HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced that HyperX Predator DDR4 memory was used to set a new overclocking world record for the fastest DDR4 memory frequency at 7200 MHz. The world record for highest frequency was set by the MSI OC Team in Taiwan using a HyperX 4600 MHz Predator DDR4 8G module (part number: HX446C19PB3K2/16) on an MSI MEG Z590 UNIFY-X motherboard using an 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900KF @ 3.50 GHz CPU. The record breaking frequency is posted on HWBOT, the site for PC enthusiasts looking for news, tips and information on overclocking, benchmarks and competitions. The valid CPU-Z screenshot can be found here.

"HyperX is thrilled to be part of this breakthrough in DDR4 overclocking history, with HyperX Predator memory used to set two world records within the past month," said Kristy Ernt, DRAM business manager, HyperX. "Our HyperX engineers continue to focus on improving high-speed yields to get faster products in the hands of our customers and push previously unattainable performance records."

GALAX on Facebook announced that it is developing its next generation of DDR5 memory modules targeted at overclockers. The modules are possibly made under the HOF (Hall of Fame) brand, as the announcement comes from the company's OC Lab handle that markets its HOF series products. The announcement also comes with pictures of trays of DDR5 DRAM chips made by Micron Technology. With major DIY gaming/overclocking memory brands announcing development of DDR5 memory products, one wonders where the platforms for these memory modules are. It's rumored that Intel's upcoming 12th Gen Core "Alder Lake-S" processor in the LGA1700 package could feature a DDR5 memory interface. AMD's first client-desktop platform with DDR5 would see the transition to the new AM5 socket.

Loaded with cutting-edge hardware and leading specs, the brand new GIGABYTE Z590 motherboards have made a strong impression of premium quality and bold style among the PC community. The GIGABYTE Z590 motherboards have achieved massive success since the launch, from dominating the overclocking world rankings to earning the world-renowned Red Dot design award, once again, affirming GIGABYTE's leadership in PC hardware!

Dedicated for extreme overclocking, Z590 AORUS TACHYON is a motherboard that was jointly designed by overclockers for overclockers. With this motherboard, GIGABYTE teamed up with world-class overclockers and managed to push the latest i9-11900K processor to a record-breaking 7314.41MHz. A new world record that proves yet again GIGABYTE motherboards have amazing overclocking capability and durability. Designed for PC enthusiasts, the flagship Z590 AORUS XTREME comes with a comprehensive package, featuring the highest 20-phase digital power delivery on the market, the highest memory frequency support, and a next-gen PCIe 4.0 ultra-fast data transfer, to deliver uncompromising performance in every aspect.

GIGABYTE announced the Z590 AORUS Tachyon, a high-end motherboard targeted at enthusiasts seeking out extreme CPU and memory overclocking feats. The board is designed with an optimized layout for open-air test benches. It features a powerful CPU VRM solution that draws power from two 8-pin EPS connectors, and 12 direct VRM phases, each with 100 A DrMOS and full Tantalum capacitor layout. The board features a 1-DIMM-per-channel (1DPC) memory, over just two DDR4 DIMM slots, a memory topology that enables the highest frequencies. The board also comes with physical controls for a number of overclocker-friendly features, such as BIOS profile selection, cold-restart, manual BIOS ROM selection, LN2 optimization, etc.

Expansion slots on the GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS Tachyon include four PCI-Express x16, from which two are Gen 4 (when paired with 11th Gen "Rocket Lake"), and run at either x16/NC or x8/x8; and the other two are Gen 3 x4/x1, wired to the Z590 PCH. Storage connectivity includes three M.2 NVMe slots, from which one is wired to the CPU and is Gen 4 x4 when used with "Rocket Lake," and the others Gen 3 x4. Other connectivity includes a premium onboard audio solution powered by a Realtek ALC1220-VB CODEC, a 2.5 GbE wired network interface powered by an Intel i225-V controller, and an 802.11 ax (Wi-Fi 6E), powered by an Intel AX210 controller. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Some time ago, Intel has introduced the Performance Tuning Protection Plan (PTPP), which was used as a warranty for any damage that has occurred during overclocking. Customers of PTPP, mainly buyers of Intel Core processors having a "K" tag were able to get a replacement processor whenever they damaged their CPU by overclocking it. When it comes to the pricing of such a service, typical plans were spanning from $19.99 to $29.99, depending on the processor you had. However, there will no longer be such a program, as Intel is discontinuing its PTPP extended overclocking warranty. The company has updated its site to refer to End-Of-Life (EOL) page displaying a quote below.

