User Guide

55931 Rev. 1.20 February 2018
AMD Ryzen™ Master Overclocking User’s Guide
AMD Ryzen™ Processor Overclocking Summary
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Chapter 4 AMD Ryzen™ Processor
Overclocking Summary
AMD TR4 and AM4-based Ryzen processors are unlocked when paired with the enabling AMD
chipsets and necessary BIOS software and therefore allow the user to adjust the CPU and system
memory clocks and related parameters above or below the stock values. When run on boards
enabled for overclocking, AMD Ryzen Master will automatically enable the Overclocking Mode
at the user’s initiation of a change to a stock parameter. The CPU overclocking parameters will be
returned to stock operation through a system power cycle (Windows Shutdown, then re-starting).
System memory overclocking parameters and operation are persistent through a power cycle and
can only be changed from Ryzen Master or within the BIOS Setup.
The process for finding a stable overclocking configuration with the AMD Ryzen processor is not
fundamentally different from the previous generation AMD processors (such as the AMD FX
processors). The final operating voltages and frequencies will depend highly on the specific
system’s processor, memory, motherboard, cooling solution, operating environment, and the
user’s decisions on what elements to overclock and to what degree.
4.1 AMD Ryzen™ Processor Normal Operation
To describe how the AMD processor operates in Overclocking Mode it is best to understand how
the AMD Ryzen processor operates normally. When operating normally, the AMD Ryzen
processor has the following characteristics:
1. The frequency of processor core clock is determined by a combination of the software-
requested p-state and then adjusted by a combination of numerous power and performance
optimizing features to attain any of number of fine grain p-states around that software-
requested p-state.
2. Internal control mechanisms measure internal temperatures, power and current consumption,
and manage the operating voltage and frequency of various internal cores to maintain specified
levels. For example, when the number of active cores is below a pre-determined threshold, the
active core temperatures are below maximum, and the consumed total current is below
infrastructure limits, then those active cores will be boosted in voltage and frequency to the c-
state “boost” frequency until any of those conditions are no longer true.
3. The voltages for some of the various cores are internally generated from external supplies. For
example, each of the processor cores uses a supply independently generated from the external
supply. As the operating frequency for each processor core is adjusted to attain various fine
grain p-states, the operating voltage of the core is adjusted to support that new frequency at
optimal power consumption. The voltage adjustments are done using the internal voltage
regulator and the SVI2 controlled external supply voltage, if needed.