Overclocking my AMD Piledriver FX-8350

[rstaniforth]

Hi Guys,

So, as the post title states, I'm looking to overclock my AMD Piledriver FX-8350.

PC Specs:
CPU: AMD Piledriver FX-8350
Mobo: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 990FX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz
Heatsink: Noctua NH-D14
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5870
Case: Zalman Z11 Plus

I've heard the motherboard isn't the easiest to overclock, but I'm guessing most of the settings are pretty much the same.

I've had very little experience in the past with overclocking but I've read a few "starter" guides on the forums.

Ok, so after reading a few guides I've decided to give it a slow steady bash.

Start CPU Voltage > 1.3375v
Start CPU Multip > x20.0 4000Mhz

Increase 1 (11:47-11:57) - Failed after 10 minutes
1.3500v
x20.5 4100Mhz

Increase 2 (12:02-12:35) - Passed
1.3625v
x20.5 4100Mhz

Increase 3 (12:40 - 12:41) - Failed pretty much straight away.
1.3625v
x21.0 4200Mhz

Increase 4 (12:45 - 12:48) - Failed
1.3750v
x21.0 4200Mhz

As you can see, it seems to be failing at pretty low increases, not exactly sure why?

This is the error I'm seeing in Prime95:
"ERROR: ILLEGAL SUMOUT
Possible hardware failure, consult readme.txt file, restarting test."

I've not touched my NB Multiplier as I don't really know much about this. Although what I have read it's more of a tweaker once you've found a stable overclock...... Not sure how right I am there mind...

So right now, I've got a "35 minute" Prime95 run at 4.1Ghz. I find it hard to believe I can't go higher than that... I could start increasing my voltages but I'm not too sure how high I can go without causing damage? I'm basing my questions around this review:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fx-8350-vishera-review,3328-2.html

Where TomsHardware got 4.8Ghz from 1.375 V CPU voltage and a 1.175 V northbridge voltage. I havent been to get anywhere near that, as you can see.

Thanks guys.

P.S. This is all a bit new to me (Overclocking), so please be nice ;-)

 

[06yfz450ridr]

did you shut off all all the power saving options etc . i know when i didnt i got similar results.

my 8320 is turbo disabled, all power saving options off, vcore 1.38, mult 19x so thats almost 4.4ghz but can easily go past that fsb @ 230 , nb 2200, HT 2200 . i would set your dram settings manually so set the frequency and check the ram timings. i know my timings would go crazy on auto but set manually it runs ultra smooth now.

the power saving featured are most likely your problem. cpu and pcie spread spectrum should be off as well as cool and quiet and c1e etc should all be off

also you just running a single stick of 16gb or 4x4 etc. since running more stuck + more voltage needed on the nb

 

[rstaniforth]

Ooh really?
Shear lack of experience really. Ok, I'll go & disable those features and go from there.

With the RAM timings... Even thou I switch from Auto to Manual, just leave them on the selected setting they're on right? Or shall I just try the power saving stuff first...

Thanks a lot mate.

 

[rstaniforth]

Im running 4x4 mate.

 

[06yfz450ridr]

i would do all of it since your most likely going to have to adjust them later on anyways. with 4x4 im not sure how much of a voltage boost you may need so leave the nb voltage etc on auto for now and see what it it is running it at. but when you change the ram frequency try to keep it at 1600 for stability reasons as well as find out your timing for each sticks. if im correct its 9-9-9-24 for the 1600 mine is 1866 9-10-9-27. i would highly recommend putting manual timings in for stability reasons since auto will sometimes throw these out of wack

 

[06yfz450ridr]

a fsb boost may help as well

 

[rstaniforth]

Heres a few photos AFTER me reading your post. I've just set the multipliers back to stock for now.

http://s7.postimage.org/9xqz0hlez/photo_4.jpg

http://s8.postimage.org/qnj1yh8rp/photo_5.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/ym5myiwkx/photo_6.jpg

http://s8.postimage.org/ogetak3hh/photo_7.jpg

Hows that looking?

 

[rstaniforth]

DRAM Timing Control:

Manual - 9-9-9-24

Sorted.

Also, I see two sets of voltage figures...

CPU NB Voltage...

Then a bit further down it has under "Voltage Config" - "CPU Load-Line Calibration" with another load of Voltage adjustments, which are all set to Auto at the moment. You should be able to see it in the screenshots.

Thx

 

[sparkz89]

so how high is your 8350?

 

[rstaniforth]

so how high is your 8350?

Stock mate. Didnt bother OC'ing it due to my motherboard not supporting it.

 

[06yfz450ridr]

so how high is your 8350?

Stock mate. Didnt bother OC'ing it due to my motherboard not supporting it.

not sure where you see your 8350 not being supported


CPU Support List
Processor Info Since BIOS
Socket Family Model Power Core Frequency FSB Cache L3 Cache CPU Rev.
AM3+ Opteron OS3320SJW4KHK 25W Piledriver 1900MHz 1400MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 P1.40
AM3+ Opteron OS3380OLW8KHK 65W Bulldozer 2600MHz 2000MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.40
AM3+ Opteron OS3280OLW8KGU 65W Bulldozer 2400MHz 2600MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 P1.40
AM3+ FX FD8350FRW8KHK 125W Piledriver 4000MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.30
AM3+ FX FD8320FRW8KHK 125W Piledriver 3500MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.30

 

[sparkz89]

No sir... your board supports OCing i just creclocked my board from 5.1 back down to 4.8 because it wasnt stable this week. do you want some help

 

[rstaniforth]

Read this dude..

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18480107

Apparently...

"You can't go over 4.2 with that mobo I have exactly the same 1 and you get major VRM thermal throttling"

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

FX8350 \ 5.1GHZ. \ 1.384 VOLTS

ASROCK 990FX EXTREME 9

Phanteks PH-TC14PE with Scythe Slipstream 110 CFM fans attached.

 

[jmpearson88]

i have this board and an fx8350 and i was having problems when i tried to over clock the cpu with the north bridge over heating so to solve it i took the cpu fan from an old 3500+ took the fan off the heat sink and zip tide the fan right above the north bridge now i can run at 4.3 ghz with my antec 620 water cooler and it no long down clocks its self do to heat