With the launch of its 500 series chipsets, Intel has officially laid the groundwork for the launch of its Rocket Lake-S CPU lineup. And with the new platform, there are some new features to be expected. The surprising news today is that Intel has enabled memory overclocking on a non-Z chipset like the upcoming H570 and B560 chipsets designed for mid-range motherboards that provide a budget option compared to the Z series that is designed for overclocking. The H570 and B560 chipsets now only lack the support for CPU overclocking, however, with Intel's history of limiting any overclocking exclusively to Z chipsets, this represents good progress nonetheless. However, for any frequencies above 2666 MHz, you need to use a Core i5 processor and above. The Core i3 and Celeron models are not going to support any higher speeds than 2666 MHz.

Jacob Freeman, Global Product Management Director at EVGA, has posted a teaser on his Twitter account for EVGA's upcoming GeForce RTX 3090 KINGPIN Hydro Copper graphics card. The KINGPIN lineup of graphics cards represent the highest-end design from EVGA, and it is built for extreme overclocking with the use of LN2 and with extreme voltages applied. The newly teased GeForce RTX 3090 KINGPIN Hydro Copper card is built for overclocking, however, this model is designed to be cooled by water as there is a water block mounted on the card itself. Called "hydro copper" the name is pretty self-explanatory as it implies that the water block is made out of copper for the best possible heat transfer.

The water block top is build using clear acrylic so the liquid inside the block can be seen. There are integrated RGB lights to customize your build and make the GPU fit in with your flashing lights using EVGA's software. The GPU is most likely going to feature a boost frequency of 1920 MHz, just like its brother GeForce RTX 3090 KINGPIN Hybrid card. Also, an XOC (Extreme Overclocking) BIOS is expected to be applied from the factory, which would bring the maximum power to 450 Watts. Pricing and availability are unknown at the moment.

Overclocking is always fun and almost everyone can do it, however, when it comes to extreme overclocking, there are only a handful of persons doing it. Today, a Chinese extreme overclocker "baby-j" has managed to establish a new world record frequency with his Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-4000 (BLM16G40C18U4B.M8FB1) memory kit. Using liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling for the DIMMs, the overclocker managed to push the memory kit to an amazing 7004.2 MHz, making it the world's highest frequency hit on DDR4 memory. What is more amazing is the fact that the platform used for the new record-setting overclock, is based on AMD's B550 motherboards running with AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G processor, which seems to have a very good memory controller. The timings were a bit relaxed with them running at 22-26-26-46-127-1 (tCAS-tRC-tRP-tRAS-tCS-tCR) settings.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules, NAND Flash products, and mobile accessories, today announces that the XPG Overclocking Lab (XOCL) has clocked the SPECTRIX D50 Xtreme RGB DDR4 memory module to a frequency of 5400 MT/s. The result was achieved on a GIGABYTE B550 VISION D motherboard featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 4700G processor.

Manufactured with only the highest quality chips and PCBs, the SPECTRIX D50 Xtreme offers excellent stability, reliability, and performance and supports the latest Intel and AMD platforms. The SPECTRIX D50 Xtreme sports an elegant and solidly constructed metal heatsink adorned with bold geometric lines and a triangular RGB light bar that perfectly fits the module's overall design.What's more, in line with its limited-edition status, the SPECTRIX D50 Xtreme comes in a special edition packaging that features a glossy exterior and premium box.

ClockTuner for Ryzen (CTR) by Yuri "1usmus" Bubliy, is an evolution of the DRAM Calculator for Ryzen utility. The utility goes beyond the functionality of the DRAM Calculator - which finds the most precise memory settings for Ryzen processors - and does your homework for Ryzen CPU overclocking. Optimized for processors based on the "Zen 2" microarchitecture, CTR has been designed both for Socket AM4 and sTRX4 (Threadripper) processors, and Linus Tech Tips in its announcement video of CTR demonstrated the tool's prowess in squeezing out a neat 10% performance gain for their Threadripper 3960X processor. Besides CPU and memory settings, the tool performs stability testing and benchmarking. 1usmus expects to release CTR 1.0 in September 2020.

