CAS timings and voltages it’s meant to operate at. Stick to memory kits that are officially supported by your motherboard.
Ryzen suffered from significant memory overclocking troubles in its early days, but the “AMD Generic Encapsulated System Architecture” (AGESA) 1.0.0.6 upgrade, which began rolling out in May, resolved the most severe memory issues for AM4 motherboards. The enabled BIOS upgrades provide hundreds of new memory performance choices and enhancements. What is most important? You may now overclock RAM to 4000MHz without modifying the system’s reference clock and do it in 133MT/s increments, allowing for a broader range of overclocked speeds.
Following the release of AGESA 1.0.0.6, AMD revealed thorough test findings demonstrating how big of a difference finely adjusted memory timing and overclocks can make in particular cases.
Overclock It
A third-party CPU cooler or a closed-loop water cooler, such as the EKWB Predator 240 seen below, may assist you in increasing Ryzen’s clock rates.
The clock speeds are the most significant difference between the Ryzen 7 1800X, Ryzen 7 1700X, and Ryzen 7 1700. The base frequency of the flagship 1800X is 3.6GHz, which can be increased to 4GHz, while the 1700 runs from 3GHz to 3.7GHz. Because they’re made using scaled-down versions of the same CPU core clusters that power AMD’s most costly processors, Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 chips have identical clock speeds.
Overclocking Ryzen CPUs from 3.8GHz to 4GHz is usually not difficult. Overclocking the Ryzen 7 1700 to such levels enables it to match or better the 1800X’s performance for $170 less, as PC Perspective’s testing demonstrates at 4GHz (albeit it also significantly increases the chip’s power use).
You’d need a powerful CPU cooler and an X370, B350, or X300 motherboard to obtain the greatest overclocks. And not everyone is comfortable tinkering with their gear, particularly when it loses the warranty. However, if you’re willing to experiment, overclocking Ryzen may provide a free and possibly significant performance improvement.
Clean-install Windows
When building a new PC, many PC builders initiate a clean Windows installation, but if you don’t, do it! AMD claims that utilizing a clean version of Windows installed directly on a Ryzen system over a pre-existing Windows image built on an Intel-based computer improves performance somewhat.
Suppose you choose to use Windows 10 over Windows 7. While Windows 7 will undoubtedly install and function on Ryzen CPUs, neither AMD nor Microsoft will provide updates or drivers for the older operating system, which means that all those critical platform upgrades that are undoubtedly on the way will never be available for Windows 7. Microsoft explicitly prevents Ryzen PCs running Windows 7 or 8 from obtaining Windows upgrades. AMD’s processors also support Linux.
Disable Windows’ High Precision Event Timer
This is another obscure adjustment that has the potential to increase game performance. For years, it’s also been go-to advice for potentially enhancing speed on Intel CPUs.
Make that Windows High Precision Event Timer (HPET) is turned off on the machine. HPET is often deactivated in the BIOS. Alternatively, open an administrator command shell in Windows and type: bcdedit /deletevalue useplatformclock—this may boost speed by 5 to 8%.
The Bottom Line
The CPU and GPU are the two most critical components in PC performance. It is possible to overclock them, but it is not recommended for beginners since it might be dangerous. If you don’t know what you’re doing and try to overclock your components, there’s a good chance you’ll cause permanent damage. Furthermore, setting an overclock level on your CPU or GPU too high will have no effect other than decreasing your power usage. So, concentrate on purchasing high-quality components; your PC should function admirably.
