Intel has released an official overclocking tool called Intel Performance Maximizer for overclocking some of the ninth-generation Intel processors. This tool works only with a small set of Intel processors specifically belonging to the ninth generation Core processors (includes some Core i9, Core i7 and Core i5 processors). It is able to automatically overclock these processors to bring you the maximum possible performance from your system.
Intel Performance Maximizer supports only the following processors – Core i9-9900K, Core i9-9900KF, Core i7-9700K, Core i7-9700KF, Core i5-9600K, Core i5-9600KF. In addition, motherboard chipset should be Intel Z390. Furthermore, you must be running Windows 10 version 1809 or newer. It requires at least 8 GB RAM (which means 64-bit hardware and 64-bit Windows). Your non-removable GPT hard drive (or SSD) should have 16 GB free space available.
Before you download and install it, you should make BIOS changes to enable overclocking, all cores must be enabled, enable Intel Hyper-Threading, Intel Turbo boost, Intel SpeedStep, Intel WatchDog Timer, and the computer must be booting in UEFI mode. You can use our tool DetectFirm to find if Windows is booting from UEFI mode or legacy BIOS mode.
After the installation, Intel Performance Maximizer claims 16 GB of the free space on the hard drive which is used for automatic overclocking of your CPU. It has a wizard like interface and takes you through all the steps. In the end, it will run some tests to determine whether your system if properly setup for overclocking.
After running many tests, it will inform you the safe overclocking frequency possible on your system. The application will independently determine the maximum overclocking level of your processor. In the process both the voltage supplied and clocking frequency are increased.
Users should be warned that overclocking can damage your hardware including the processors. In fact, Intel is offering “Performance Tuning Protection Plan” for people who are going to overclock their Intel processors. This plan is like a life insurance plan for your Intel CPU – if through overclocking you damage your Intel CPU, they will allow one-time free return of your damaged CPU.
You can download Intel Performance Maximizer from https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28772/Intel-Performance-Maximizer.