OVERCLOCK FX 4100 ???
OVERCLOCK FX 4100 ???
Hello, I just got the FX 4100 and want to overclock it. I aim for around 4.5 or 4.6ghz. My motherboard is an ASUS M5A 78L-M LX AM3+, it’s working okay at 3.6ghz. I’m not really into overclocking, but I want to try. With your experience, could you tell me where to go in BIOS and what settings to change? Please include everything. Thanks!
Turn turbo boost off. (Optional) Turn Cool N' Quiet off, though it doesn't really matter much. If you want 4.5, go into your overclocking menu and adjust the CPU multiplier to 22.5, then tweak the VCore until it's stable. Do you have an aftermarket cooler? If not, good luck.
There are other methods to boost the FX series beyond just stock cooling.
I recently pushed an overclock on a friend's FX-4100 to 4.4Ghz using stock voltage. The process was mostly simple, except for a minor throttling problem.
1) Install HWmonitor, CPUZ, and prime95 to track temperatures, voltages, and clock speeds during maximum load. HWmonitor usually shows lower core temperatures than actual readings, so I used AMD overdrive to match the correct values (though I wouldn’t rely on it for future overclocking).
2) Execute small prime95 FFTs to gauge peak heat levels while checking CPU temperature (via HWmonitor or AMD overdrive) and clock speed. On my friend's Gigabyte 990fxa-ud3 board, the CPU stayed at just 3.3Ghz under prime95, despite reaching 60°C in under ten minutes—especially at slower clock speeds.
3) On the same board, I noticed the CPU only hit 3.3Ghz during prime95 and then throttled back to 3.3 once the load increased. After updating the BIOS on the motherboard to disable the Advanced Power Management feature, the CPU stabilized at 3.6Ghz under full load.
4) If temperatures exceed 50°C with stock prime95 FFTs, better cooling is necessary for overclocking. A good option for a standard case is the Cooler Master Hyper 212+, available under $30 and highly effective. Alternatively, if you prefer not to remove your motherboard, the Hyper TX3 is a solid choice.
5) For further tuning, adjust the CPU multiplier in BIOS after turning off turbo cores. Aim for around 4.5 for a 4.4Ghz base frequency. After saving and exiting, run Prime95 blend test for several hours to monitor stability. I’ve heard FX chips can handle more heat than older Phenom models, but the safe max is around 70°C—based on my observations under load.
6) If your system runs smoothly without crashes or overheating after a few hours of stress testing, you can gradually increase the multiplier and continue testing.
7) For better performance under load, consider adding a small Vcore voltage if crashes occur. Conversely, if your system stays stable but gets hot, lowering the Vcore might help.
My approach differs from typical guides: I maintain Cool N Quiet and enable C1 to prevent overheating while browsing or typing. I also experiment with the turbo core multiplier once other settings are consistent. Generally, all-core stability comes at a slight performance penalty. My 1045t runs at 3.4Ghz with turbo at 3.8Ghz; my FX-4100 is running at 4.4Ghz with a turbo speed of 4.6Ghz.
I sometimes disable power-saving features to maintain consistent performance, though I try to keep them on when possible.