Overclocking AMD A8-3870k

[NormalPcGamer.]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1IiyQ  this is my computer and my CPU is really holding back the rest of my computer in games. I've tried overclocking in the bios before with this chip but when I increased the speed and voltage it increased my RAM speed, causing it to blue screen. I was overclocking with AMD Overdrive but I don't want to keep setting that every time my computer starts.

 

if someone could give me step by step instructions or find a video or article on how to OC this chip on this motherboard, It would be greatly appreciated.

 

If i violated any rule or something, sorry about that. I'm new to this forum.

 

Thanks a bunch. 

 

note about the motherboard. i have the asus F1A55M. not the one in the pc parts picker link.

[<boss2939>]

I can't find a guide in google but, all you have to do is keep increasing the multiplier and stress testing it with prime 95 http://www.overclock.net/t/137251/prime95 until it BSOD, since you have an a 55 mobo you cant do any overvolting

[OuchMyFaceyHole]

Your computer is so unbalanced it burns. 16gb of ram, rly? You could have gotten 8 with a better proc.

/end rant/

Prime95, run that for 8hours. redo the oc for more after saving settings.

[Cwazywazy]

I have the A8-3850 (Same 6550D) and I've gotten the bus speed from 100MHz to 114MHz stable on stock voltage. (My motherboard doesn't have CPU voltage control for whatever reason.)

 

Google for a CPU overclocking tutorial and you should be fine.

[NormalPcGamer.]

Your computer is so unbalanced it burns. 16gb of ram, rly? You could have gotten 8 with a better proc.

/end rant/

Prime95, run that for 8hours. redo the oc for more after saving settings.

i got this computer off a guy last year that built it and it originally had a radeon 7770 1gb in it. but i got the computer for $350

[OuchMyFaceyHole]

i got this computer off a guy last year that built it and it originally had a radeon 7770 1gb in it. but i got the computer for $350

nvm. thats a hell of a deal.

[-rascal-]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1IiyQ  this is my computer and my CPU is really holding back the rest of my computer in games. I've tried overclocking in the bios before with this chip but when I increased the speed and voltage it increased my RAM speed, causing it to blue screen. I was overclocking with AMD Overdrive but I don't want to keep setting that every time my computer starts.

 

if someone could give me step by step instructions or find a video or article on how to OC this chip on this motherboard, It would be greatly appreciated.

 

If i violated any rule or something, sorry about that. I'm new to this forum.

 

Thanks a bunch. 

 

note about the motherboard. i have the asus F1A55M. not the one in the pc parts picker link.

 

I have a socket FM1 system with a A6-3670K. It's very similar to your A8-3870K (pretty much brothers).

 

First off, it is highly suggested, and BEST, to overclock via BIOS...and NOT with software / programs.

Secondly, the temperature readings obtained from some programs are not accurate (i.e. CoreTemp, Speecy, AMD OverDrive, etc). From all the talk around, it may vary from motherboard to motherboard, and CPU to CPU.

 

From messing with my own A6-3670K, the idle temperature readings are waaay out of whack (0*C? -*C? Temperature readings lower than room temperature), but LOAD temperatures seems to be in line (or atl east they make sense). I would personally recommend AIDA64 or HWMonitor. You can try the utility ASUS provides, but don't bet all your money on it.

 

 

From what you are saying, it seems that you are overclocking by increasing the Base Clock (A.K.A. FSB, Bus Speed). 70% of the things on the motherboard / CPU is related to the Base Clock. That is why you are getting blue screens when you push it too far, and the RAM becomes unstable. The RAM speed uses the Base Clock as a reference.

 

Since your processor has an unlocked multiplier, the simplest method (and least hassle) is to overclock the processor by increasing the multiplier.

The stock speed for the 3870K is 3.0GHz. 100MHz Base Clock X 30 multiplier = 3.0GHz

Overclocking by adjusting the multiplier, unlike adjusting the Base Clock, will not mess with the RAM speed (and any other thing in relation). It will JUST increase the processor speed.

 

Basically:

• Increase the multiplier by 1.
• Run stability test for a short period (5min? 15min? 30min?)
• If the processor is stable, increase multiplier up by 1 again
• If it is not stable, bump the Vcore (and NB and CPU-NB, etc voltage if needed) up a little bit. Test again.
• Repeat the above steps, until you've reached the speed you wanted, or CPU has reached it's max overclock limit
• Run stability tests for several hours (6? 12? 24 hours?)