AMD's Bulldozer architecture is a well-known quantity by now, and seemingly straddles a line between loathing and love between tech enthusiasts. Slow and power hungry compared to Intel's options, it harkens back to a time where the roles were reversed, and AMD were looking to compensate for architectural deficiencies (and architectural design decisions that can either be claimed as erroneous or ahead of their time) via increased clockspeeds. However you look at these Bulldozer CPUs, the fact is that they remain some of the best overclockers of all time - at least when it comes to maximum operating frequencies, especially at absolutely scorching vCore values.

To achieve that operating frequency, Der8auer used an Elmor EVC2 controller and diagnostics chip, which, connected to a usually unpopulated pin area in the ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA motherboard, allowed him to read-out everything that was running through the motherboard's VRM circuitry, and perform manual adjustments. Corsair Vengeance 2,666 MHz DDR3 memory was also used in the system. An accident happened along the way, though: when pulling AMD's stock cooler from the motherboard, the CPU remained attached to the cooler, which resulted in some bent pins (screams in horror). Luckily, things were fixed with a screwdriver - let that serve as a warning, alert, and tip, should this happen to you.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules, NAND Flash products, and mobile accessories today announces the launch of the XPG Hunter DDR4 memory module. Geared toward PC enthusiasts and gamers, the XPG Hunter delivers all the benefits of DDR4 with remarkable performance and efficiency. It supports XMP 2.0 for easy overclocking and offers great stability, making it ideal for performance seekers - gaming to competitive benchmarking. It comes in U-DIMM and SO-DIMM variants to meet the needs of desktop and notebook users alike.

The XPG Hunter modules are made with high-quality chips selected through a strict filtering process. They are equipped with the finest PCBs and pass rigid reliability and compatibility tests to ensure longevity and rugged durability, which are vital for overclocking, gaming, and extreme benchmarking. The modules deliver high-speed performance of up to 3200 MHz and comes with capacities of 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB to meet the needs of diverse users and budgets.

Intel is readying a microcode update specially for its X299 Express chipset, to enhance the overclocking capabilities of its 10th generation Core i9 XE "Cascade Lake-X" processors. News of the update was put out in an MSI press release that speaks of the company encapsulating the new microcode in BIOS updates for its entire socket LGA2066 motherboard lineup.

"To enhance the overclocking capability for the newly launched Intel Core X-series Processors (Intel Core i9-10980XE, 10940X, 10920X, 10900X), Intel will provide a new microcode update," the statement from MSI reads. Besides "overclocking capability," the new microcode also helps to "maximize the overall performance" of "Cascade Lake-X" processors," says MSI. The company does not describe what specifically these changes are. The microcode update will be released to end-users as BIOS updates by motherboard manufacturers, so be on the lookout for one, if you're using "Cascade Lake-X."

MSI today announced that their in-house overclocker Kovan Yang has broken the world overclocking record for DDR4 memory. The record-breaking feat was achieved with a pair of HyperX Predator DDR4 memory modules paired with MSI's MPG Z390I GAMING EDGE AC motherboard, with a little help from liquid nitrogen cooling.

The overclock was achieved with some compromises: the Intel Core i9-9900K processor that powered the system was running in a pared-down configuration with only a pair of active cores, and the DDR4 memory was working in single-channel mode with a single 8 GB stick and highly relaxed timings of 31-63-6363-2. While this isn't usable in your regular machine, that's not the point of these extreme overclocking feats, anyway. The goal is to showcase component quality and stability whilst working way beyond specifications.

Today an overclocking utility for AMD Ryzen CPUs called "Work Tool" has been updated with new features. The tool enables per-CCX overclocking, which is said to enable additional overclocking performance if one CCX is more capable than the other, so the whole CPU doesn't have to run at the speed of a slower CCX to be stable. The tool has been released by user shamino1978 on Overclock.net forums.

The reason for overclocking Ryzen CPUs on per CCX basis is because if you want to overclock a single core inside a CCX, the second core must run at a 1 GHz difference, meaning that if one core is OC'd to 4.5 GHz, the second core must run at 3.5 GHz. Such design is to be blamed on CPU's internal clock divider. However, you can use the Work Tool to do individual CCX overclocking and gain additional performance. Additionally, the tool has been updated to support tweaking of voltage aka VID. There are two versions of the tool, one which is smaller and has less features and one which can tweak the voltages. The smaller version is available here, while the bigger, more capable version is available here.

