How to properly overclock the processor on a laptop. How to Properly Overclock Your Laptop Processor Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology ‡

When you buy a laptop, based on its cost, you expect good performance. And still it's not enough. But you can increase the processing speed of the central processing unit (CPU) from that declared by the manufacturer. Therefore, the question arises: how to overclock the processor on a laptop in order to get more efficient work for the same money. There are several options available and safe, which we'll cover in this article.

Let's start with the question "why"

It seems that the laptop is only 3 years old and it has never failed when performing any tasks (play a new shooter, watch the latest video rentals, transcode videos).

But now it can not cope with half the needs. What will you have to do - change your laptop? But you can try to "revive" your electronic friend by overclocking the processor. Performance will increase slightly. If you do everything right, the results will please. In addition to increasing the clock frequency, memory starts to work faster, and as a result, the speed of applications increases slightly.

But overclocking a laptop processor is half the battle. You have to pay for everything in this life:

• Performance will increase, but power consumption will also increase at the same time. This means that battery life will inevitably decrease.
• In addition, now the laptop will heat up much more. You will have to think about the cooling system or, at least, do not block the special slots from the bottom and side.
• CPU life is likely to decrease.

Windows also improves performance

Overclocking the processor in a laptop is a bit difficult, but possible. Mobile device manufacturers, of course, thought about protection and took care in advance to provide the best performance at maximum frequency, when you need to speed up work. When the processor is idle, the frequency automatically drops. But you can improve performance without harming the laptop using system tools by changing the power mode.

To do this, the Windows operating system has a software tool - " Power supply". You can find it by going to Control Panel. The figure below shows the window that will appear in Windows 7 or 8.1.

You need to go to the section Power supply» and select « High performance».

This is how you can "overclock" the laptop processor without the risk of breaking something. The performance gain will be immediately noticeable.

Overclocking via BIOS

In some models, it is possible to overclock the laptop processor with standard tools from the BIOS. To get into this system, you need to turn on the laptop and press a certain key on the keyboard. A hint of which button to press will be visible for several seconds on the monitor screen. For example, on the screen of the hp monitor, the inscription shown in the figure below will appear.

After this condition is met, the initial menu will appear, which will indicate the key that you need to press to get into the BIOS.

Consider the sequence of actions that must be performed to overclock the processor:

Be warned that most often manufacturers block the CPU to prevent the user from changing the clock speed on their own.

Overclocking with dedicated apps

For relatively old laptops, it is possible to overclock the processor using a small program paired with the program Prime95.

Further implementation of any overclocking method is associated with the risk of damaging the laptop. All actions must be performed with extreme caution, in small steps.

You need to understand that the maximum possible to achieve a slight increase in the frequency of the processor - within 10-15%. A further increase is possible if the cooling system is prepared and the power supply of the chip is changed. Since during acceleration, along with an increase in frequency, heat generation also increases. By the way, modern processors have a two-level overheating protection system. If the temperature threshold is exceeded, the processor automatically forcibly lowers the frequency and voltage, which leads to a decrease in heat generation. If the temperature does not fall below 95–110º, the laptop either turns off or freezes.

CPU-Z program

Before overclocking, you need data about the chip installed in the laptop. This utility will help CPU-Z. This information is required for the program.

SetFSB utility

Deliberately designed for fast and easy CPU overclocking. With its support, you can safely change the system bus frequency without rebooting the operating system, bypassing the BIOS.

The program has an interface that is quite understandable for work, and the entire overclocking process takes place by step-by-step movement of just ONE slider.

If this laptop is supported by the program, the chip frequency data will be visible in the lower right corner.

The sequence of actions is extremely simple: increase the bus clock frequency in small steps and test it with the program Prime95.

Prime95

A small utility that can measure the performance of a computer. The measurement process is based on performing calculations of Mersenne primes. This action uses all the capabilities of the laptop.

Optionally, you can check both the RAM and the processor itself. While the program is running, you must be prepared for the fact that the computer will noticeably slow down.

The frequency increase is made in small steps until a freeze occurs. After the performance has been saved, Prime95 testing must be terminated and exited from the CPU setup program.

Conclusion

If everything went well, you can stop there. But this is not the whole complex of works. Performance depends not only on the frequency of the processor, but also on the frequency of the memory. It can also be increased by selecting the necessary timings. Tips from friends and Internet searches will help you set up your laptop. Overclocking without prior preparation can be harmful. For game lovers, the next step is overclocking the graphics card. The main thing is that all actions are thoroughly thought out, and then the efforts will not be in vain.

