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You can try a Raspberry Pi 5 overclock with arm_freq=3000 and gpu_freq=1000 in /boot/firmware/config.txt, but those are target settings—not a guaranteed stable profile. Raspberry Pi lists 2400 MHz as the Pi 5’s default maximum Arm frequency, and individual boards can differ in overclocking headroom. Update firmware, fit cooling, and be ready to reduce the clocks if your board becomes unstable.

What the 3 GHz and 1 GHz settings mean

The example raises the Arm CPU target from the Pi 5’s default maximum of 2400 MHz to 3000 MHz and sets the grouped GPU frequency to 1000 MHz. The 2400 MHz figure is the default maximum, not a published overclock limit. Les Pounder’s Tom’s Hardware guide reports reaching 3 GHz on its setup, but that is the author’s result, not an independently established expectation for other boards. Raspberry Pi’s cooling whitepaper gives the 2400 MHz stock reference: Cooling a Raspberry Pi device.

Raspberry Pi documentation also notes that clock limits can differ between GPU blocks. On Pi 5, gpu_freq groups several settings; V3D has an independent frequency from core, ISP and HEVC. If you need to tune a particular GPU block rather than use the grouped target, consult the clock-control options in the official config.txt documentation.

Prepare the Pi before changing clocks

  • Update Raspberry Pi OS and firmware. Raspberry Pi says overclocking requires the latest firmware. Use the normal system update process for your installation before tuning.
  • Install cooling before powering on. Raspberry Pi recommends its Pi 5 Active Cooler case for overclockers. A heatsink or fan can reduce thermal throttling, though cooling choice should reflect sustained workload, noise, power draw and case fit.
  • Use a suitable power supply. Raspberry Pi recommends a 27 W USB-C supply for Pi 5 and lists 5.0 A as the recommended capacity. This is a system recommendation, not a guarantee that a board will sustain the target clocks. Peripheral draw and cable quality also matter.
  • Back up the configuration file. Keep a copy of /boot/firmware/config.txt so you can restore it if an edit prevents booting.

Pi 5’s temperature-controlled fan behavior starts fan operation at 50°C and reaches full speed at 75°C, with 5°C hysteresis, according to Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation. That control helps manage heat; it does not make every overclock stable.

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Set the CPU and GPU targets

  1. Open /boot/firmware/config.txt in a text editor with administrator privileges.
  2. Add the following at the end of the file. If stability is more important than reaching the target immediately, start below these values and raise them gradually.
[all]
arm_freq=3000
gpu_freq=1000
  1. Save the file and reboot. Leave force_turbo out for ordinary use: by default, the CPU clock rises under load and falls when idle. Setting force_turbo=1 instead forces maximum frequencies even when idle.

Do not copy voltage tweaks written for other Raspberry Pi generations. Current firmware automatically scales voltage for an overclock; manually setting over_voltage disables that automatic scaling. Certain non-default configuration values can also set a detectable permanent overclock bit when force_turbo=1 is combined with a positive over_voltage_* value. Check the current configuration documentation before changing voltage-related settings.

Check clocks, temperature and supply voltage

After rebooting, use these commands in a terminal to inspect instantaneous readings:

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vcgencmd measure_clock arm
vcgencmd measure_clock core
vcgencmd measure_temp
vcgencmd pmic_read_adc EXT5V_V

The first two report current clock readings for Arm and core; the temperature command reports the instantaneous SoC temperature, and the PMIC command reads the Pi 5’s external 5 V supply measurement. A clock reading is only a snapshot: it does not prove stability under sustained load. Check readings while running the workload you care about, and watch for crashes, lockups, graphical artifacts or throttling.

The SoC can throttle at high temperature or when undervoltage is detected. Raspberry Pi documents a default configured temp_limit of 85°C and describes throttling in the 80–85°C range and above 85°C. The configured threshold disables overclocking or overvoltage at its limit. See the official thermal and voltage guidance for the details.

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If the Pi is unstable or will not boot

  • It boots but freezes, reboots or shows artifacts: reduce arm_freq, gpu_freq, or both, then repeat the same workload check. Change one target at a time to identify which setting is responsible.
  • It throttles: check the temperature and supply readings, improve cooling or reduce the workload, and make sure the supply and cable can support the connected system.
  • It fails to boot: remove the clock overrides from config.txt and reboot with the stock settings, then reapply lower or otherwise changed values. Raspberry Pi’s recovery guidance also discusses over_voltage_delta; voltage adjustments should be made cautiously and in line with current firmware behavior.

There is no published controlled benchmark in the cited sources establishing the performance gain or the share of Pi 5 boards stable at exactly 3 GHz Arm and 1 GHz GPU. Treat the settings as a starting point for your own board, not a universal recipe.

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