Overclocking a AMD FX-6300

[Nexo]

So I have this rig. It has a AMD FX-6300 and a MSI 970A-G46 AM3+ motherboard. I'm really new to overclocking. If you guys give me tips how to start.

[Firearm2112]

I found this guide that should help: http://www.overclock.net/t/1348623/amd-bulldozer-and-piledriver-overclocking-guide-asus-motherboard

 

Also, do you have an aftermarket cooler?

[Nexo]

I found this guide that should help: http://www.overclock.net/t/1348623/amd-bulldozer-and-piledriver-overclocking-guide-asus-motherboard

 

Also, do you have an aftermarket cooler?

Yeah, a hyper evo 212.

[Firearm2112]

Yeah, a hyper evo 212.

Then your set. Heres a few tips: Dont go straight to some crazy OC. Keep raising it little by little until you find something thats stable and your happy with. Also, watch your temps while overclocking. And make sure to read this guide: http://www.overclock.net/t/1348623/amd-bulldozer-and-piledriver-overclocking-guide-asus-motherboard

 

Happy overclocking! 

[Nexo]

I have a problem I can't open my bios. I tried pressing F2 and delete. It didn't work. Also I have fast boot on so it might be cause the problem for my not being able to open it.

[dragoon20005]

you can try mashing the f2 key

 

if not clear CMOS to remove the fast boot setting

 

remember to set your drives to AHCI mode

[PuNkPoEtS]

@Nexo check your manual to see if you can press any other key eg. DELETE. as @Firearm2112 said take it slow as every chip is different and same with the motherboard. first thing i would do is find out what the lowest volts you need to run it at the stock 3.5Ghz. once you have done that then start bumping the multiplier until you need to add more volts to keep it stable.

 

a list of programs i used when i done mine were: Prime95, coretemp/hw monitor, cpu-z 

 

btw also that guide will be a bit different to what you will see in your bios as its for ASUS motherboards but generally it should be transferable 

[Nexo]

@Nexo check your manual to see if you can press any other key eg. DELETE. as @Firearm2112 said take it slow as every chip is different and same with the motherboard. first thing i would do is find out what the lowest volts you need to run it at the stock 3.5Ghz. once you have done that then start bumping the multiplier until you need to add more volts to keep it stable.

 

a list of programs i used when i done mine were: Prime95, coretemp/hw monitor, cpu-z 

 

btw also that guide will be a bit different to what you will see in your bios as its for ASUS motherboards but generally it should be transferable 

Ummm I kinda threw out everything.(Dumb move ). I was looking at this guide and I don't know if it's good or not judging by it's comments it's pretty good. What do you guys think? 

[-rascal-]

Just be careful of the temperatures -- especially on the mother VRM's.

The MSI 970A-G46 uses a 4+1 power phase design, which isn't great, but still okay on the lower power draw FX-6300.

You typically want a board with 4+2, 6+2 or great power design if you want to do any high overclocking.

 

There is a heatsink over the VRM's, but it isn't anything amazing.

The motherboard will throttle the CPU if the board detects the VRM temperatures become out of hand.

I don't see any notes about the use of the FX 6-cores on this MSI 970A-G46, but there is this:

 

MSI has confirmed that 8-cores exceed the safe limits of this board.

http://www.overclock.net/t/946407/amd-motherboards-vrm-info-database

 

When I was looking into your board, the first thing I stumbled across was this: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/330572-30-970a-warning

In summary, somebody got in contact with MSI regarding to the motherboard. MSI's response was this board cannot support high power draw CPU's / very high overclocks.

 

The MSI 970A-G46 is the direct replacement for the MSI 970A-G45. The G45 variant was prone to VRM overheating issues due to the lack of a VRM heatsink. A heatsink was implemented and minor improvments were done. The MSI 970A-G45 was immediately discontinued, and the MSI 970A-G46 came into existence.