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Product release date.

Lithography

Lithography indicates the semiconductor technology used to produce integrated chipsets and the report is shown in nanometer (nm) indicating the size of the features embedded in the semiconductor.

Number of Cores

The number of cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing modules in a single computing component (chip).

Number of threads

A thread or thread of execution is a software term for a basic ordered sequence of instructions that can be passed to or processed by a single CPU core.

CPU base clock

The base frequency of the processor is the speed of opening / closing of the processor transistors. The base frequency of the processor is the operating point where the design power (TDP) is set. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Maximum clock speed with Turbo Boost technology

The maximum turbo clock speed is the maximum single-core processor clock speed that can be achieved with the Intel® Turbo Boost and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost technologies it supports. Frequency is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or billions of computing cycles per second.

Cache

The processor cache is an area of ​​high-speed memory located in the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to an architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

System bus frequency

A bus is a subsystem that transfers data between computer components or between computers. An example is the system bus (FSB), through which data is exchanged between the processor and the memory controller unit; DMI interface, which is a point-to-point connection between the onboard Intel memory controller and the Intel I/O controller box on the motherboard; and a Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) interface connecting the processor and the integrated memory controller.

Estimated power

Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the average performance in watts when the processor's power is dissipated (when running at base frequency with all cores engaged) under a complex workload as defined by Intel. Review the requirements for thermoregulation systems in the datasheet.

Embedded options available

Available Options for Embedded Systems indicate products that offer extended purchasing options for smart systems and embedded solutions. Product specifications and terms of use are provided in the Production Release Qualification (PRQ) report. Contact your Intel representative for details.

Max. amount of memory (depends on the type of memory)

Max. memory means the maximum amount of memory supported by the processor.

Memory types

Intel® processors support four different types of memory: single-channel, dual-channel, triple-channel, and Flex.

Max. number of memory channels

Application bandwidth depends on the number of memory channels.

Max. memory bandwidth

Max. memory bandwidth refers to the maximum rate at which data can be read from memory or stored in memory by the processor (in GB/s).

ECC Memory Support‡

ECC memory support indicates the processor's support for ECC memory. ECC memory is a type of memory that supports the detection and repair of common types of internal memory corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both the processor and the chipset to be supported.

Processor-integrated graphics ‡

The processor graphics system is a graphics data processing circuit integrated into the processor that generates the operation of the video system, computing processes, multimedia and information display. Intel® HD Graphics, Iris™ Graphics, Iris Plus Graphics, and Iris Pro Graphics deliver advanced media conversion, high frame rates, and 4K Ultra HD (UHD) video. See the Intel® Graphics Technology page for more information.

Graphics Base frequency

The base frequency of the graphics system is the nominal/guaranteed graphics rendering clock (MHz).

Max. graphics system dynamic frequency

Max. graphics dynamic frequency is the maximum conventional rendering frequency (MHz) supported by Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency.

Graphics system output

The graphics system output defines the interfaces available for interacting with device displays.

Intel® Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology provides fast video conversion for portable media players, network sharing, and video editing and creation.

InTru™ 3D technology

Intel® InTRU™ 3D Technology delivers 1080p Blu-ray* stereoscopic 3D content with HDMI* 1.4 and high quality audio.

Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)

Intel® Flexible Display is an innovative interface that allows you to display independent images on two channels using an integrated graphics system.

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a set of video encoding and processing technologies built into the processor's integrated graphics system. These technologies make video playback more stable and graphics more clear, vivid and realistic. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology delivers brighter colors and more realistic skin through video quality improvements.

PCI Express Edition

The PCI Express edition is the version supported by the processor. PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial expansion bus standard for computers to connect hardware devices to it. Different versions of PCI Express support different data transfer rates.

PCI Express Configurations‡

PCI Express (PCIe) configurations describe the available PCIe link configurations that can be used to map PCIe PCH links to PCIe devices.

Max. number of PCI Express lanes

The PCI Express (PCIe) link consists of two pairs of signaling links, one for receiving and the other for transmitting data, and this channel is the base module of the PCIe bus. The number of PCI Express lanes is the total number of lanes supported by the processor.

Supported Connectors

A connector is a component that provides mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and the motherboard.

T JUNCTION

The temperature at the actual contact patch is the maximum temperature allowed on the processor die.

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology‡

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the required level, using the difference between the nominal and maximum values ​​​​of temperature and power consumption, which allows you to increase power efficiency or "overclock" the processor if necessary.

