In our special we have put together 6 different gaming PCs for you from 570 euros. None of our setups cost more than 2,400 euros, including two PC setups that are designed for overclocking the CPU.
This means that in terms of pure performance, these two PCs are also a lot cheaper to implement, provided you forego the overclocking option. We want to briefly explain the topic of overclocking right at the start – other topics in our special in addition to the 6 example PCs and CPU overclocking are case and mainboard sizes, graphics card and cooler dimensions as well as SSDs.
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Gaming PC: overclock CPU
Increasing the clock speed of a CPU above its factory default value is called overclocking or in short OC for the English expression “overclocking”. If you overclock a processor by, for example, 10 percent, you get up to 10 percent more performance. In games, however, you will get significantly less increase in FPS (frames per second) in percentage terms than what corresponds to the percentage overclocking.
Because the influence of the graphics card is very high in games. Nevertheless, many users want to overclock the CPU in their PC, some even out of sporting ambition, to test the limits that obviously exist.
Because overclocking creates more heat than intended, and other components (especially the mainboard) can also be overstressed. Theoretically, a processor can also be destroyed if you overdo it – so you should only proceed in small steps and subject each clock speed increase to a detailed stress test using tools.
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Depending on the mainboard model, there are menu items in the UEFI or tools for Windows that make overclocking easier without much prior knowledge – but you should still familiarize yourself with the topic a little beforehand. With a modern processor, you increase the multiplier in the UEFI (BIOS) of the motherboard for overclocking.
For example, an internal base clock of 100 MHz times a multiplier of 40 results in 4000 MHz, i.e. 4.0 GHz as the CPU clock. If you increase the multiplier to 45, the CPU clocks at 4.5 GHz. At Intel, only CPUs with a K in the model name have a freely selectable multiplier, for example the Core i7-14700K or Core i5-13600KF.
In addition, the mainboard must have a Z chipset to adjust the multiplier (for example Z790). With AMD's AM4 and AM5 sockets, OC basically works with any motherboard, although more expensive models (just like Intel) offer more overclocking options and, thanks to higher-quality components, are more likely to cope with higher clock speeds than cheaper motherboards.
With AMD you have to note that the X3D models of the Ryzen 5000 and 7000 CPUs do not have a freely selectable multiplier. For example, if you want to overclock, use CPUs like the Ryzen 5 5600X or Ryzen 7 5700X (both socket AM4) or Ryzen 5 7600 or Ryzen 7 7700X (both socket AM5) – you don't know what a socket is? Then our short, next section will help.
Source: EKL Alpenföhn
A large cooler or an all-in-one water cooling system is advisable when overclocking.
Base explained in brief
AMD's sockets AM4 and AM5 are currently interesting for gamers, while Intel's socket 1700 is of interest to gamers. The socket is the device for installing the CPU on a motherboard and is also the name of an entire processor platform from AMD or Intel, each of which represents a larger selection of CPUs. AMD's AM4 socket has its strengths with CPUs under 300 euros, the newer AM5 socket with processors over 300 euros.
With Intel's Socket 1700 you will find some interesting CPUs from 90 to (well) over 400 euros. Our last CPU buying advice from the end of March clarify this in more detail. Since a motherboard only supports a certain socket, you have to make your choice of motherboard dependent on which processor you choose.