What voltage and frequency should I use for overclocking?
What voltage and frequency should I use for overclocking?
I'm starting to overclock my FX-8350 for the first time.
I need to know what results I can expect and how to adjust my voltage, what should I change as I progress? Should I raise the voltage for the CPU or just the NB? So far I've been using UEFI for overclocking. I've also used OCCT to stress test for 30 minutes after each attempt. My CPU has been running around 47°C and I've increased my CPU voltage from 1.3125V to 1.4V after reaching up to 4.4GHz (originally 4Ghz). I've heard it's best not to go beyond 1.6V.
My Build
I wouldn't recommend high voltage unless you're aiming for maximum output and stability without overheating. You can push the limits as much as needed, but keep the CPU temperature around 55°C (62 is the upper limit but aim for that). Avoid exceeding 1.5V on the Vcore. Be aware that your VRMs may throttle if you exceed these values, as mentioned before—this board has limited power efficiency under load.
What cooler are you using? I’d stick to something around 1.45v or less since your motherboard only has a 4-phase VRM. I’m hoping for around 4.6 or 4.7ghz on an 8350 at that voltage, but not every 8350 performs equally—some might reach higher while others fall short. What voltage does the northbridge default to? I’d prefer it not exceeding 1.2v.
The max voltage depends on which motherboard you have. But for the CPU, AMD says 1.5 volts is the safe limit. Not 1.6.
When you start approaching 4.8Ghz it takes a lot more voltage to keep things stable.
If you're going for a high overclock the CPU northbridge will more than likely have to be set around 1.3 to keep things stable. AMD says this is safe.
Not to be rude, but there is tons of information out there. Look for the guide made by AMD techs. It's very informative.
What cooler are you using? I’d stick to something around 1.45v or less, as your motherboard only has a 4 phase VRM. I’m hoping for 4.6 or 4.7ghz on an 8350 at that voltage, though not all 8350s perform the same—some might reach it while others don’t. What’s the stock voltage setting for the northbridge? I’d prefer to keep it below 1.2v. I own a Hyper 212 Evo.
I wouldn't recommend high voltage unless you're aiming for maximum output and stability without overheating. You can push the limits as much as needed, but keep the CPU temperature around 55°C (62°C is the limit but try to stay closer). Avoid exceeding 1.5V on the Vcore, as this could cause issues with VRM throttling, which some have mentioned before. The board doesn't handle high loads well if you're not careful.