How do I overclock my AMD FX 8320?
How do I overclock my AMD FX 8320?
I'm planning to modify my CPU for Fallout 4 and aim to boost performance in Gta 5. Here are my current details.
CPU: AMD FX:8320 Unlocked
GPU: Nvidia GTX 970 (MSI 4G)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990FX
PSU: Thermaltake 750W 80+ Bronze
HDD: 2 Toshiba DT01ACA100 1TB (2 TB total)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Red 8 GIGS
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-I ATI-Mid Tower [Snow Edition]
OS: Windows 10
I've installed three case fans, giving me four fans overall and the standard CPU cooler.
I'm not looking to purchase new parts right now; I just want to enhance my CPU's capabilities.
My goal is to possibly overclock by about 0.5 ghz to reach around 4.0 Ghz.
I'm trying to optimize as safely as possible without risking overheating.
I'm not perfect with computers, but I'm not entirely unaware of what I'm doing.
If anyone has any advice or suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.
Don't try to push the stock cooler beyond its limits. Heat is your main concern and the stock AMD cooler isn't great.
I've heard the 8350 performs similarly to the 8320, (Stock).
If I increased my speed by just 0.5 Ghz, it would essentially be an 8350, wouldn't it be okay?
To push your processor to its limits, you'll need to boost its speed and raise the voltage supplied to the CPU. This approach demands higher power consumption and generates additional heat. Even when using the standard settings, the AMD cooler performs adequately for the 8320 model. For greater performance, an aftermarket CPU cooler is necessary, though it can be affordable—often under $40 in the US. Avoid overclocking without a suitable cooler, as most AMD and Intel chips require one. Here are some past experiences with overclocks. It’s wise to conduct thorough research on overclocking. Search for beginner guides on overclocking, read relevant articles, and look up 8320 overclock configurations. Connect with others who have similar systems and compare their results—starting from lower multipliers and gradually increasing. Be patient; success isn’t guaranteed if the numbers don’t match your setup. Overclocking is challenging, and minor variations in settings can make a big difference. Each chip has its own voltage-speed characteristics.
I was thinking about possibly boosting the clock speed by around 0.5 ghz to hit a total of 4.0 Ghz. I aim to maximize the performance within safe limits without causing any overheating.
You don’t need to overclock the FX 8320 to reach 4 Ghz. It naturally achieves 4.0 Ghz in turbo mode under heavy loads, unless you turn off the default turbo setting in your BIOS. The built-in cooler for the FX 8320 is largely ineffective for any kind of overclocking and produces excessive noise. For roughly $40, a good aftermarket cooler would allow you to push the processor beyond 4.5 Ghz while keeping temperatures manageable. My current FX 8320 stays stable up to about 4.6 Ghz, and I haven’t tested it past that yet. With a proper aftermarket cooler, 4.5 Ghz feels ideal for both performance and CPU health during regular use.
The FX 8320 is more than sufficient for gaming at stock speeds, since your graphics card handles the bulk of the workload.
If you decide to install an aftermarket cooler, handle it carefully—removing or reattaching it can be tricky. My original cooler stuck to the CPU because of the thermal paste applied during assembly, making it difficult to detach without issues. After-market thermal paste is usually better, as it’s designed to prevent the cooler from sticking when the CPU is removed.
I'm planning to modify my CPU for Fallout 4 and aim to boost performance in Gta 5. Here are my current details.
Processor: AMD FX:8320 Unlocked
Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 970 (MSI 4G)
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990FX
Power Supply: Thermaltake 750W 80+ Bronze
Hard Drive: 2 Toshiba DT01ACA100 1TB (total 2 TB)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Red 8 GIGS
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-I ATI-Mid Tower [Snow Edition]
Operating System: Windows 10
I've installed three case fans, giving me four fans overall and the standard CPU cooler.
I'm not looking to purchase new components right now; I just want to enhance my CPU's performance slightly.
My goal is to possibly overclock by around 0.5 GHz to reach a speed of 4.0 GHz.
I'm trying to do this as safely as possible without risking overheating.
I'm not perfect with computers, but I realize I don't have all the answers.
If anyone can assist, it would be greatly appreciated.
You can use the AMD OverDrive App – it's safe and straightforward.
I previously overclocked my FX 8320 with Sabertooth 990FX 2.0, achieving a current speed of 4133.
Core Multiplier: 20.50X
Voltage: 1.34V