FX 8320 to 4ghz safe overclock
FX 8320 to 4ghz safe overclock
Hello everyone, I plan to boost my processor to around 4 GHz to fully utilize my current setup. Here are my specifications:
Mobo-ASUS M5A78L-M PLUS/USB3
Ram Kingston HyperX fury Blue 4X2=8gb
Cooler-CoolerMaster Hyper TX3 EVO
CPU-AMD FX8320
PSU-Corsair VS450 (450W)
My main worry is finding the easiest method to do this without any problems and whether I should proceed safely. Please assist and advise me.
Immediately there are three factors that will challenge you with the OC and that 8320 board.
1) the motherboard lacks any kind of heatsinking on the voltage regulator area, meaning VRM/Mosfet temperatures (including the caps near the socket) will quickly surpass their limits, particularly given it's a 760g chipset built for 65/95w CPUs like the fx6300, though the BIOS is now capable of handling 125w Vishera. This setup represents the least ideal OC configuration for that CPU.
2) the tx3 performs almost as well as the original cooler; any overclock will cause the CPU temperature to rise rapidly during heavy core usage. OC generally demands a CPU cooler with a TDP at least 1.5 to 2 times the CPU's TDP.
3) the PSU is among the lowest quality options Corsair provides...
I think you should check YouTube for your MB/CPU and OC guide.
You might also want to update or flash your MB's BIOS first.
Then gradually increase your CPU multiplier (or whatever it uses in the BIOS), restart, and keep testing until it stops going up more than a certain amount.
Finally, run a stress test lasting about 30 hours and see the results.
Immediately there are three factors that will challenge you with the OC and the 8320 board.
1) the motherboard lacks any kind of heatsinking on the voltage regulator circuit, meaning VRM/Mosfet temperatures will quickly surpass their limits, particularly given the 760g chipset built for 65/95w CPUs like the fx6300, though the BIOS is now updated to support 125w Vishera. This setup is essentially the least ideal OC board for that CPU.
2) the tx3 performs almost as well as the original cooler; any overclock will cause CPU temperatures to rise rapidly during heavy core usage. OCs typically need a CPU cooler with a TDP at least 1.5 to 2 times the CPU's TDP.
3) the PSU is among the lowest quality from Corsair, delivering outputs just beyond what’s needed for normal and stable operation. For OC, consistent DC ripple stability is crucial—higher stability improves the odds of a successful overclock.
Honestly, I understand wanting more from an FX CPU—they can deliver—but achieving that requires proper support, which is currently very limited in your situation.
Good luck with your project, but learning about FX OC online is essential since you have little margin for mistakes.
If I had the chance, I’d check out some creators who modified FX chips to improve gaming or work performance—most of them confirmed it works.
Overclocking your motherboard and power supply is not an easy task. This particular board tends to struggle with running 125w CPUs at their default settings. The cooler also doesn’t offer sufficient cooling for the board’s parts compared to the standard model. Even if you achieve a stable overclock, it will likely remain very subtle.
Thank you for your analysis, but an 8320 is indeed a downclocked 8350. If I used an 8350 in this system, would it perform similarly? The issue is that your motherboard tends to throttle all 125W CPUs at stock speeds because of overheating VRM's. Better airflow and a top-down cooler blowing over the VRM can allow them to run at 125W, but that’s just their limit.
Thank you for your analysis. However, an 8320 is a downclocked 8350, isn't it? So if I used an 8350 in this system, would it perform similarly? The issue is that your motherboard tends to throttle all 125W CPUs at their default speeds because of overheating VRM's. Improving the case airflow and ensuring a top-down cooler directs air over the VRM can help the CPU run at 125W, but that’s just its maximum capacity. For reference, my current temperatures from the case are between 35-40°C, and the processor reads around 23°C (as per HWMonitor). Is that within acceptable limits?
The accuracy of Hwmonitor when measuring temperatures from FX CPUs varies, as none of the available software, except for AMD overdrive, strictly enforces thermal limits. AMD CPU temperatures behave differently compared to Intel CPUs because they lack dedicated thermal sensors in their cores.
Mechanical cooling methods cannot lower temperatures below ambient levels; it's physically impossible. If the room temperature is 40°C, the CPU temperature can't drop below that unless other factors intervene. However, due to thermal restrictions, the actual operating temperature will typically be slightly higher—around 6-10°C above the minimum.
Using AMD overdrive adjusts the readings based on the CPU's maximum safe temperature. It calculates the remaining safe range using algorithms. For example, a thermal limit of 40°C means you have 40°C available for safe operation. A limit of 10°C leaves even less room, and limits below zero indicate the CPU is being overworked, likely causing throttling or shutdown to avoid damage.
Unlike Intel CPUs, the actual temperature value read by AO doesn't reflect real-world conditions. Therefore, the significance lies in what the number signifies rather than its exact value. The key is understanding how the number relates to safe operating limits.