I'm not making progress with my overclock and it's really annoying
I'm not making progress with my overclock and it's really annoying
I am exhausted from repeatedly seeking assistance without any progress, so this is my final attempt.
My setup includes an Asus 970 pro gaming/aura, an Amd 6350 processor, 8 GB DDR3 memory, Hyper X savage x2, a Hyper Evo 212 cooler, and a 1500W PSU.
I have studied the overclock tutorial, reviewed all available resources, and watched videos about the board and CPU. Yet I still face no improvement.
The problem seems to be related to my thermal margin and the CPU voltage settings.
First, I ran Prime95 on small FFTs for 15 minutes with BIOS defaults enabled to establish a baseline. CoreTemp displayed VID at 1.3875, while hwinfo reported cpuVID at 1.388.
BIOS lists the CPU manual voltage as 1.38, and the monitor tab in BIOS also shows 1.38. When I adjusted the CPU manual voltage to 1.38, I reached my thermal margin in 2.5 minutes flat. The tutorial advises not to exceed 10°C before tjmax, but I stopped at 15°C before.
With everything configured at optimized defaults, I never exceeded 34°C before tjMax.
What could I be doing incorrectly?
If no one can clarify this, I’ll consider switching forums or simply using a Dell and accepting the outcome.
I have been attempting to overclock this system for years, and now that I’m fully shut down, I have the time to reflect on my lack of results.
Could someone with real experience and a bit of patience help me?
You understand the distinction between CPU VID and CPU vCore. VID is the voltage the CPU requires from the motherboard's VRM, while vCore is the actual voltage the CPU uses. It's best to keep them as close as possible, ideally 0.05v apart. Adjust offsets so VID stays just above vCore. Don't mix them up—they're different. Begin at idle, use tools like cpuz to find vCore, then tweak VID with offsets. Positive or negative offsets help balance the VID to match vCore. LLC is a method that adjusts voltage in both directions. When setting vCore during setup, the load will lower vCore; you may need to adjust it further for stability.
Thanks for your reply.
I noticed that switching my LLC to medium instead of high or extreme settings allows me to release heat suddenly and effectively.
It took me almost ten years of adjusting to find the perfect setting.
Currently, I’m overclocking via BIOS, which is set at 4.5Ghz with a little thermal headroom left before it overheats.
This is impressive because before discovering the medium LLC setting, I struggled to run stock numbers without running into thermal problems.
I’m adjusting the multiplier now as I begin this process.
The only other challenge I face is with HWinfo and CoreTemp not displaying accurate voltages, or possibly incorrect settings.
They consistently show a CPU VID of 1.38 plus a small error of .005, regardless of the BIOS voltage setting.
Even the monitor reports lower voltage than the 1.425 V I’ve configured it to.
I’m trying to stay within a safe thermal limit by monitoring at full load, then plan to increase the multiplier until it fails.
I’ve read several threads and tutorials suggesting gradual changes to avoid damaging the system.
Since I can’t get any feedback from two different CPU V programs, I’m unsure what further steps I should take to ensure safety.
If necessary, I’m planning to upgrade to Windows 10 now.
Trust AOD is acceptable for monitoring purposes; even a 5c margin is fine. TjMax reported for FX processors isn't the shutdown temperature like some others, but only indicates slowdown safety. I'm using my FX6350 on GA-990XA-UD3 with Scythe Mugen 3 at 4.9GHz and 1.495v for several years now—no issues have arisen. Voltage is set at 1.45 and LLc3.
So is 90c the throttle temperature? What temperatures are you using? Are you running on air or water? I reached 4.5G at 72C today and plan to do a stability test overnight. Running at 1.49V. Do you have any guides for MSI Afterburner 6.1? I believe that's the version I own, while all the tutorials I've found so far are for 4.5.
You're familiar with the distinction between CPU VID and CPU vCore? VID refers to the voltage the CPU requires from the motherboard's VRM, whereas vCore represents the actual voltage the CPU consumes. Generally, you aim for a separation of at least 0.05 volts between them. You can adjust positive or negative offsets to shift the VID slightly above vCore. Avoid mixing them up—they serve different purposes. Begin with idle settings using tools like cpuz to determine vCore. Then align the VID using those offsets, apply a load, and verify stability. Sometimes reducing VID to align with vCore can lower vCore during idle, requiring careful tuning. LLC is a voltage adjustment that functions in both directions. When setting vCore, the load decreases vCore; changes in load voltage are known as vdroop, which occur rapidly. However, CPU demands can exceed VRM response time, making LLC a proactive measure to compensate for any shortfall. It compensates on both positive and negative sides, but excessive LLC—such as high or extreme values—can cause the CPU to experience constant power spikes of around 1.45V instead of stable operation. Running LLC at 50-70% is preferable, offering reduced heat output with only enough adjustment for stability. Any surplus results in unnecessary voltage increases and increased thermal load.