Throttle for FX-6300 VRM?
Throttle for FX-6300 VRM?
I think I've pretty much figured this out, but there are a few more thoughts. The parts outside the red areas are where I added an extra 80mm fan to the VRM heatsink—probably the one next to the CPU. Everything is running at stock speeds and voltages. The BeQuiet cooler keeps the CPU temperature low, dropping to around 45°C under load. It’s hot but still manageable to touch. The situation gets worse during overclocking (4.7GHz @ 1.44V) where it drops to 3.0GHz, causing noticeable stutter in some games. I’m curious why certain titles were so affected... GA-970-Gaming motherboard
Probably. Or a mix of factors, such as varying core performance at the same voltage level. What are you aiming to achieve? When idle, clocks tend to decrease, but during light tasks they can fluctuate widely as individual cores adjust or speed up. You're not alone in experiencing "power throttling" on AM3+ systems. Your motherboard should suffice for a standard 6300 chipset, though it might come with conservative power restrictions by default. Adding active cooling to your VRM setup is a sensible step, but if the heatsinks are poorly connected, they could overheat. It's not harmful, but worth considering. Besides, verify all power and current controls in your BIOS or motherboard manual—they dictate how much power reaches the CPU, stability, and expansion limits. Higher performance demands generate more heat. While your board isn't top-tier, it's still capable for basic use. When testing, run OCCT benchmarks to evaluate core behavior and monitor temperatures and clock speeds. Stop any tests if things get too hot. If possible, look for a VRM temperature sensor; otherwise, you'll only see CPU package and socket temps. The socket temperature usually runs 10-15°C higher than the package. Excessive socket heat or a large gap between them may signal VRM overheating. You have two heatsinks next to the CPU: one rectangular near I/O ports (VRM) and another square beside the CPU and first PCIe slot (North Bridge).