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What was the best CPU for overclocking of all time?
- Thread starter Pete Tong
- Start date
I'll suggest my old Athlon X2 5200+ (45nm version). Unlocked to Phenom FX 5200+ X4 (including unlocking L3 cache not usable as an Athlon) and then overclocked from 2.3 GHz to 3.3GHz for a rock solid overclock I kept in my main rig for about 9 years. Cost me about £30 something. This was basically a Phenom 2 with an easter egg for a name when unlocked (thanks AMD).
So unlocking a dual core to quad core, unlocking L3 cache and a big overclock. That's hard to beat for added value. It pushed a £30 ish budget CPU up to the performance of a £140 CPU (Phenom II 955 or 965 equivalent). That's hard to beat.
I did briefly push it up to 3.8 GHz for the odd benchmarking run but could never get it 100% stable up there.
My thread about it was here: https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...5nm-am3-may-unlock-to-phenom-fx5200.18225299/
I did also have an Athlon X2 5000+ I unlocked to a Phenom FX 5000+ but I needed to add a fair bit of voltage to keep the unlock stable and hence it ran hot. My 5200+ was a much better chip.
So unlocking a dual core to quad core, unlocking L3 cache and a big overclock. That's hard to beat for added value. It pushed a £30 ish budget CPU up to the performance of a £140 CPU (Phenom II 955 or 965 equivalent). That's hard to beat.
I did briefly push it up to 3.8 GHz for the odd benchmarking run but could never get it 100% stable up there.
My thread about it was here: https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...5nm-am3-may-unlock-to-phenom-fx5200.18225299/
I did also have an Athlon X2 5000+ I unlocked to a Phenom FX 5000+ but I needed to add a fair bit of voltage to keep the unlock stable and hence it ran hot. My 5200+ was a much better chip.
Last edited:
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Great to read all these experiences. Truly hefty OC is generally a thing of the past, sadly.
The standouts are the 2500K (I think I settled at around 4.5GHz) and Q9400 (I can't remember the specifics as it was over 15 years ago, but I think I got it from a base of 2.6GHz up to 3.4GHz or so).
The standouts are the 2500K (I think I settled at around 4.5GHz) and Q9400 (I can't remember the specifics as it was over 15 years ago, but I think I got it from a base of 2.6GHz up to 3.4GHz or so).