Boost clock
pcThe highest possible clock speed a CPU or GPU can operate at under specific conditions.
expanded
The boost clock refers to the peak frequency a processor's core can achieve for brief periods, given adequate thermal conditions and power supply. This is important when a processor needs to handle intensive tasks, as the boost clock enables temporary increases in performance. Unlike base clocks, boost clocks account for dynamic workloads, preserving overall efficiency.
examples
An AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor features a base clock of 3.7 GHz and a boost clock of up to 4.8 GHz.
The boost clock is engaged during demanding gaming sessions or when performing CPU-intensive tasks, allowing for better performance.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU can achieve a boost clock of 1.71 GHz under optimal conditions.
This is typically activated during graphically intensive operations such as real-time ray tracing in compatible games.