User Guide

55931 Rev. 1.0 March 2, 2017
AMD Ryzen Processor Overclocking User’s Guide
AMD Ryzen Processor Overclocking Summary
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4.1.3 CPU Overclocking Enablement
When used on an overclocking-enabled motherboard, an AMD Ryzen processor is ready for
Overclocking Mode. The processor will run normally with all internal power, voltage, and
thermal management features enabled until a point in time when user-directed system software re-
programs the specific voltage and frequency values to levels other than stock operating values.
The following changes take effect when the values are re-programmed and the processor enters
Overclocking Mode:
1) All enabled CPU cores operate at the newly user-programmed voltage and P0 frequency
value. Adjustment of the CPU clock is in 25MHz steps.
2) Internal features of the processor which control the CPU operating voltage and frequency
to manage the CPU temperature, current consumption, and power consumption to
specified maximums are disabled so that no additional stress to system voltage regulators
and thermals are induced. This includes c-state boost.
3) CPU low power c-states (CC1, CC6, and PC6) and software visible p-states (P1 and P2)
remain operational and may be requested by software so that power savings can be
achieved.
a. The P1 and P2 p-state tables may also be modified to adjust the voltage and frequency of
the CPU when running in software-requested, reduced-performance states. These may also be
left at stock values.
b. If the OS-level software power policy is also changed so that the CPU’s power-saving p-
states are not used, then these power-saving states will never be requested.
c. If AMD Cool’N’Quiet is disabled, then low power c-states will also be disabled.
4) Various internal voltage regulators supplying CPU core power are placed into bypass mode,
allowing the external VDDCR_CPU to directly supply the CPU cores.