How to Overclock Ryzen 5 1500x
When I was young, my grandfather would always advise me, “If you’re going to do something, you’d better know all the facts and techniques,” and Overclocking your CPU for maximum performance and stability is no different.
From the cooling solution to the power supply to the CPU, each computer component should be taken into account when overclocking. It is essential to know what kind of heat sink you will be using during this process because some will be better for this process than others.
The heat sink for the Ryzen 5 1500x is the Wraith Spire, a 95-watt cooler compared to the previous coolers that came with the older Ryzen models, which have only provided a 65-watt cooler. The spire will allow us the maximum overclock recommended, and maybe more. Let’s begin with the guide.
Table of Contents
How to Overclock AMD Ryzen 5 1500x CPU
- The first step we will take is to start the BIOS by pressing F2 when the computer starts. After loading the screen in the BIOS.
The only tab you need to focus on is the M.I.T. tab (Motherboard Intelligent Tweaker). This tab will work primarily on advanced frequency parameters, advanced voltage settings, and SMART fan 5 settings.
- Now click on the Advanced Frequency Settings.
- You would come across several points. These points depend on your configuration, but AMD stated that the recommended clock limit for overclocking is 3.70 GHz to define it at this clock rate.
- To do this, select the CPU clock ratio and modify it from auto to 37.00 (though we would recommend you try at 39.00, which is the highest stable clock rate you can run with stability). After setting the clock ratio, you will see that the BIOS multiplier automatically changes the frequency of the CPU to 3.7 GHz.
- Before booting your CPU, enter the base parameters of the advanced CPU (right under the frequency of the CPU).
- As part of this parameter, we will define the Core Performance Boost to be disabled. This will prevent the frequency from fluctuating, ensuring that it remains at a constant of 3.7 GHz. Then we will disable the AMD COOL&Quiet function, and the next step would be to disable the global C-State control.
- After we have disabled the AMD Cool&Quiet and disabled the Global C-State control, Cool&Quiet simply limits the fan speed. The C-state command nearly sends an order to your CPU to use less energy when it thinks the processor is inactive because we do not want to limit the fan’s speed or the fan power. We will disable them. Allow SMT mode, Downcore, and OPCACHE control to their default settings.
- Press F10 to save the settings, and exit to start your computer in Windows mode and run your benchmarks. Note: Your motherboard can turn on and off a few times after changing the settings. It’s normal. If it stops and goes out more than six times, it will encourage you to receive a message that the overclock failed and will direct you to the BIOS, and then you will need to perform the above steps again with lower clock ratios.
- If your computer has not started at the 3.7 GHz clock ratio or has gone to an upper frequency (3.9 GHz), you will have to increase the CPU’s essential voltages. To change voltages, go to advanced voltage settings, which can be found in the Advanced Frequency Settings tab.
- Advanced voltage settings will allow us to keep the CPU stable at higher frequencies, but we will only adjust these settings if needed. The increase in tension will also increase the heat that the CPU will produce, so we will do this last and only if the overclock does not work at the default voltage.
- At 3.7 GHz, you probably do not need to increase the voltages anymore, but if there is a need to increase the voltages more, go into the CPU VCore settings. AMD stated that the recommended maximum CPU voltage is 1,4250 V, but for your construction, try to keep your CPU as cool as possible. The setting of this to 1,4000 V will do the trick nicely.
- We recommend keeping all other voltages on Auto, but if you have to increase yours, you need to match the voltages on the screen’s right side.
VCore Soc is not greater than 1.10000V.
CPU VDD18 not greater than 1,800V
CPU VDDP fixed at normal
DRAM voltage not greater than 1.200V
DDRVPP voltage not greater than 2,500V
DRAM termination no more than 0.600V
CPU VCORE Loadline Calibration not greater than Turbo
VAXG Loadline Calibration not greater than Turbo
Restart and run benchmarks again
At this point, you will have a stable overclock for your machine, but your CPU could work a little hot. Remember that the increase in base voltages will increase the amount of heat produced.
This is where the fan speed comes into play after selecting Smart Fan 5 Settings at the bottom of the M.I.T tab.
If your processor is too hot at this point, select the CPU fan speed control and set it at full speed. Save your settings and run benchmarks.
After performing all the benchmarks recommended in this guide, your processor may see a surge of around 12% in performance, which may seem insignificant, but can do or break some applications’ performance. Your CPU is now ready for use. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!
