Model: Northbridge Temp 60C
Model: Northbridge Temp 60C
I realize I should refresh my system details on my profile... I'll handle that soon. What options do you have with the Northbridge temperature? Any practical tips would be great. Yes, even though my CPU will be overclocked again soon, the NB tends to stay around 60°C regardless of stock speeds (4GHz for FX8350).
Either put a fan on it or leave it alone since there's nothing wrong with that...
Everything looks good. Temperature range is ideal. Up to 85-90°C reported as safe. The chip handles up to 95°C in the operating case. Consider 0.2-0.5°C for thermal paste/adhesive, and 3-5°C for the heatsink... still within 80-90°C. Refer to the datasheet, page 40: https://www.amd.com/system/files/TechDocs/48691.pdf
Noted. Running at higher speeds like 4.4 or 4.8GHz causes significant heat buildup—70 to 80°C during gameplay, especially in warm rooms. It seems safe as long as the system stays cool enough; otherwise, shutdown is likely.
I question if the northbridge is the reason for your system stopping. It's more likely the VRM on your motherboard, or the CPU itself, or other problems. Simple to check: remove a case fan from the case, place it over the northbridge heatsink... repeat. After all... the old saying goes "polishing a turd" — you're probably wasting time trying to overclock an already power-hungry inefficient fx-8350.
When you clock it up, are you utilizing the full CPU multiplier or combining it with bus speed? I believe the Northbridge operates efficiently at 200 with just 1.1v's instead of needing 1.6v's, which would also help keep things cooler. A detailed overview of your current settings would be helpful. Personally, I question whether it's the Northbridge or VRM that's limiting performance, as the Sabertooth/Crosshair boards consistently offer superior VRM configurations compared to other AM3+ boards. I've tested enough of them to confirm this and have supporting evidence.
You're using the system at full voltage, which is good. I'm curious about whether you're utilizing all of the CPU multiplier or combining them to achieve the performance levels shown. If you share that information, I can offer some tailored advice. By the way, just a quick note—this is me, and I'm confident in my setup with AM3+ and your board model. Bones' SuperPi scores 9 seconds and 141ms with an FX-8320. Let's check those CPU multiplier and FSB configurations you're using.
Auto mode enabled using the D.O.C.P. Present: https://valid.x86.fr/emtpfs Current: https://valid.x86.fr/g3su5x Previous version: 4.8GHz
I was curious about how the clocks were obtained. Typically, in air or water environments they avoid using CPU multipliers above 20-21 (depending on the chip), which keeps them within the "Reliable" range. If the voltage is accurately measured by CPU-Z, it's quite solid. The maximum normal CPU-NB for regular use is around 2400, though some CPUs might handle slightly higher values. You can comfortably run it using just 1.20 volts, but be aware that increasing this will raise CPU temperatures as well. Your chipset running at 60°C is acceptable; 1.15V is ideal since many 990FX boards can operate safely at lower voltages than expected. The Sabertooth 2.0 supports up to 1.25V and some models even reach 300V, while your Sabertooth 3.0 can go up to 360 FSB or slightly less with the same maximum voltage. DIGI settings don’t need significant adjustment unless you’re doing heavy overclocking. I ran at 8.3GHz with 120% of CPU and CPU-NB, which means you don’t have to worry about extreme temperatures beyond what’s normal. Raising those percentages further will also increase heat from the VRM. You're on the right path and achieving good results—4.5 is a solid daily target, especially if you're running in air. Consider adding a fan near the socket area and positioning it to help cool the chipset/VRM, which can reduce overall temperatures. I’m not sure if this will be useful, but it might spark some new ideas.
I really value your feedback and appreciate the praise for my overclocking efforts. It seems I’m sensitive about the PC getting too warm, around 60°C. Would refreshing the thermal paste and pads on the chipsets, VRMs, and GPU help improve performance?