Consider whether the benefits of overclocking outweigh the risks for your FX-8320.
Consider whether the benefits of overclocking outweigh the risks for your FX-8320.
here are the details about my setup
cpu: amd fx-8320
motherboard: m5a97 le r2.0
ram: 8gb (2 x 4gbs)
gpu: evga gtx 950ftw
power supply: thermaltake tr2 tr-600 600w
i often stream and play online games like mobas, first person shooters, and some solo titles such as fallout, witcher, and mgs5. i’m curious whether overclocking my pc with a stock fan makes sense and what the pros and cons are. would it improve overall performance?
I agree with this assessment. The board that came with my FX8350 was included in a package, so targeting the 4.0GHz level is secure—but it shouldn’t exceed that. By the first of the year, with returns and retailer updates clearing space for the new AM4 release, you should be able to locate a 990FX board for around $75. However, I don’t think it’s a worthwhile investment. Even with it and a decent cooler, you’ll likely only reach 200-400MHz higher, and the performance gain doesn’t justify the cost in my view.
You can extract a bit more potential from that board by using stock 8350 speeds (4.0 GHz), but I wouldn't push beyond that—those VRMs will overheat and limit your performance. For gaming, I suggest boosting to at least 4.0 GHz; it's a bit slower at 3.5.
I agree with this assessment. The board included with my FX8350 was included as part of a package, so targeting the 4.0GHz range is reasonable—but it shouldn’t exceed that. By the first of the year, with returns and retailer changes preparing for the AM4 launch, you should be able to locate a 990FX board for around $75. However, I don’t think it’s worth the cost. Even with the board and a decent cooler, you’ll likely only reach 200-400MHz, and the performance gain doesn’t justify the expense in my view.
You can extract more performance from that board by using stock 8350 speeds (4.0 GHz), though I wouldn't exceed it—VRMs may overheat and limit your speed. For gaming, upgrading to at least 4.0 GHz is a good move, as it's slightly slower at 3.5 GHz. This suggestion comes from @Geekwad, and I have limited experience with this new processor. Would you like recommendations on where to find tutorials for overclocking your chip?
Turn off the turbo core in your BIOS and raise the multiplier. Don't adjust the voltages yet. Try to see if it boots up and then perform a stress test like Prime95 to check stability. If it fails, crashes, or shows blue screens, gradually increase the voltage until it works consistently.
This process is mostly trial-and-error since each chip and board behaves differently. My 8320 should run smoothly at stock voltages.
Start with this resource: http://www.amd.com/Documents/AMD_FX_Perf..._Guide.pdf