Getting Started with Overclocking Ryzen 5 1500x
Unlike Intel, which only allows overclocking on some chips, all AMD Ryzen processors are readily available to be overclocked so the collection of your hardware should be relatively easy. You only need two pieces of hardware to outflow your chip.
A motherboard that supports overclocking
The B350, X370, B450, X370, B450, B550, and X570, you are set to overclock. But most of the parameters we will discuss should also be available on other tips.
A Good CPU Cooler
While AMD’s Wraith Spire cooler included by AMD can handle a little overclocking, it will probably be hot enough. I recommend buying a larger thermal sink, such as Cryorig R1 Ultimate CR-R1A (Photo) or a liquid cooling loop so that the performance as much as possible of your processor is as much as possible of your CPU.
When it comes to overclocking your CPU, you will need a software tool to monitor your progress, as well as something to record the results.
OCCT
Ask the other five overclockers which tools they use, and you will get five different answers. We prefer OCCT because it contains several stress tests in program temperature readings monitoring features to keep an eye on these CPU temperatures.
The Master of Ryzen and Hwinfo of AMD are probably better at monitoring the readings of the temperature and have many other useful statistics. Still, they should be good enough if you start and do not push your CPU to its absolute limit.
A Notebook, Digital or Physical
This is a trial and error process. You will want to keep notes as you go through settings that you have tried and that they have succeeded. Trust me, and it will make the process much more comfortable.
Before starting overclocking, it is essential to install CPU-Z and CineBench both are software that you would need to keep the overclock in check. This will show us if our overclock is stable at the selected clock ratio and the relative increase in the CPU performance.
Run the benchmarks initially to see your CPU’s default state and compare these values at subsequent benchmarks. Also, use a tool to monitor the temperature of your CPU.
Is Auto Overclocking (Auto OC) Feature Viable?
We usually do not recommend auto-overclocking (or Auto Oc) features that you find on most motherboards, although they are pretty impressive. The accuracy overdrive of AMD’s accuracy (PBO), for example, does not stimulate the clock speeds more significantly than what you see on the box. However, it will allow your CPU to boost at this speed of the clock released more often, for long periods, or in situations in which it could not otherwise reach these speeds.
It’s not precisely overclocking, but it is also not considered “stock” and is not covered by your warranty. It is designed to be used in conjunction with an Auto OC function on your motherboard, but if you get an overclocking manually using the instructions below, you must not have any use for the PBO, and you can turn it off. I prefer the proven certainty of manual overclocks. That’s what we will focus on in this guide.
FAQs
What is a safe overclock for a Ryzen 5 1500X?
What is the maximum clock speed of Ryzen 5 1500X?
Is the Ryzen 5 1500X good for gaming?
Conclusion
As we are already aware, the families of Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 share the same matrix configuration. We were expecting an overclocking ceiling of 3.9 to 4.0 GHz similar. AMD recommends a maximum processor voltage of 1.35 V for long-term overclocks and, although the company indicates that Ryzen can withstand 1.45V, longevity can be affected. In both cases, the above tensions of stocks are not covered by the Ryzen warranty, so any damage you would cause would be upon you.
We spent a considerable amount of time adjusting the Ryzen 5 1500x to match our previous efforts with Ryzen 7 and 5 Series processors. Finally, it composed a 3.9 GHz overclock of 3.375 V to 1.375V and an Auto LLC parameter (calibration of the charge line). The US laboratory was recorded up to 64 ° C (by AIDA) with the specialized Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4 during prolonged stress tests. Seeing much thermal headroom still available, it was then tried to match the 4 GHz and observed that other Ryzen transformers (except 1700), others failed.
AMD’s Ryzen CPUs meet the higher DDR4 data rates so the overclocking of memory plays an essential role in improving the reference performance. Unfortunately, the stability of the overclock DDR4 is unbalanced on the firmware of the motherboard. Once again, it could not match the data rates of 3200 MT / s obtained on other Ryzen models. Then it was tried with B350 Tomahawk and XMP B350-MSI equivalents (A-XMP and d.o.c.p., respectively) with casual schedules but failed. Finally, it had 2933 Mt / s operating stably, but it seems to be the sample ceiling. Interestingly, it reached 3200 mt / s with other Ryzen processors on the same motherboards, involving the disparity stems from the BMI of the chip (integrated memory controller). Of course, it is also possible that future firmware creations could correct the problem.