 

 

From  the information that I was able to gather, you should not run into any VRM / motherboard issues with a FX-6300 overclocked to about 4.0GHz - 4.2GHz.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO should be able to keep an FX-6300 @ 4.2GHz cool as well.

[Nexo]

Alright, I'm going to follow the videos and also use that guide. I'm just trying to go easy right now for a 4.2Ghz overclock.

[Nexo]

Do you think these are good programs to use? CPUZ, Coretemp, and AIDA's stress test. I just don't know where to look on coretemp for the temp if it goes up or down. Would it be this

 

[harrynowl]

Do you think these are good programs to use? CPUZ, Coretemp, and AIDA's stress test. I just don't know where to look on coretemp for the temp if it goes up or down. Would it be this

 

CoreTemp, CPU-Z and AIDA64 are my weapons of choice for AMD overclocking. I'd disable cool'n'quiet so it stays at the clock speed rather than falling to 1.1ghz.

 

And yes that's active temp, you also want to look at max temp.

[Nexo]

CoreTemp, CPU-Z and AIDA64 are my weapons of choice for AMD overclocking. I'd disable cool'n'quiet so it stays at the clock speed rather than falling to 1.1ghz.

 

And yes that's active temp, you also want to look at max temp.

Do you know they temps that I shouldn't exceed on FX 6300. For the active temp and the Max temp?

[harrynowl]

Do you know they temps that I shouldn't exceed on FX 6300. For the active temp and the Max temp?

AMD rate them at 62c on the core, but if it exceeds it for like 10 seconds while stressing don't freak out. Remember stress testing =/= gaming temps.

[Razzaa]

So I have this rig. It has a AMD FX-6300 and a MSI 970A-G46 AM3+ motherboard. I'm really new to overclocking. If you guys give me tips how to start.

You wont get very far with that board and cooler. Amd gets really hot really quick!!

[Nexo]

You wont get very far with that board and cooler. Amd gets really hot really quick!!

I'm just trying to get a 4.2 overclock only.

[harrynowl]

I'm just trying to get a 4.2 overclock only.

That could be achievable with stock voltage. Use 1.35v and apply 80% llc.

[Razzaa]

That could be achievable with stock voltage. Use 1.35v and apply 80% llc.

Does his board even allow llc tuning like that? Most 970 boards have on, off or auto llc settings.

[harrynowl]

Does his board even allow llc tuning like that? Most 970 boards have on, off or auto llc settings.

No idea. My M5A97 EVO R2.0 had comprehensive LLC tuning, my 970-UD3P did not.

 

My M4A78T-M does also.

[Nexo]

First I got to find out how to turn off my fast boot. It's blocking my from accessing my BIOS. Is this a good way to unplug power cable and then taking out the BIOS battery for 5-10 seconds then putting it back in then putting back power cable? I don't have a jumper nor a clear cmos button.

[harrynowl]

First I got to find out how to turn off my fast boot. It's blocking my from accessing my BIOS

Windows 8?

 

Go to charms bar -> pc settings -> update and recovery -> recovery -> advanced startup

 

choose restart now

 

 

then it will ask you to what to do at boot, I think it's troubleshooting or something, then there's an option to reboot into uefi

[Nexo]

Windows 8?

 

Go to charms bar -> pc settings -> update and recovery -> recovery -> advanced startup

 

choose restart now

 

 

then it will ask you to what to do at boot, I think it's troubleshooting or something, then there's an option to reboot into uefi

Thanks for that I got into my bios. I know what to do for almost everything now but for the SB I don't know what voltage to put for it

[Razzaa]

Thanks for that I got into my bios. I know what to do for almost everything now but for the SB I don't know what voltage to put for it

Why are you even touching the SB at this point? Multiplier and vcore until stable.

[harrynowl]

Thanks for that I got into my bios. I know what to do for almost everything now but for the SB I don't know what voltage to put for it

auto

[Nexo]

How about CPU smart protection enable?