Can the FX 6300 be overclocked with a stock cooler?
Can the FX 6300 be overclocked with a stock cooler?
I have an FX 6300 paired with my RX 570 4GB and I notice some performance issues in games like Dishonored 2 and Apex Legends when graphics are high. I wanted to check if overclocking the FX 6300 is possible without a different cooler than the standard one. I’ve read many guides and watched videos, but they all suggest using a different cooler to cool the CPU better. Can I still overclock it with the stock cooler? How would I proceed? Also, if I need to purchase a new cooler, what models should I consider? My goal is to extract as much performance from my CPU as possible that I’m not currently getting.
Stock CPU paired with a budget motherboard, overclocking isn't advisable.
The common advice against using the stock cooler stems from its inability to maintain optimal temperatures during overclocking. While theoretically you could use a cooler with more thermal capacity, the FX stock coolers performed poorly, making an aftermarket solution necessary. Considering the typical maximum temperature of an FX6300 around 65-70°C, additional cooling would be essential for better results.
On a stock cooler, performance drops noticeably above 3.7-3.8 ghz when temperatures rise under load. Swapping it for a $27 Evo model allows you to reach 4.0-4.2ghz before your motherboards' VRMs hit their limits.
OC might not be the optimal choice. For every 10% increase in OC, you typically see around a 1% boost in performance since frequency is just one aspect. Without 300 to 400MHz it would be nearly indistinguishable in practical applications. This also demands significantly improved cooling for both the CPU and the case.
I concur with this; the optimal choice would be to either enhance your entire CPU setup or opt for an FX 8350 or 8320.