Enhance your A6-3670 OC for better performance and reliability.
Enhance your A6-3670 OC for better performance and reliability.
Currently I have a 3.4 GHz boost on the CPU and the iGPU runs at 941 MHz. My RAM is 16GB (four 4GB modules) at 1600 MHz, using the 11-11-11-28-39 1.5V profile. It was overclocked to 1866 MHz on 10-10-10, except for adjusting RAM settings, CPU multiplier, and GPU frequency in BIOS. I left all voltages set to auto. Any advice? Also, I'm aiming for a cooler setup—this model came from an original HP with an A6-3600 but wasn't mounted with the standard F1 case. Spoiler: Edited December 25, 2019 by tatsukage13 hide images under spoiler
Hello, thank you for your question. I understand you're curious about the choice of A6-3670 over more affordable options like the Ryzen 2200G. The decision often depends on specific needs such as performance requirements, budget constraints, or compatibility with certain hardware. Let me know if you'd like further details!
I took over this ready-made setup and can't afford to invest in a completely new system. To date, I've only spent around $30 on a motherboard and about $18 on RAM. My next goal is a $30 cooler, which is all I have planned for now unless I manage to save up for a 750ti. I noticed some models for $60 on eBay a while ago.
Your board and PSU can handle an A8-3870K for around $25 used on eBay. It offers 3GHz, four cores, and a marginally improved iGPU. Still, at that price you’re likely getting a HD8570/R7 240, which is better than the HD6350 or 6550 but not outstanding. It’s probably not worth it compared to building a more capable system. I’ve seen others fall into the trap of thinking “better now,” but those small $30 items quickly add up—often costing you $100 or more when you could have started with something better.
If I had the choice, I’d have picked the new Athlon. But adding the motherboard and RAM is beyond what I can afford right now. I plan to switch teams eventually, which is why I didn’t get too excited about getting a GPU yet—not to mention my PSU was from an old HP build. It seems like a 300-watt unit with no 6-pin connector, so my GPU will be limited to around 750 terahertz anyway. Right now, I’m aiming for a cooler and a Hyper 212 EVO that fits easily into my next project.
I also checked eBay and found GPU prices are really low right now in the used market. Frustrating. I bought my GTX 950 2GB Strix OC for $30 and the R7 250 2GB for $32. The 950 was a solid value at that price, and the R7 250 was fine since it’s slot-based and I needed a new test bench card after upgrading other cheaper ones. Both are now around $40 or more, which isn’t ideal. Timing matters here. There are Molex to PCIe adapters if your 12V rail has extra capacity, but I’d keep power draw under 100W for a graphics card—this would strain the PSU. What’s available for a 12V rail? Around 20A? The Hyper 212 isn’t doing much better; it only matches the Wraith Max/Prism in cooling, just slightly better in quiet performance.
The 212 model is just 35mm at the microcenter close to me, which seemed sensible. It outperforms what I'm currently using (refer to the picture in the spoiler). My PSU only supports SATA connectors. Also, the 12A is 12A and the 12B is 16A.
The setup seems complicated with dual rails and unclear connector connections. The price of $35 isn’t very good. On Newegg you can find it for $30 after a rebate and free shipping, which is a better deal for such an old cooler that’s a bit tricky to install. Upgrading to a higher-performance fan improves both noise and cooling efficiency compared to the original model. The 212 Evo fans previously had poor balance and weak static pressure, requiring high speeds under load which made them noisy and vibrating. Replacing it with a better fan improved airflow at lower RPMs even under heavier use, reducing speed and sound. However, once you move away from the stock fan, the benefits diminish, making the investment less clear unless you add extra cooling solutions like VRM glue to prevent overheating. In the past, VRM cooling gave better overclocking and stability, but now most boards already provide sufficient cooling.