AMD Bulldozer Sets Guinness World Record for Overclocking

There's apparently no yield issues with the new 32nm CPU, as the overclockers did their best to destroy trays of FX CPUs as they sought the one that would overclock the highest.

It wasn't just about exotic cooling with FX—AMD says the chip will also overclock nicely on air, too.

A locally built phase-change cooler helps overclock this FX chip. While cool, the phase-changer cooler can't touch what liquid nitrogen nor liquid helium can hit.

A Team AMD FX member holds up a processor that has been specially modified to help overclocking.

Accurate temperature readings aid in extreme overclocking, so a channel is cut into the heat spreader and a digital probe is inserted into the divot.

The overclockers also attempted to get a more accurate temperature reading by cutting off the outside of the heat spreader and inserting a probe under the spreader.

A simple Thermos is used to hold the liquid nitrogen and, contrary to belief, a retro Space: 1999 Thermos did not get used.

Many people think that using gloves is safer when handling liquid nitrogen, but unless the glove is specially design to resist cold, tissue damage can be worse. In this case, a Team FX goes commando.

Sami Maekinen intently watches a CPU-Z read out while tweaking the overclocking from within Windows using an Asus overclocking tool.

An early result using liquid nitrogen hits a “mere” 8.140GHz on the eight-core FX CPU. Note the multiplier and bus speed tweaks on the unlocked FX chip. AMD says all FX chips will be unlocked.

A tendril of cold swirls in the hand of Brian “Chew” Mchlachlan during early liquid nitrogen tests.

The specially built cold pot (not Styrofoam cup here) aids in the overclocking and even features a specially designed ports to increase exposure of the liquid nitrogen and liquid helium.

A motherboard box is added to the top of the pot just before the liquid nitrogen is applied.

A long probe is used to inject liquid helium onto the CPU during the record breaking attempt. Liquid helium is far colder than even liquid nitrogen and is just barely warmer than absolute zero.

Nervous overclockers Sami Maekinen and Brian “Chew” Mchlachlan make several attack runs at the world record before Sami switches off his targeting computer and decides to use the Force. Oh wait, wrong movie.

A clearly happy pair of overclockers manage to push the frequency of the AMD FX chip to 8.429GHz on their third attempt. After that, the $5,000 worth of liquid helium would be exhausted.

After breaking the record, the winning CPU and motherboard is lifted in triumph. Note the bottom of the board that’s frozen over.

The specialized cold pot is set aside after the record breaking run and so cold, that a heat gun must be used to thaw it out.