Does the FX-8320 reach its overclocking potential when paired with an MSI 970 gaming motherboard?
Does the FX-8320 reach its overclocking potential when paired with an MSI 970 gaming motherboard?
Hello,
In my build I use an MSI 970 Gaming motherboard that has been reliable and well-loved. My 8320 chipset has been kept at a 4.5GHz overclock for about a year. I was aware the board wasn’t ideal for high CPU voltages due to poor VRM quality and its own limitations, but I’m stuck with it. Right now I have an H55 cooler with two fans in a push-pull setup, which keeps my CPU around 40°C during gaming.
I’m considering pushing overclocking further. I noticed a big increase in voltage needs—from 4.5GHz to 4.6GHz. I managed 4.5GHz at 1.472V, just a slight rise. Is this change acceptable, or should I stop using this board? Or should I focus on overclocking the GPU instead?
Pigeoncracker :
I want to push it even further, but I've already seen a big increase in voltage needs from 4.5GHz to 4.6GHz. Right now I'm using 4.5GHz at 1.472V, which is just a tiny bit more than 0.1V. Is this huge change acceptable, or should it be a sign to stop using this motherboard? Ugh, you have a CPU with a lot of bleed. If you're running at 1.47V during a prime burn, the temperature shouldn't go over 50C. That means you still have room to try a bit more overclocking. The CPU starts struggling around 65-70°C, and if it hits 72°C it might crash the board. Usually, if you can keep it under a prime burn of less than 65°C, you should be fine.
Pigeoncracker :
Hello,
In my build I use an MSI 970 Gaming motherboard that has worked well for me and I really enjoy it. My 8320 is kept at an overclock of 4.5GHz for about a year now. I was aware the board wasn’t great for CPU overclocking because the VRM quality wasn’t top-notch and the board itself struggles with high voltage. Still, I’m stuck with it. Right now I have an H55 cooler with two fans in a push-pull setup, which keeps my CPU around 40°C during gaming.
I’m thinking about pushing the overclock further. I’ve tried a few times and noticed a big increase in voltage needs—from 4.5GHz to 4.6GHz. I’m running at 4.5GHz with 1.472V, just a tiny bit higher than before. Is this a big enough jump to be safe, or should I stop trying to overclock the board?
Or maybe it’s better to focus on overclocking my GPU instead?
Thanks.
MSI doesn't offer the top boards, particularly regarding VRM. It's possible the issue lies with your motherboard. I think I'd choose a different board; my FX CPUs (including an FX-8370 on my computer) perform well when overclocked with proper cooling. If you're not willing to adjust any parts or see it as important, upgrading your GPU might be wise.
Pigeoncracker is seeking further adjustments, noting a significant increase in voltage needs from 4.5GHz to 4.6GHz. They mention operating at 4.5GHz with 1.472V, a slight rise of about 0.1V. They question whether this change is acceptable or if it signals the need to halt overclocking on this motherboard. They describe having a high bleed CPU and suggest that at 1.47V during a prime burn, temperatures stay below 50°C, allowing for more aggressive overclocking. However, they warn that temperatures rise above 65-70°C, which could cause throttling. Generally, if the chip stays under 65°C after a prime burn, it’s safe to push further.
Regarding your query about 4.6-4.8Ghz CPUs, they mention encountering a "voltage wall" where each additional 100MHz typically demands significantly more voltage. This indicates that your chip is within normal limits for such performance. High bleed CPUs like the 8350 are common, while the 8320 is rare as a high bleed model. These chips usually need more voltage to reach higher clocks but also tend to stay cooler. My previous 8320 reached around 1.5V before overheating, and maintaining it at 1.45V with 4.8GHz was challenging but manageable.
In Piledriver CPUs, high bleed chips usually cap at the highest clocks (around 4.5-4.6GHz), while low bleed models can exceed them. The best motherboards for these are MSI Gaming, which supports pushing higher voltages safely. Overall, if temperatures remain stable, you should be able to attempt further overclocking.