Compliant with Intel® vPro™ platform ‡

Intel® vPro™ Technology is a suite of security and management tools built into the processor that addresses four key areas of security: 1) Threat management, including protection against rootkits, viruses, and other malware 2) Identity protection and targeted website access protection 3) Protection of confidential personal and business information 4) Remote and local monitoring, correction, repair of PCs and workstations.

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology‡

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) provides two processing threads for each physical core. Multithreaded applications can perform more tasks in parallel, which greatly speeds up the work.

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-x) allows a single hardware platform to function as multiple "virtual" platforms. The technology improves manageability by reducing downtime and maintaining productivity by dedicating separate partitions for computing operations.

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) ‡

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O augments virtualization support on IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® (VT-i) processors with I/O virtualization features. Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O helps users improve system security, reliability, and I/O device performance in virtualized environments.

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT) ‡

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables, also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) technology, accelerates memory-intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables on Intel® Virtualization Technology-enabled platforms reduces memory and power overhead and improves battery life through hardware optimizations for page forwarding table management.

Intel® 64 architecture ‡

Intel® 64 architecture, combined with the appropriate software, supports 64-bit applications on servers, workstations, desktops, and laptops.¹ Intel® 64 architecture delivers performance improvements that allow computing systems to use more than 4 GB of virtual and physical memory .

Command set

The instruction set contains the basic commands and instructions that the microprocessor understands and can execute. The value shown indicates which Intel instruction set the processor is compatible with.

Command Set Extensions

Instruction set extensions are additional instructions that can be used to improve performance when performing operations on multiple data objects. These include SSE (Support for SIMD Extensions) and AVX (Vector Extensions).

Intel® My WiFi Technology

Intel® My WiFi Technology allows your Ultrabook™ or laptop to wirelessly connect to WiFi-enabled devices such as printers, stereos, and more.

4G WiMAX wireless technology

4G WiMAX Wireless technology provides wireless broadband Internet access at speeds up to 4 times faster than 3G.

Idle States

The idle state (or C-state) mode is used to conserve power when the processor is idle. C0 means the operating state, that is, the CPU is currently doing useful work. C1 is the first idle state, C2 is the second idle state, and so on. The higher the numerical indicator of the C-state, the more energy-saving actions the program performs.

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology delivers high performance while meeting the energy-saving requirements of mobile systems. Standard Intel SpeedStep® technology allows you to switch the voltage level and frequency depending on the load on the processor. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is built on the same architecture and uses design strategies such as separation of voltage and frequency changes, and clock distribution and recovery.

Intel® Demand Based Switching Technology

Intel® Demand Based Switching is a power management technology that keeps the applied voltage and clock speed of the microprocessor at the minimum required level until more processing power is required. This technology was introduced to the server market under the name Intel SpeedStep®.

Thermal control technologies

Thermal management technologies protect the processor package and system from thermal failure through multiple thermal management features. An on-chip Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) senses the core temperature, and thermal management functions reduce the power consumption of the processor package when necessary, thereby lowering the temperature to ensure operation within normal operating limits.

Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology

Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology is an advanced Video Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) backbone architecture that improves system performance by optimizing the use of available bandwidth and reducing memory access latency.

Intel® Flex Memory Access Technology

Intel® Flex Memory Access makes it easy to upgrade by supporting a variety of memory module sizes in dual-channel mode.

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology‡

Intel® Privacy Protection Technology is a built-in security technology based on the use of tokens. This technology provides simple and secure access control to online commercial and business data, protecting against security threats and fraud. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology uses PC hardware authentication mechanisms in websites, banking systems, and online services to authenticate the PC uniqueness, protect against unauthorized access, and prevent malware attacks. Intel® Privacy Protection Technology can be used as a key component of two-factor authentication solutions designed to protect information on websites and control access to business applications.

Intel® Trusted Execution Technology‡

Intel® Trusted Execution Technology enhances secure command execution through hardware enhancements to Intel® processors and chipsets. This technology provides digital office platforms with security features such as measured application launch and secure command execution. This is achieved by creating an environment where applications run in isolation from other applications on the system.

Function Execute override bit ‡

The Execute Cancel Bit is a hardware security feature that helps reduce vulnerability to viruses and malicious code, as well as prevent malware from executing and spreading on a server or network.

Anti-theft technology

Intel® Anti-Theft Technology helps keep the data on your laptop safe in case it's lost or stolen. To use Intel® Anti-Theft Technology, you must subscribe to an Intel® Anti-Theft Technology Service Provider.

