Overclocking over the years has become increasingly popular and with that naturally comes the use of essential tools to assist in doing so.
Whether you’re a Intel or AMD User, I have rounded up a short list of essential overclocking tools.
Essential Stability Testing Tools
PRIME95
Its been around as long as I can remember and is one of the best when it comes to stress testing your overclocks. It works by processing intensive mathematical sums and equations placing an extensive load on your RAM, CPU and Power Supply.
Most people including myself suggest running prime95 for a minimum of 12 – 24 hours, If your computer crashes or produces a BSOD (blue screen of death) then you know your overclock is unstable. This is an amazing tool that every overclocker needs.
Download from website
AIDA64 Extreme
AIDA64 is a rock solid stability tester. While Prime95 has been around for as long as I can remember, AIDA64 is absolutely rocking solid although it does not push temperatures nearly as high as Prime with current-generation Intel Processors it’s still relied upon by many overclockers.
Download from website
Reporting Tools
CPU-Z
CPU-Z is a live reporting desktop application that allows you to see more information about your RAM, Motherboard, processor clock rates, voltages and even bus speeds. It’s easy to use with zero installation and really outshines any other live reporting tool out there.
Download from website
Hardware Monitor
Hardware Monitor is an all-round perfect reporting application that allows you not only to monitors your voltages and temperatures but it will even give you their maximum and minimum over time. Hardware monitor is perfect for overclockers wanting to monitor even the small details.
Download from website
RealTemp
RealTemp is a CPU reporting application that reports temperatures, voltages, current load, core clock speed as well as providing a small benchmark provided by XS.
Download from website
Live Overclocking Tools
CPU Tweaker
This nifty little desktop application provides all the features you would expect when working from the bios, It can be good for testing new overclocks on the fly.
Rather than being focused on one platform (AMD/INTEL), CPU tweaker is a more generic tool with a wider compatibility range.
Download from website
Intel Desktop Control Center
The Intel Desktop Control Center is an official overclocking tool for Intel processors. It has the ability to overclock your CPU with a simple click of the mouse, memory control settings and reports. The only downside to this tool is it’s limited to socked 1156 / 1366 that are running the DX8SO, DP55SB, DP55KB Chipsets.
This is a real shame because this tool shows a lot of promise
Download from website
AMD Overdrive
Whatever Intel does AMD are bound to follow, AMD Overdrive is a CPU overclocking tool solely for AMD users. it provides an extensive toolset to modify your system from the comfort of your windows desktop. It has an impressive array of options and tweaks from fan monitor, voltages, buses, the ability to change CPU clock speed, multipliers and voltages for the CPU, Memory and HT technology.
Download from website
PC Benchmarking Tools
3D Mark
While not strictly a stability testing tool, The 3d Mark suite of video stress testing tools does a great job of placing a load on your graphics card and provides a quick, accessible and free way for GPU overclockers to check their performance gains.
This is an essential tool that any serious overclocking gamer needs to have in his arsenal.
Download from website
