Case: Overclocking gone wrong, what could be the issue?
Case: Overclocking gone wrong, what could be the issue?
Hi everyone,
I’m facing a serious issue and need urgent assistance.
My PC model is listed here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/YTXDHh.
Yesterday I attempted to overclock it by adjusting settings in the BIOS and following a guide I found. I disabled certain components and set static values such as voltages and memory frequencies—though I suspect those changes might have caused problems. Then I tried using the frequency multipliers, which instantly pushed my FX8350 to 5Ghz. Unfortunately, this action led to the PC failing to boot or even reach the BIOS menu, displaying "no signal" and causing significant frustration.
After searching forums for solutions, I realized I needed to reset the BIOS by jumping the CMOS battery. That worked temporarily. However, I then thought I’d made a mistake with the memory frequency settings (which I likely did) and started over again, setting the CPU to 5.1Ghz and adjusting the memory frequency back to what I believed was the default. Still, the issue persisted.
Later, I discovered that resetting the BIOS without the memory in the system might be necessary. I tried this, but it didn’t help. Someone suggested holding the reset button and power switch for 15 seconds to restore factory settings, but that also failed.
In short: Overclocking caused the system to crash, and I’m now unsure if I’ll manage to fix it myself.
Please advise.
If you completed that guide and activated the llc, the voltage would have been greater than what you previously thought, suggesting we’re unclear about the actual value during the failure. Are you certain about the wattage each vCore consumes at each clock speed? Understanding the voltage increase per llc increment will help estimate the original power draw. The sabertooth with llc on one notch above standard (25% and 110%, which is one notch higher than regular) could add up to 0.05 volts. Multiplying by four for the maximum boost, it might reach at least 1.5 volts. Since this only occurred after saving and restarting, the high voltage likely caused the issue.
You're wondering what would happen if you jumped straight to 5, and most guides suggest taking small steps. You recently tried extreme OCing three times while running at high CPU speeds without checking temperatures, giving you a 95% chance you damaged the motherboard. What instructions did you receive?
I monitored temps while on 4.3ghz and mobo never reached 40degrees celcius. Youre right I didnt follow the guide because I jacked the cpu to 5ghz directly. But I read somewhere that its hard breaking hardware without changing voltages, so do you think given that, that there is still a way to fix it?
In essence you tried to overclock with an inadequate cooler and psu.
550w psu isn't enough to overclock the 8350 it can pull up to 360w oc'd which I think is an accurateish figure because the 4350 pulls 180w so double the cores, double the trouble. Combined with your GPU you could have exceeded the psu's wattage though it doesn't sound like you put the system under load maybe you get a spike in power consumption at boot or windows logon or something and that did for it. It's a 550w psu but probably in reality can supply less than that. There is no margin for error and you did indeed make an error.
The psu wasn't your only problem. The cooler is nowhere near good enough for a 5ghz overclock on the fx. It could also have overheated don't tell me what vCore you tried to apply I guess it was over 1.55v suffice to say there is also a possibility that you over volted the cpu as well as over-heated it.
You should get beep codes from the mobo if it's alive unless the psu is dead so it's difficult to guess precisely which component fried and at least one did indeed fry.
The problem now is probably either the cpu, mobo or the psu, or all of them however before you throw any more money at it I'd consider ditching the adventure and buying a newer system.
I know that people come here at the lowest point in their computing lives there's no easy way to break the news your core system is v.possibly d.e.d dead
You could try replace psu with an 850w version as your cheapest option but we can't tell if something else fried at this juncture.
It wouldn't be worth trying to replace mobo & cpu since the 990fx boards still command something of a premium 2nd hand. A high quality 850w isn't cheap neither.
You should also be looking at a high end cooler like the corsair h100 or 150 with the 360mm radiator. for the fx 8350 So where is it all going? $200-$250 repair is much of the way to $400 for a new core system (cpu mobo ram +psu) that will easily exceed the fx overclock in any case. At least the chassis survived. You can re-use that. and the GPU might be ok.
So, you spend another 99$ on a psu, and if that doesn't work 300$ more on a new core system, cpu mobo and ram. The mem. might have survived but it won't be compatible with ddr4 anyway. Or also consider switching to an intel system, whatever fits your budget for a working pc.
I'd try a new psu first since you'd probably need one for a new system anyway, but if that doesn't work, $pend. There is no free way to fix it.
Don't try another overclock with a 550w psu and only a 4 pipe cooler. There is practically no point in splashing out for a humungous larger cooler like the noctua nh-d15 if you're going to consider a new system with a lower tdp, unless you plan to overclock that as well.
If you are prone to try to go blam and hit the max overclock I would buy an excessively large psu and cooler so that it is relatively dummy proof. Better still forget you heard about overclocking until you learned something about it.
NOTHING can stop you from entering a vCore in the bios that is too high that might kill the CPU apart from KNOWLEDGE. You desperately need to learn some.
Don't do it again with your new system. if you can afford it. I have No Suggestions for a budget pc you'll have to start another thread. Oh yes and windows if you can recover your key and M$ lets you transfer it maybe/maybe not you are looking at
$250-$300 for higher end psu & cooler to see if the system survived and try again overclocking the fx 8350.
$400-$700 for new core system & windows or somewhere thereabouts.
It will cost you more than necessary to dabble with the overclock is what I'm trying to say. You needed to know that before you pressed any buttons. But you're be better off with a large cooler anyway since you would probably try to overclock the next system
Do not try to apply an FX vCore to a Ryzen or intel CPU it WILL be too high and will fry your system (again). Forget fx Vcore and do not exceed vCore 1.3volts on your new system whatever it might be
Do not not try to overclock it without at least reading about the Max Recommended overclocked vCore for whatever CPU you buy next if you do. And Never Exceed recommended limits!
Is the PC equivalent of a drunk driver totaled at a roundabout?! The wreckage. The coroner. The post mortem. The verdict. The tears. Ah.
I adjusted the Vcore to 1.3v and NB-Core to 1.2, values recommended in a tutorial for my CPU. The system started up, lights, fans, and the optical drive began scanning. Could you explain how this setup might have caused the PSU to fail? Also, since I don’t intend to spend money and still have my old parts on hand for testing, could you help me understand what might be wrong?