Intel has launched a software overclocking utility tool for their latest 9th Gen, unlocked CPUs that promises to take the guesswork and BIOS delving out of the overclocking equation. The Intel Performance Maximizer tries to do exactly what the name implies by automagically overclocking your unlocked (read, K-suffix CPU for unlocked multipliers) with no further user intervention needed. Intel describe this tool as the one that "(...) makes it easier than ever to dynamically custom-tune an unlocked Intel processor based upon its individual performance potential."

Intel says they will offer you a one-time, free CPU replacement in addition to your usual 3-year warranty on a company CPU, should anything wrong arise during this method of overclocking. Intel say's this is a way to maximize your CPU performance on a per-sample basis, so results may vary according to your CPU's thermal properties (as we know, some CPUs perform and overclock better than others due to slight variations in the manufacturing process). But if you don't want to get inside your BIOS for a dirty, hands-on approach, you can always use Intel's software, which has been released at a very conspicuous time indeed, considering AMD's Ryzen 3000 series release.

Ballistix, Micron's gaming memory brand, is now the official overclocking world record holder. Overclockers used the Ballistix Elite 3600MT/s to set a new overclocking record for the fastest DDR4 memory frequency at a blistering 5726 MT/s. That's 79 percent faster than the max JEDEC DDR4 speed of 3200 MT/s and 115 percent faster than the 2666 MT/s considered mainstream today.

How's that for a speed run? Yes, this record is a big, big, (big, big) deal to us here at Ballistix. But we care just as much about how we earned the top mark. We're proud that we were able to use the same CAS latency - CL24 - used by most of the previous record holders. In addition, we set the record using the same production module of the Ballistix Elite 3600 available to gamers today.

One of the runaway features for NVIDIA's latest RTX-20 series of graphics cards was the introduction of support for the OC Scanner feature - a program that automagically tests a range of frequencies on your NVIDIA graphics card and overclocks it to a deemed "stable" sweet-spot. This practically obviates the need for manual fine-tuning, though of course, the best results should always be found down that road - provided there's enough tinkering.

The latest version of MSI's Afterburner (v4.6.0 beta 10, available in the source link) now brings this functionality to Pascal-based graphics cards (besides some other features, such as voltage control, for Turing; check the entire release notes after the break). Have fun.

MSI late November released BIOS updates for its entire range of socket AM4 motherboards, mainly to include AGESA 1.0.0.6, which improves memory compatibility. The updates also pack various motherboard model-specific fixes. Apparently there has been a goof-up with this update (not in a bad way, though). The latest BIOS updates "accidentally" unlock the otherwise locked Athlon 200GE dual-core processor with integrated graphics.

No, you won't get more cores or iGPU stream processors, but the base-clock multiplier letting you easily overclock the processor is now unlocked. This adds value to the $55 processor, given that competing Celeron and Pentium Gold SKUs are overpriced in the market these days. In their overclocking adventures with the 200GE paired with a MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC motherboard, TechSpot observed that the chip (which is clocked at 3.2 GHz by default) wouldn't POST beyond 3.90 GHz, and that you need vCore at 1.4 V to sustain even 3.90 GHz. They found 3.80 GHz at 1.35 V to be 100% stable (an 18.75% overclock). The memory clocks are still restricted to DDR4-2666, although you can still play with timings.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, announces that it has established a new facility at its headquarters in New Taipei, Taiwan dedicated to pushing the limits of memory performance, the XPG Overclocking Lab (XOCL). The XOCL is the first facility of its kind among worldwide DRAM makers, is an expansion of ADATA's continued effort towards achieving record-breaking memory speeds, and will focus on experimenting with new techniques.

"With growing demand for memory modules that can operate at ever-higher frequencies, ADATA believes the future of overclocking lies beyond the established techniques of air and liquid cooling," said Neo and Stin at ADATA Technology. "The mission of the XPG Overclocking Lab is to explore new, potentially more effective methods that can break the threshold of memory speeds and incorporate them into XPG products for the benefit of users."
The XOCL will actively seek out partnerships within the industry, including with hardware makers and overclockers, to achieve its mission. Over the summer, ADATA overclocked its XPG SPECTRIX D80 RGB DDR4 memory module to 5531MHz in a liquid-nitrogen-cooled configuration, a new record. The milestone was achieved through a joint effort with MSI.

