AMD drivers may be overclocking your CPU without asking for permission

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Overclocking is a method to get a little extra juice out of your CPU at the cost of straining the hardware past what the manufacturer originally intended.
  • The process carries risks and could damage your PC if things go sideways, hence why it's an optional tool mainly employed by PC enthusiasts who voluntarily seek it out.
  • Recent AMD drivers have reportedly been foisting overclocking on some users, taking away their agency in the process.

Overclocking is a process by which you can squeeze a little extra power out of your CPU by pushing it past its stock settings. While this can be useful for your computing needs, it comes with the risk of straining your system's hardware. Certain motherboards such as the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero take overclocking needs into consideration, but not every system's components will bother, meaning the process can be risky business for those who don't know what they're doing.

That's why it's troubling to hear the news that AMD Radeon Adrenaline GPU drivers are allegedly automatically overclocking some users' Ryzen CPUs. The cross-compatibility between the two types of hardware and their associated software is meant to be a positive feature to help streamline AMD fans' PC experiences, but in this case, seems to be unintentionally kicking some systems into overclocked mode. Because of the link between the two, applying a Radeon GPU profile may now also turn on automatic CPU overclocking without any warning.

Tom's Hardware received a statement from AMD on the matter that reads as follows: "We are aware of an issue in the AMD software suite that is adjusting certain AMD processor settings for some users. We are investigating the issue and we'll share more information as soon as we're able."

Not only can overclocking damage ill-equipped PCs via hardware overheating and reducing the overall lifespan of a CPU, but because of the risks it poses, opting to overclock will void the CPU's warranty. It remains unclear whether AMD will consider any machines that have made the shift without the user's consent as void of warranty or whether exceptions will be made for anyone adversely affected by the reported driver issues.

Robert Carnevale

Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He's a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author of Cold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.

Read more
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor in motherboard socket
Another fake Ryzen 7 9800X3D was sold on Amazon — this is a reminder to check your hardware
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
APU, CPU, and GPU — What are the differences?
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition and RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics cards stacked together
UPDATE: NVIDIA says it's "investigating the reported issues with the RTX 50-series" as reports of faulty GPUs pile up
Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card during the 2025 CES event in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.
NVIDIA's RTX 5070 Ti is another busted launch of bogus listings and a rhetorical MSRP for RTX 50 Series GPUs
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo (B2HMG) with Intel Core Ultra 9 285H inside.
Intel's bold security claims: Mudslinging or genuine warnings for AMD & NVIDIA?
Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT
AMD Radeon RX 9000 reviews put the RTX 5070 to rest — "Nothing short of the graphics card everyone's been asking for."
Latest in CPU GPU Components
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
This 1080p gaming CPU is down to $76 — it doesn't get much better for budget PC builders
Gigabyte RTX 5080
NVIDIA's RTX 5080 is in stock at Newegg, but you won't like the new pricing
Crucial T500 1TB SSD with heatsink on a mechanical gaming keyboard.
I just bought this 34% off 1TB SSD for my gaming PC because it's fast, cheap, and well-rated — Now I can finally upgrade my gaming PC
Cyberpunk 2077 Ray Tracing Screenshot
"Groundbreaking performance improvements" — Microsoft introduces DirectX Raytracing 1.2
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 3070 Ti
Hoping to land NVIDIA's RTX 5060? Rumors suggest it won't happen this month.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D boxed held in front of a blue cloudy sky with Windows Central best award
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor stock has finally caught up to demand — Here's where to buy the best gaming CPU
Latest in News
Microsoft Edge Sidebar
My favorite Microsoft Edge feature just got an AI upgrade — is this the best way to use Copilot on a PC?
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, physicist, mathematician and cosmologist
Nobel laureate claims "AI will not be conscious" and shouldn't be considered intelligent — Until it develops its own ideas
UGreen x Genshin Impact charging accessories: image shows magnetic wireless charger, power bank, GaN charger and USB-C cable
UGreen drops a stunning Genshin Impact collection of charging accessories AND it's all on sale
Lies of P boss
Grab these must-play games at killer deal prices during the CDKeys Spring Festival
In this photo illustration OpenAI ChatGPT icon is displayed on a mobile phone screen in Ankara, Turkiye on August 13, 2024.
OpenAI says an excessive dependency on ChatGPT can lead to loneliness and a "loss of confidence" in decision-making
Alienware Area-51 laptops (2025)
Dell revives Alienware Area-51 with powerful new gaming PCs