Ingrtar33 :
Pigeoncracker :
I'm aiming to push this further, but I've already seen a big increase in voltage needs—from 4.5GHz to 4.6GHz. I'm currently at 4.5GHz with 1.472V, just a tiny bit more than before. Is this significant change acceptable, or should it signal me to stop using this motherboard?
Ugh, you have a CPU with high bleed. A CPU that draws a lot of power. I'm guessing at 1.47V during a prime burn, the temperature won't spike much above 50°C. If that holds true, you should still have room to try overclocking a bit more. The processor struggles around 65°C–70°C; at 72°C it might crash the board. Generally, if you can keep it under a prime burn below 65°C, you're likely safe with whatever voltage or overclock you choose.
Regarding your question, CPUs that reach 4.6–4.8GHz often hit what's called a "voltage ceiling," and each additional 100MHz usually demands significantly more power. So your chip is within normal limits. High bleed CPUs are quite common for the 8350 series; a 8320 with high bleed is unusual. These chips usually need more voltage to reach higher speeds, but they also don’t get as hot. My old 8320 was a "low bleed" model, and it only reached about 1.5V before cooling solutions failed. I kept it at 1.45V and 4.8GHz overclocking daily—note the lower voltage for higher clock, hotter temps, which required extra effort to keep it cool.
In Piledriver CPUs, high bleed chips tend to average out the highest speeds, but with proper cooling, low bleed chips can also hit very fast rates. The worst-performing overclockers in this line are the "average bleed" models, which usually cap around 4.5–4.6GHz and don’t exceed it.
MSI Gaming is a solid motherboard, so I’d consider pushing your chip higher. It will likely need a lot more voltage, but as long as temperatures stay under control, I shouldn’t be too concerned.
Jeez, I didn’t realize that. The CPU should stay around 50°C, as you mentioned. I keep learning every day. I’ll definitely try overclocking again. Thanks for all the advice—it really helps!
Pigeoncracker :
Oh man, I didn’t think so. The CPU stays around 50C, just like you mentioned. You’re always learning new stuff every day. I’ll definitely keep pushing it overclocked more. Thanks a lot for all the info—it really helps!
I’ve been tweaking CPUs for a while now. My last two AMD models were a Phenom II X965BE and an FX8320, both of which I pushed to their limits. Piledriver behaves a bit differently from Phenom II, but most of the fundamentals are similar.
You can usually handle Piledriver just like you would with the older P4 series—just push all the voltage your cooler can manage. As long as the chip doesn’t get too hot, it can go higher. Intel’s and the old Phenom II didn’t perform that way; my current i5-4690K reached about 4.2ghz, and no boost in vcore will take me past that. There’s no temperature problem, just stability issues beyond that speed. I think the issue might be with the motherboard or RAM, but I’m not planning to buy new parts just yet—my current board and RAM should handle it if I keep it stable.
Sometimes you win the lottery sometimes you lose. This CPU was a dud, but my old FX8320 was amazing. That chip really cranked out. I bet you’ll upgrade your Corsair H55 to something better, and that CPU (if the board supports it) could reach 4.8-5ghz. Not with the H55, but with a better one it should be possible.
Someone shared their experience on the forum. The user mentioned that the CPU temperature stays around 50°C, and they continue learning daily. They plan to overclock more often and appreciate the information provided.
Another participant discussed their long-term CPU overclocking journey with AMD CPUs, specifically mentioning Phenom II X965BE and FX8320 models. They noted that Piledriver behaves differently from previous versions but still follows similar principles. They suggested treating Piledriver similarly to older P4 processors by using maximum voltage the cooler can provide, as long as overheating doesn't occur. They found their current i5-4690K reached about 4.2GHz and couldn't exceed it without causing temperature problems or instability. They suspected the issue might lie with the motherboard or RAM, not the CPU itself.
They also shared a personal anecdote about an FX8320 that overclocked exceptionally well, contrasting it with their current H55 CPU, which they consider subpar. One user described the H55 as noisy and visually appealing but not very stable at 4.6GHz, while another mentioned difficulty getting their CPU to stabilize at 1.54V.
Lastly, a question was raised about the accuracy of MSI Command Center compared to other monitoring tools like OpenHardwareMonitor or AIDA64.