Core i5-3210M processor, the price of a new one on amazon and ebay is 14,950 rubles, which is equal to $258. Marked by the manufacturer as: AW8063801032301.

Number of cores - 2, produced according to 22 nm process technology, Ivy Bridge architecture. Thanks to Hyper-Threading technology, the number of threads is 4, which is twice the number of physical cores and increases the performance of multi-threaded applications and games.

The base frequency of the Core i5-3210M cores is 2.5 GHz. The maximum frequency in Intel Turbo Boost mode reaches 3.1 GHz. Please note that the Intel Core i5-3210M cooler must cool processors with a TDP of at least 35W at stock frequencies. When overclocked, the requirements increase.

Motherboard for Intel Core i5-3210M must be with FCBGA1023 socket. The power system must be capable of supporting processors with a TDP of at least 35W.

Thanks to the integrated Intel® HD Graphics 4000, the computer can operate without a discrete graphics card because the monitor is connected to the video output on the motherboard.

Price in Russia

Want to buy Core i5-3210M cheaply? Look at the list of stores that already sell the processor in your city.

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Intel Core i5-3210M test

The data comes from tests by users who tested their systems with and without overclocking. Thus, you see the average values ​​corresponding to the processor.

Speed ​​of numerical operations

Different tasks require different CPU strengths. A system with few fast cores is great for gaming, but will be inferior to a system with a lot of slow cores in a rendering scenario.

We believe that a processor with at least 4 cores/4 threads is suitable for a budget gaming PC. At the same time, individual games can load it at 100% and slow down, and performing any tasks in the background will lead to a drop in FPS.

Ideally, the buyer should aim for a minimum of 6/6 or 6/12, but keep in mind that systems with more than 16 threads are currently only applicable to professional tasks.

The data is obtained from tests by users who tested their systems both with overclocking (the maximum value in the table) and without (the minimum). A typical result is indicated in the middle, with a colored bar indicating the position among all tested systems.

Accessories

We have compiled a list of components that users most often choose when building a computer based on the Core i5-3210M. Also with these components, the best results in tests and stable operation are achieved.

The most popular config: motherboard for Intel Core i5-3210M - Lenovo 10AB0010US, video card - GeForce GT 420.

Specifications

Main

Manufacturer	Intel
Description Information about the processor, taken from the official website of the manufacturer.	Intel® Core™ i5-3210M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz) BGA
Architecture The code name for a microarchitecture generation.	Ivy Bridge
Release date Month and year when the processor appeared on sale.	01-2013
Model Official name.	i5-3210M
cores The number of physical cores.	2
streams Number of threads. The number of logical processor cores that the operating system sees.	4
Multithreading Technology Thanks to Hyper-threading technologies from Intel and SMT from AMD, one physical core is recognized in the operating system as two logical ones, which increases the performance of the processor in multi-threaded applications.	Hyper-threading (note that some games may not work well with Hyper-threading, which is why it is worth disabling the technology in the BIOS of the motherboard).
base frequency Guaranteed frequency of all processor cores at maximum load. Performance in single-threaded and multi-threaded applications and games depends on it. It is important to remember that speed and frequency are not directly related. For example, a new processor at a lower frequency may be faster than an old one at a higher one.	2.5GHz
Turbo frequency The maximum frequency of one processor core in turbo mode. Manufacturers have made it possible for the processor to independently increase the frequency of one or more cores under heavy load, thereby increasing the speed of operation. It greatly affects the speed in games and applications that are demanding on the frequency of the CPU.	3.1GHz
L3 cache size The third level cache acts as a buffer between the computer's RAM and the processor's level 2 cache. Used by all cores, the speed of information processing depends on the volume.	3 MB
Instructions	64-bit
Instructions They allow to speed up calculations, processing and execution of certain operations. Also, some games require instruction support.	AVX
Process technology The technological process of production, measured in nanometers. The smaller the technical process, the more perfect the technology, the lower the heat dissipation and power consumption.	22 nm
Bus frequency The speed of data exchange with the system.	5 GT/s DMI
Max TDP Thermal Design Power - an indicator that determines the maximum heat dissipation. The cooler or water cooling system must be rated for an equal or greater value. Remember that with overclocking, TDP increases significantly.	35 W

video core

Integrated graphics core Allows you to use your computer without a discrete graphics card. The monitor is connected to the video output on the motherboard. If earlier integrated graphics made it possible to simply work at a computer, today it can replace budget video accelerators and makes it possible to play most games at low settings.	Intel® HD Graphics 4000
GPU base frequency The frequency of operation in 2D mode and idle.	650MHz
GPU base frequency The frequency of operation in 3D mode under maximum load.	1100MHz
Intel® Wireless Display (Intel® WiDi) Support for Wireless Display technology operating on the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard. Thanks to it, a monitor or TV equipped with the same technology does not require a cable to connect.	Yes
Supported monitors The maximum number of monitors that can be simultaneously connected to the integrated video core.	3

