Title: Ultimate Guide to Overclocking and Undervolting the Ryzen 5 5600X
If you’re one of the thousands of gamers using AMD’s popular Ryzen 5 5600X, you’re in the right place! This guide walks through everything you need to know about overclocking and undervolting this CPU to maximize performance or reduce power and temperature. From stock benchmarks to advanced tweaks, we’ll cover the settings that make a real difference based on your hardware and goals.
Starting Point: Stock Performance
Before any tweaks, it’s essential to establish a performance baseline. Using an air cooler (for broader applicability), we ran several benchmarks with fan speed at 100% to ensure consistency across all tests.
- Cinebench R23:
- Multi-core: 10,178
- Single-core: 1,531
- CPU-Z Benchmark:
- Multi-core: 17,289
- Single-core: 3,999
- 3DMark Custom Gaming Benchmark: 7,930
These results set a solid foundation to compare each overclock and undervolt scenario.
Step 1: Enabling Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO)
Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) is an easy and effective first step for overclocking, letting the CPU boost past factory limits based on thermal and power headroom.
- Enter the BIOS: Navigate to the overclocking settings.
- Set TDP Limits: Change the limits to “Motherboard” to unlock the CPU’s potential.
PBO Benchmark Results:
- Cinebench R23:
- Multi-core: 11,295
- Single-core: 1,515
- CPU-Z Benchmark:
- Multi-core: 18,021
- Single-core: 3,082
- 3DMark Custom Gaming Benchmark: 8,262
With PBO, we see significant improvements in multi-core performance, thanks to more stable clocks under heavy loads.
Step 2: Enabling Auto OC with Boost Clock Override
With PBO enabled, we took overclocking a step further by adjusting the boost clock override, allowing for additional performance gains in single-core tasks.
- Set Boost Clock Override: Set to a positive 200 MHz in BIOS.
Auto OC Benchmark Results:
- Cinebench R23:
- Multi-core: 11,245
- Single-core: 1,551
- CPU-Z Benchmark:
- Multi-core: 18,036
- Single-core: 3,192
- 3DMark Custom Gaming Benchmark: 8,296
Here, single-core performance improved, hitting 4.7 GHz, ideal for single-threaded applications. This method is best paired with a robust cooling system, as thermal limitations may otherwise limit gains.
Step 3: Manual Overclocking for Fine Control
For users seeking precise control, a manual overclock can maximize the Ryzen 5 5600X’s performance by locking all cores at a higher frequency.
- Disable PBO and Auto OC.
- Set Multiplier: Increase to 46.
- Adjust Voltage: Set Vcore to 1.4 volts as a starting point.
Manual OC Benchmark Results (4.6 GHz All-Core):
- Cinebench R23:
- Multi-core: 11,871
- Single-core: 1,519
- CPU-Z Benchmark:
- Multi-core: 18,563
- Single-core: 3,079
- 3DMark Custom Gaming Benchmark: 8,444
This configuration yielded our highest 3DMark score, thanks to stable clocks across all cores. If you have premium cooling, try pushing the voltage and multiplier further.
Step 4: Combining PBO with Undervolting
The final configuration optimizes for both performance and efficiency, ideal for users wanting reduced heat output without sacrificing too much power.
- Enable Curve Optimizer: Set the offset to a negative value. We found that -10 was stable.
- Lower Vcore Voltage: Start at 1.34 volts and reduce gradually, re-running benchmarks after each adjustment to test stability.
Undervolting with PBO Benchmark Results:
- Cinebench R23:
- Performance varies based on voltage level. Stable results were achieved at 1.268 volts.
- CPU-Z and 3DMark Scores: Lower temperatures and power draw while maintaining respectable benchmark scores.
This method allowed us to achieve better thermal management with minimal performance drop, ideal for extended gaming sessions or in setups with limited airflow.
Comparison of Methods
Each overclocking method has pros and cons. Here’s a quick summary:
| Method | Multi-core Score | Single-core Score | 3DMark Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 10,178 | 1,531 | 7,930 | General use, balance |
| PBO | 11,295 | 1,515 | 8,262 | Multi-core tasks |
| PBO + Auto OC | 11,245 | 1,551 | 8,296 | Single-threaded tasks |
| Manual OC (4.6 GHz) | 11,871 | 1,519 | 8,444 | Maximum performance, good cooling |
| PBO + Undervolting | Varies | Varies | Varies | Balance of performance and lower temps |
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Settings for Your Needs
Whether you’re looking to push the Ryzen 5 5600X to its limits or achieve cooler and quieter performance, there’s an option here for every setup:
- Best for Gaming: Auto OC with Boost Clock Override for improved single-core performance.
- Best for Content Creation: Manual all-core overclock at 4.6 GHz for sustained high multi-threaded performance.
- Best for Cooling and Efficiency: PBO with undervolting to keep temperatures and power draw low.
Experiment with these configurations and share your own results! Each system varies, so adjust the settings to see what works best with your specific hardware. If you have questions, drop them in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more tech guides.
