Help Overclocking

[Taco420]

Hello, 

I want to overclock my CPU, its an AMD FX-8320 and currently It has and Hyper Cooler 212 EVO as a heatsink, my MOBO is a Gigabyte 970A-DS3P, I want to get the most of it, currently its with a 3.5hz, I used the AMD Catalyst control and tried the CPU OverDrive, supposedly  my CPU can handle 4400 Mhz, but when I check into my processor info it says that currently it´s on 3.5Hz, so I really don't get it.

 

[Overkilled]

Cpu's vary some CPU's can overclock war higher than others if that's what youre asking it's just the look of the draw

[TheMechEngineer]

If your processor is unlocked, have a look online first to see if there are any overclocking guides for that processor.

Seeing what other people achieved with the same processor gives a better idea of what to expect for voltages, BIOS settings and temperatures.

Then it's just a matter of trying a baseline overclock and tweaking it yourself incrementally to get the optimal settings and stability for a higher clock speed.

[Taco420]

If your processor is unlocked, have a look online first to see if there are any overclocking guides for that processor.

Seeing what other people achieved with the same processor gives a better idea of what to expect for voltages, BIOS settings and temperatures.

Then it's just a matter of trying a baseline overclock and tweaking it yourself incrementally to get the optimal settings and stability for a higher clock speed.

How do I know if its unlocked? And if it isn´t, how do I do it?

[-rascal-]

How do I know if its unlocked? And if it isn´t, how do I do it?

 

All the CPU's in the current FX line-up have a unlocked multiplier -- back in the day, only select CPU's had an unlocked multiplier, and are labelled as "Black Edition."

 

Given that you are overclocking via AMD OverDrive, Windows based software overclocking, I suggest that you do some reading up before attempting to overclock your FX-8320. I looks like you have very little to no experience in CPU overclocking.

 

I may be "old school," but I think many here as well, but it is always best to overclock via the motherboard BIOS...and not through software.

 

Here are some suggested reading regarding to overclocking FX-81xxx and/or FX-83xxx Processors:

• http://www.overclock.net/t/1140459/bulldozer-overclocking-guide-performance-scaling-charts-max-ocs-ln2-results-coming
• http://www.overclock.net/t/1434322/amd-multiplier-overclocking-guide-vishera-bulldozer-phenom-more-ga-990fxa-ud5-rev1-1-non-uefi-bios-example

And...some overclocking tips:

1. On air cooling, it is advised not to go above 1.500V on the Core Voltage
2. Since the FX-8320 has an unlocked multiplier, the simplest way, especially for a beginner, is to overclocking by adjusting the CPU Multiplier
3. Gradually increase the Core Voltage -- DO NOT just crank it up to 1.500V
4. Increase your overclock by a small amount (i.e. bump the multiplier up by 1X), and test for stability
5. For stability testing (just to name a few), use AIDA64's built-in stability test, 3D Mark, and/or Cinebench. Prime95 is okay  for AMD CPU's, but you still need to be careful with it regardless. I am still unsure about CPU-Z's new built-in "CPU benchmark" / stability tester.
6. To monitor temperatures, you can use HWMonitor, AIDA64, Speccy, etc. AMD OverDrive is acceptable as well (use the thermal margin -- how much you have left before reaching the maximum safe operating temperature)
7. CPU-Z and GPU-Z should be some of the programs on your "PC tool belt"

[Deagon]

Your CPU has a maximum overclocking speed of 4.0 GHz, but and im not 100% sure, you FBS and therefore your RAM will limit your maximum overclocking ability, as from what i know overclocking my Am2+ CPU, you'll have to increase the FBS, but idk on your CPU to be honest, your best bet is looking up a guide, its should all be done through your BIOS though and not the OS

[-rascal-]

Your CPU has a maximum overclocking speed of 4.0 GHz, but and im not 100% sure, you FBS and therefore your RAM will limit your maximum overclocking ability, as from what i know overclocking my Am2+ CPU, you'll have to increase the FBS, but idk on your CPU to be honest, your best bet is looking up a guide, its should all be done through your BIOS though and not the OS

 

4.0 GHz is the default "Turbo Boost" frequency. You can go beyond that with overclocking.

 

It is FSB -- Front Side Bus -- but it the term varies between motherboard manufacturers.

• ASUS uses "CPU Bus Frequency"
• Gigabyte uses "CPU Frequency"
• MSi refers to it as "CPU FSB Frequency"
• CPU-Z lists it as "Bus Speed"
• etc

If you are overclocking, by adjusting only the multiplier, and NOT FSB, the DRAM / HT / CPU-NB frequencies will not be affected.

[Deagon]

4.0 GHz is the default "Turbo Boost" frequency. You can go beyond that with overclocking.

 

It is FSB -- Front Side Bus -- but it the term varies between motherboard manufacturers.

• ASUS uses "CPU Bus Frequency"
• Gigabyte uses "CPU Frequency"
• MSi refers to it as "CPU FSB Frequency"
• CPU-Z lists it as "Bus Speed"
• etc

If you are overclocking, by adjusting only the multiplier, and NOT FSB, the DRAM / HT / CPU-NB frequencies will not be affected.

Thanks for clarifying I've never played with the FX series. 

FBS = Front bus speed its the universal term. 

[Taco420]

 

All the CPU's in the current FX line-up have a unlocked multiplier -- back in the day, only select CPU's had an unlocked multiplier, and are labelled as "Black Edition."

 

Given that you are overclocking via AMD OverDrive, Windows based software overclocking, I suggest that you do some reading up before attempting to overclock your FX-8320. I looks like you have very little to no experience in CPU overclocking.

 

I may be "old school," but I think many here as well, but it is always best to overclock via the motherboard BIOS...and not through software.

 

Here are some suggested reading regarding to overclocking FX-81xxx and/or FX-83xxx Processors:

• http://www.overclock.net/t/1140459/bulldozer-overclocking-guide-performance-scaling-charts-max-ocs-ln2-results-coming
• http://www.overclock.net/t/1434322/amd-multiplier-overclocking-guide-vishera-bulldozer-phenom-more-ga-990fxa-ud5-rev1-1-non-uefi-bios-example

And...some overclocking tips:

1. On air cooling, it is advised not to go above 1.500V on the Core Voltage
2. Since the FX-8320 has an unlocked multiplier, the simplest way, especially for a beginner, is to overclocking by adjusting the CPU Multiplier
3. Gradually increase the Core Voltage -- DO NOT just crank it up to 1.500V
4. Increase your overclock by a small amount (i.e. bump the multiplier up by 1X), and test for stability
5. For stability testing (just to name a few), use AIDA64's built-in stability test, 3D Mark, and/or Cinebench. Prime95 is okay  for AMD CPU's, but you still need to be careful with it regardless. I am still unsure about CPU-Z's new built-in "CPU benchmark" / stability tester.
6. To monitor temperatures, you can use HWMonitor, AIDA64, Speccy, etc. AMD OverDrive is acceptable as well (use the thermal margin -- how much you have left before reaching the maximum safe operating temperature)
7. CPU-Z and GPU-Z should be some of the programs on your "PC tool belt"

 

Thanks for all the info! Really helpful!