RAM

Maximum amount of RAM The amount of RAM that can be installed on a motherboard with this processor.	32GB
Supported type of RAM The type of RAM depends on its frequency and timings (speed), availability, price.	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600
RAM channels Thanks to the multi-channel memory architecture, the data transfer speed is increased. On desktop platforms, two-channel, three-channel and four-channel modes are available.	2
Bandwidth of RAM	25.6GB/s
ECC memory Support for memory with error correction, which is used on servers. Usually more expensive than usual and requires more expensive server components. However, second-hand server processors, Chinese motherboards and ECC memory sticks, which are sold relatively cheaply in China, have become widespread.	No. Or we have not yet managed to mark the support.

The Core microprocessor is designed to create high-performance mobile computer systems.i5-3210M. Specificationsof this chip are still relevant and allow you to run most of the existing program code. It is this CPU model that the short review brought to your attention will be devoted to.

Positioning

Microprocessor was released in 2012i5-3210M. Specificationsat that time, it really was advanced and allowed to execute any program code, including the most resource-intensive ones. Although quite a lot of time has passed since then by the standards of computer technology, the hardware part of this solution is still relevant. In any case, the chip in question is intended for use in high-performance laptops with long battery life.

CPU parameters

The generation of CPU codenamed Ivi Bridge belongs toi5-3210M. Specificationsindicate the presence of 2 physical cores, which, due to the use of NT's proprietary technology, can already process the code into 4 data streams at the software level. The crystal of this processor had a size of 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm and was manufactured according to the 22nm technology. At the same time, semiconductor elements had a three-dimensional TriGate layout. The base clock frequency is 2.5 GHz, but due to the support of automatic TV overclocking technology, its value can be increased up to 3.1 GHz. The thermal package of the microprocessor is limited to only 35 W, and its maximum temperature is 105 ° C. The chip in question is installed in the FCPGA988 socket, which is used only in laptops.

Memory subsystem characteristics

Equipped with an integrated RAM controllerIntel i5-3210M. Specificationsits said that it can work in dual channel mode. That is, the use of an increased number of memory modules, but with a smaller volume, instead of one large bar, allows you to increase the performance of your mobile PC by 10-15%. For example, it is better to install 2 modules of 4 GB than one of 8 GB. Three types of RAM chips can be used in conjunction with this processor: Their clock speeds can be 1333 or 1600 MHz. You can also install a faster RAM, but this will not give any increase in performance. The frequency of their operation will automatically drop to the maximum possible 1600 MHz. The largest amount of RAM that the controller in question can address is limited to 32 GB. Real laptop models based on such a CPU were equipped with either 4 or 8 GB. The cache memory in this microprocessor has a three-level organization. Its first level is 128 kb and the second level is 512 kb. The largest size is the third level of fast memory, which is 3 MB.

Integrated graphics

The integrated graphics core is equipped with the i5-3210M processor. The characteristics of the latter indicate the initial level of performance. Its model is HD Graphics version 4000. This video card is integrated on the same substrate as the processor part. That is, the production technology of this graphics accelerator complies with the tolerance standards of 22 nm. Its clock frequency in the basic mode is 650 MHz, but due to automatic overclocking, the latter value can be increased to 1100 MHz. No more than 3 monitors can be connected to this accelerator at the same time. In order to improve performance, this accelerator can directly interact with the third cache level, which is 3 MB. Part of the RAM of the computer system acts as a video buffer.

Relevance of the chip today

As noted earlier, the i5-3210M is still an actual microprocessor device. In the 3DMark06 test, this chip scores 3553 points, and by this value it bypasses the representatives of the previous generations i5-2520M and i7-840QM. The first of them scores 3542 points, and the second - 3532. But at the same time, it is inferior to the FX-7600P from AMD, which scores 3589 points. If the laptop is equipped with a discrete graphics card, then the PC turns into a full-fledged gaming system. Of course, not all toys in this case will go with maximum parameters, but most of them will definitely run.