Will I be able to boost my CPU speed using these components? (FX8350)
Will I be able to boost my CPU speed using these components? (FX8350)
Mobo: Asus M5A78L-M is my setup
CPU: Amd FX-8350
Cooler: Corsair H55
RAM: 16GB DDR3 HyperX Fury
GPU: Msi GTX 970
SSD: Kingston 120GB
PSU: Corsair CX600
I’m aiming for 4.5GHz or even 4.7GHz, but I’m not sure if this is possible with what I have.
I’ve got two intake fans at the front and two at the top to expel air, plus a fan for the water cooler.
Can I safely overclock these components, or will I need to replace some parts? And if so, which ones should I consider?
It's known for its throttling problems under load, even with stock speeds and 125W CPUs. The power supply is also of poor quality, making it unsuitable for overclocking attempts. You can still try overclocking, but the weak VRM design likely shortens the motherboard's lifespan. It's not worth investing in parts meant for overclocking either.
I wouldn't suggest pushing this system beyond its limits. The motherboard appears to have a very underpowered VRM with no heat synchronization. Combined with an AIO that can't effectively cool the VRM, this could lead to throttling or overheating. It's not worth spending extra money on a new motherboard just for minor overclocking. A 120mm AIO might also be restrictive.
It's known for its throttling problems under load, even with stock speeds and 125W CPUs. The power supply is also of poor quality, making it unsuitable for overclocking attempts. You might still try to overclock, but the weak VRM design likely shortens the board's lifespan. It's not worth investing in parts meant for overclocking either.
That's frustrating, I set this up around 2015 and haven't paid much attention to the latest gear lately. I'm wondering if my CPU or GPU are still functional or if it's time to invest in new equipment.
The GPU manages to function somewhat, but its performance is limited by a budget build and the RAM setup of the 970. It remains functional at 1080p, falling between the RX 570 and the RX 580/1650 Super depending on the game, though it struggles in several VRAM-intensive titles. The CPU falls completely apart. For gaming, AM3+ was not a solid choice even in 2015; these processors underperformed significantly, especially in gaming tasks like i3s and the cheapest Ryzens, which consistently outperformed overclocked AM3+ models. The FX-8350 was best suited for budget workstations rather than gaming, and even then, overclocking didn’t improve its standing against those i3s and low-cost Ryzens.
The FX cpus offered 67% of the IPC compared to a 3rd gen i5, which could be a strong argument. They performed more similarly to the better LGA775 CPUs from around ten years prior. The H55 cooler is reliable, matching the performance of a 140w hyper212, and its TDP was much more accurate than Intel's over the past twenty years. Generally, you wouldn't encounter significant problems at around 4.5GHz. However, as mentioned earlier, that's still a low-end chipset from the 760G board, which is usually designed for 95w CPUs. Achieving stable overclocking on 125w CPUs typically required boards like the 970 or 990FX/FXA. You might attempt the overclock, but it would be wise to install small L brackets and mount them to the rear exhaust fan screws, then attach a separate 120mm fan above the VRM and pump area. This setup could help reach 4.5GHz, though pushing further would likely leave no room for effective cooling.
Not even worth attempting.
Back then I had an 8320 running at 4.3ghz on that board, but it needed a top-notch downblower cooler (raijintek pallas) to keep the CPU cool, along with a VRM setup.
With an AIO it would just throttle severely, and you’d have to turn off all power states in Windows.
Performance-wise it won’t really help much—even if it could run, 4.6ghz is way beyond what most FX 8-core CPUs can handle.
Just run it as-is; you’ll still be able to play games on an FX chip, though they weren’t as problematic for that purpose as they were thought.
These guys are correct, it really isn't worth the effort on that mobile.
But if you choose to go with what Karadjgne recommends, it would look something like this.
Check out the image here: https://imgur.com/a/jjU3ynL
See the pictures? They show a 8350 with a gigabyte 970 Sli mobile.
Unfortunately, FX users have to dig through a lot of stuff.
Craigslists, Ebay, garage sales, flea markets – keep in mind, beware the buyer.