Studying the nuances of overclocking AMD Vishera processors. Processors Checking computer stability
Yes, this is not a joke and a new model is being announced on the already well-worn AMD 990FX chipset with south bridge SB950.
The solution looks a little strange. For example, the northbridge could be renamed 1000FX or 1100FX and no one would even notice the catch. But with the south bridge everything is not so rosy. It's still a little outdated. Just a little because there is no support USB interface 3.0. Therefore, it was necessary to add four ports of this standard plus a couple more SATA 3 and call it all SB1050. But this did not happen and a platform for enthusiasts based on the old logic set is announced.
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Is he really that bad? Probably not, because there is support for basic functions and interfaces. Yes, PCI-e is of the second generation, but there is support for both SLI and CrossFire modes. In addition, due to the age of the chipset, you can already expect that prices for products based on it will be reduced. And owners of motherboards based on it can rest easy and continue to stay on top, since this still remains an advanced solution.
And if USB support 3.0 can be added with third-party controllers, but with PCI-e 3.0 things are worse. There is one more point - this is the integrated video core. Historically, FX series processors have to compete with the Intel s1155 platform. On it, most processors come with an integrated video adapter. You can argue for a long time about the fact that it is not needed, but it is given for free. It allows you not only to watch movies and play casual games, but sometimes can help you with your work. Therefore, given all these aspects, AMD needs to take its successor more seriously. Perhaps because of this we had to wait a little longer with the announcement.
As has been noted more than once, the AM3 platform is a noble “old man”. Some users managed to replace quad-core Phenom IIs with six-core models that came out later, and then replaced them with older versions of the FX series. First generation of new AMD processors FX received a mixed reception, but understandably so. Most “household” tasks require high processor speed in simple applications that are not always able to work with a large number streams. The new architecture is initially aimed at multi-threaded programs, where it showed a good percentage of growth compared to previous Phenom II models.
Had to compete with older models for Intel platforms LGA 1155 in the productivity segment, which was extremely problematic to do before. It turned out well, although in a number of tests there was obvious advantage The CPU is manufactured by Intel; in other tasks, the FX-8150 managed to outperform its competitors, while having a lower price - that is, it turned out to be a classic “good for the money” option. Still, any fan of AMD processors expected more.
Platform and architecture
Intel continues to release processors “tick-tock” from year to year, transferring the old architecture to new technological standards, and then releasing a new one using them. At AMD, the process of changing architectures until recently was more protracted. However, Bulldozer processors have only recently appeared, and we are already seeing Piledriver.
Translation of the official instructions from ASUS ROG.
As you know, overclocking your processor instance may differ from the results of this article. The final result may also be affected by cooling and the motherboard (if you are using a non-specified board).
If you have additional questions, then you can ask them on the official forum (English) or in the official community on the social network VKontakte.
Well, let's get started!
Installing the processor into the socket is quite simple and you cannot use force, otherwise you can damage the legs and, accordingly, kill it:
-raise the clamp
-install the processor, aligning the golden triangle with the triangular mark on the socket
- lower the clamp
Apply thermal paste in a thin layer. It's very convenient to use something like credit card, if the kit did not include a special spatula. 
Install cooling. Remember that overclocking the FX-8350 requires very good cooling! In our instructions we use the Corsair H80i, but analogues are also quite suitable. It is best to use two-section SVO.
Installing RAM. 
A little about powering the system.
As you may have already noticed, ASUS board ROG Crosshair V Formula-Z is equipped with an additional 4-pin processor power connector. Connecting both cables (8-pin and 4-pin) can improve stability during overclocking. But if your power supply only has one 8-pin cable, then don’t worry - connecting a second one is not necessary. 
Before we move directly to overclocking, download the latest BIOS version for your board and unpack it onto a flash drive so that you can update the board via EZ Flash. 
You also need to download (or take it on disk from the kit) and install the ASUS AI Suite II utility, since not all utilities can correctly monitor the temperatures of the FX-8350. We will use AI Suite II to monitor temperatures and voltages, CPU-z to monitor CPU frequency, and Prime95 to check system stability.
Make sure everything is working as normal.
Go to the BIOS and press the F5 key to apply the optimal settings.
Save the settings using the F10 key and reboot into Windows.
Open CPU-Z and AI Suite II.
Launch Prime95 and run the Small FFT test. The processor frequency should be approximately 4 GHz.
In our case, the processor temperature reached 49 degrees. The room temperature was 25 degrees. 
If everything is in order, then let's move directly to overclocking!
Once again, we note that there can be quite a big difference between processors, but most should overclock to 4.8 GHz with good cooling. If your system is unstable, then try reducing the multiplier by one step at the same voltage and check it again.
We will use the extended UEFI BIOS mode (ROG line boards initially launch this mode).
Let's go to the Extreme Tweaker tab.
