Overclocking AMD FX 8350
Overclocking AMD FX 8350
1.6v is pushing the limits, moving into DICE or even dry ice cooling. Even 1.5v will be tough to maintain cool in water, let alone air—especially with this 8-core (8 series) FX chip. I tested it on chilled water recently and saw the results. Bones' HWBOT x265 benchmark at 1080p scored 22.42 fps with an FX-8350; I’d like to redo that run using Ln2 next time.
I used an 8150 for a while at 5GHz on water. 1.47v with the multiplier up. Keep in mind if your board isn’t solid, you might need a fan inside the VRM. These CPUs handle voltage well and perform okay in OC, though their IPC isn’t great.
They react well to changes in voltage, and the cooler the setup, the better their performance at the same voltage. It's a balancing act between voltage, speed, and the loads they face, along with the temperatures they experience while operating. This process requires some time to understand, but once mastered it works smoothly.
This reminds me of my 8320FX strapped onto an MSI 990FX V2. Back in the day, I’d start with around 1.2 volts, keep the clock just above base and test. Once it starts acting weird, raise the clock a bit and check again. Keep going until it stops or won’t post. Then tweak the voltage up step by step—aim for about 1.35v or more. Unless you’ve got a supercooler, this will shorten its lifespan a bit. It won’t break the bank but it’ll help preserve what’s left.
The setup needs a different voltage than expected. Running at 5.0/5.1 GHz for years before upgrading was common due to slow performance. Adjusting to around 1.47V helped. Voltage requirements differ per CPU model. The FX-8350 can reach up to 4.2 GHz, but boosting to 4.0 GHz won't significantly improve gaming speed. Consider the decoding method for 4K playback—switching codecs or using a GPU could ease CPU load and enhance smoothness. It lacks an integrated graphics unit, so offloading 4K decoding to your main card is possible.
I installed a fresh video player named 5k video player and it works smoothly with previous 4K films without any issues. My CPU usage stays around 50%. VLC struggles with some 4K movies but handles others fine. After adjusting settings in VLC, the problem disappeared. Now I’m using the new player and everything is perfect.