Gigabyte is a little bit late to the party, but better late than never, for sure. The company has launched four new graphic cards -AORUS Geforce RTX 2080 Ti XTREME 11G, AORUS Geforce RTX 2080 Ti 11G, AORUS Geforce RTX 2080 XTREME 8G. All of them are equipped with "top-of-the-line" overclocked GPUs, and the AORUS Engine software makes it easy to control clock speeds, fan performance or power target. These cards feature the RGB three-ring light effect, WINDFORCE 3x 100mm Stack Fan, and 7 video outputs.

Those fans allow to reduce the graphics card length, but they also generate more wind pressure and therefore improve dissipation not only for the GPU but also for VRAM and MOSFET. According to Gigabyte these are the only GeForce RTX20 Series products that offer 7 video outputs: 3 HDMI, 3 DP and one USB-C for greater flexibility when connecting different monitors without any adaptors. There's a new aero-space graded PCB for these cards, that have a 12+2 Phase PCB design (RTX 2080 Xtreme) with a 16+3 phase PCB design for the RTX 2080 Ti Xtreme.

GALAX has announced availability of their OC Lab Edition GPU Pot, a non-plant-based solution for users to cool their graphics cards with. The OC Lab Edition GPU Pot is fully made of 99.9% purity copper, which allows it to withstand up to -196 ºC. Not many more details are available for now, except pricing, and it's something to definitely not smile about: the OC Lab Edition GPU Pot will cost users $229.99.

GALAX, however, being a customer-friendly brand, are suggesting users put down an order for three of these OC Lab Edition GPU Pot alongside three of their own Galax HOF OC Lab WC cards, which go for $1,799... netting you a $600 discount on the pots. So, yeah. There's that. If you want it.

Shuttle Computer Group, Inc., one of the world's leading designers of small form computers, announces a new and powerful cube-sized computer, its SZ270R9, designed for advanced home and portable gaming, along with virtual reality applications. Unlike other PCs, once set, users can overclock with the Turbo button for the quickest, most realistic action. In spite of its small size, it has an impressive expansion capability and storage capacity. With lots of interior space, the SZ270R9 supports large-format dual-slot graphics cards; users can install up to four 2.5" or 3.5" hard drives and two m.2 bays. It also supports Intel's new Optane Memory to improve data processing and system speed.

"This is the ultimate gaming PC, power packed with an external design that looks like you're ready for battle," said Robert Garcia, channel manager, Shuttle Computer Group. "And when you press the overclock button, watch out! You'll be the winner for sure."

NVIDIA's decision to prohibit AIB partners from factory overclocking their GTX 1070 Ti graphics is a decision that may not sit well with hardware enthusiasts, but it's one that makes the most sense from a business perspective. As it is, it's expected that overclocked versions of the GTX 1070 Ti graphics cards, which have come to offer a more compelling NVIDIA option against AMD's Vega 56 graphics card, will offer performance that is by all accounts comparable to that offered by its more expensive (and older) GTX 1080 graphics cards. So NVIDIA is just ensuring that its introduction of the GTX 1070 Ti with its $459 MSRP doesn't cannibalize sales of their higher tier graphics card through higher out-of-the-box performance via factory overclocking.

BIOSTAR announces the availability of its Radeon RX Vega 64 VAVAT5VM88 graphics card in selected regions. The BIOSTAR RX Vega 64 epitomizes the best in high-end graphics with high resolutions, high frame rates and exceptional power efficiency with the all new Vega architecture. Building the ultimate gaming system with the recently introduced BIOSTAR RACING Z370GT6 motherboard for the new 8th generation Intel Core processors, makes these the perfect compliment.

BIOSTAR RADEON RX VEGA 64 (Air Cooling)
The Vega 64 is one of AMD's newest and most powerful graphics cards today featuring 8GB HBM2, the latest in graphics memory technology, with a 2048-bit memory interface and 4096 stream processors. It delivers smooth extreme gaming performance in the newest DirectX 12 and Vulkan games making it perfect for gaming and also for professional content creation. The Vega 64 also offers some of the highest hash rates in crypto mining, thanks to its powerful yet power efficient usage.