For stability testing for these chips, Prime95, AIDA64, or several runs of IntelBurnTest is ideal. 

The lower the voltage needed to operate at the target frequency the better. (If you can have your 3870K run at 3.8GHz at 1.35v or 1.47v....use the lower voltage)

 

1. Do not exceed ~1.5v on the Core voltage
2. Sources say the maximum safe operating temperature for the 3870K is ~70*C...but personally, for AMD CPUs, keep it under ~60*C. Of course, the lower, the better.
3. Keep a close eye on temperatures

As with overclocking with ANYTHING, overclocking results WILL VARY. On average, the A8-3870K can reach 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz with appropriate cooling. Of course, your chip may be able to overclock higher, OR lower.

 

 

My A6-3670K, using a Corsair A50 air cooler, and a Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H motherboard, I was able to easily reach 3.2GHz (stock speed is 2.7GHz) with ~1.45v. I'm sure I can drop the voltage down a bit, but it's been running stable at that those settings for the last...2+ years. It max's out at 45*C while running Prime95, so I don't see the immediate need. 

[NormalPcGamer.]

I have a socket FM1 system with a A6-3670K. It's very similar to your A8-3870K (pretty much brothers).

 

First off, it is highly suggested, and BEST, to overclock via BIOS...and NOT with software / programs.

Secondly, the temperature readings obtained from some programs are not accurate (i.e. CoreTemp, Speecy, AMD OverDrive, etc). From all the talk around, it may vary from motherboard to motherboard, and CPU to CPU.

 

From messing with my own A6-3670K, the idle temperature readings are waaay out of whack (0*C? -*C? Temperature readings lower than room temperature), but LOAD temperatures seems to be in line (or atl east they make sense). I would personally recommend AIDA64 or HWMonitor. You can try the utility ASUS provides, but don't bet all your money on it.

 

 

From what you are saying, it seems that you are overclocking by increasing the Base Clock (A.K.A. FSB, Bus Speed). 70% of the things on the motherboard / CPU is related to the Base Clock. That is why you are getting blue screens when you push it too far, and the RAM becomes unstable. The RAM speed uses the Base Clock as a reference.

 

Since your processor has an unlocked multiplier, the simplest method (and least hassle) is to overclock the processor by increasing the multiplier.

The stock speed for the 3870K is 3.0GHz. 100MHz Base Clock X 30 multiplier = 3.0GHz

Overclocking by adjusting the multiplier, unlike adjusting the Base Clock, will not mess with the RAM speed (and any other thing in relation). It will JUST increase the processor speed.

 

Basically:

• Increase the multiplier by 1.
• Run stability test for a short period (5min? 15min? 30min?)
• If the processor is stable, increase multiplier up by 1 again
• If it is not stable, bump the Vcore (and NB and CPU-NB, etc voltage if needed) up a little bit. Test again.
• Repeat the above steps, until you've reached the speed you wanted, or CPU has reached it's max overclock limit
• Run stability tests for several hours (6? 12? 24 hours?)

For stability testing for these chips, Prime95, AIDA64, or several runs of IntelBurnTest is ideal. 

The lower the voltage needed to operate at the target frequency the better. (If you can have your 3870K run at 3.8GHz at 1.35v or 1.47v....use the lower voltage)

 

1. Do not exceed ~1.5v on the Core voltage
2. Sources say the maximum safe operating temperature for the 3870K is ~70*C...but personally, for AMD CPUs, keep it under ~60*C. Of course, the lower, the better.
3. Keep a close eye on temperatures

As with overclocking with ANYTHING, overclocking results WILL VARY. On average, the A8-3870K can reach 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz with appropriate cooling. Of course, your chip may be able to overclock higher, OR lower.

 

 

My A6-3670K, using a Corsair A50 air cooler, and a Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H motherboard, I was able to easily reach 3.2GHz (stock speed is 2.7GHz) with ~1.45v. I'm sure I can drop the voltage down a bit, but it's been running stable at that those settings for the last...2+ years. It max's out at 45*C while running Prime95, so I don't see the immediate need.

Thanks! I'll try this tomorrow when I have some free time.

[harrynowl]

Well the LLano series APUs used a K10 style microarchitechture from what I remember (Rather than Zambezi/Crapdozer). I think you'd be best off doing what others have suggested, 3.6~ should be possible