Let's set the CPU Ratio parameter to 24. This way we should get 4.8 GHz (you can see the Target CPU Speed value a little higher). 
Set the memory operating mode as you wish (according to your memory specifications). In our case - 1600 MHz. 
In the same tab below we look for CPU & NB Voltage and set it to Manual mode.
Set the CPU Manual Voltage to 1.5 V. Don’t pay attention to the red backlight of the numbers, everything is fine. 
We go up the menu a little higher and go to DIGI+ Power Control.
Let's set CPU Load Line Calibration to Ultra High. 
Now we need the Advanced tab. In it we go to the CPU Configuration menu. 
You need to set the Cool ‘n’ Quiet parameter to Always Disabled and C1E to Disabled. 
You can also turn off (Disabled) Core C6 State.
You can save the settings profile (so as not to set everything again each time) in the Tool tab.
Now press the F10 key to save the settings and reboot.
Stress test
I'll repeat everything like last time. We launch AI Suite II, CPU-z and then Prime95 in Small FFT mode.
In our case, the temperature under load increased to 76 degrees. This is quite a lot, but still within the TJMax range. 
Is the system stable? Then return to the BIOS and try to reduce the voltage to 1.49 V or lower. You can try changing the Load line Calibration value to High, but most likely the system will not work stably. Our processor instance was able to operate at a frequency of 4.8 GHz at a voltage of 1.49 V. 
If you have additional questions, you can ask them
Reviewing the FX 8350 processor from AMD, we took a look at the Piledriver architecture and compared it with its predecessors and one of its competitors. It's time to update our review. Today we will study in detail the overclocking potential of the AMD FX 8350 when using various types of cooling, and also test performance in 3D applications.
To evaluate the overclocking potential of the FX 8350 and further testing, an open test bench was used with the following configuration:
- Motherboard: ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX (AMD 990X, AM3+);
- Processor: AMD FX-8350
- CPU Cooling: Air, Water, Dry Ice
- Thermal interface: Arctic Cooling MX-2;
- Video card: Reference sample AMD Radeon HD 7970;
- RAM: Kingmax Memory 2x2 GB PC3-10700H (DDR3-1600);
- Drive: Seagate ST3250410AS 250 GB;
- Power unit: ;
- Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1;
- Driver version: Catalyst 12.11 Beta 8.
Overclocking
The final frequency of the processor after overclocking, in addition to its personal frequency potential, is influenced by a number of factors, such as the type and efficiency of the selected cooling, the applied voltage, as well as a number of other equally important factors. Today, the main goal of experiments with the AMD FX 8350 processor is to obtain approximate overclocking results using different types cooling. We believe that these results will be approximately valid when overclocking any other instance of the FX 8350, and you can rely on them as a kind of guideline.
All experiments with frequency were carried out directly from Motherboard BIOS boards, we did not use software overclocking from Windows. Overclocking was carried out by increasing the multiplier and voltage on the CPU cores. The CPU/NB frequency and HT Link Speed were fixed at 2400 MHz and 2600 MHz respectively. The value of the CPU Vcore Load Line Calibration parameter was set to High; it was in this mode that the load voltage was as close as possible to the set one. The processor power system was constantly cooled by one 120 mm cooler. The stability of the processor was determined using the LinX 0.6.4 program, and finally the processor temperature was controlled by the ASUS Thermal Radar utility.
Overclocking the FX-8350 is a fairly simple operation and allows you to significantly increase operating speed personal computer. The procedure for its implementation will be described in stages and in detail later as part of this review. In addition to this, general recommendations regarding the configuration of the PC will be given and the technical parameters of the microprocessor will be given.
The list of this CPU includes the following components:
- Chip packed in a protective box.
- Cooling system and thermal paste.
- Warranty card and quick guide user.
- Sticker with the logo of the CPU family.
The first important condition for overclocking a PC is its high-quality equipment. Therefore, it is better not to overclock the CPU with a standard heat sink system. With an advanced air cooler, this chip model is capable of delivering a guaranteed 4.5-4.7 GHz. If you use liquid cooling, you can count on conquering the 5.0-5.2 GHz bar. That is, a twenty percent increase in work speed. Also, the power supply must have a significant power reserve, the minimum value of which should be 800 W. In addition to this, the graphics accelerator must be equipped with an improved cooling system and high-quality semiconductor elements. The RAM, in turn, should allow increasing the clock frequency and be equipped with radiators for cooling.
The motherboard must be at least ATX format. If you use devices for these purposes smaller size, then overheating problems may occur. Therefore, it is better not to overclock the FX-8350, for example. Experience shows that the computer overheats in this case and may even break down. This board has MicroATX format and is designed for creating ultra-compact PCs. But overclocking the FX-8350 on the Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P can and should be done. She has everything she needs to do this. As a result, it can be noted that choosing an improved motherboard is the key to high-quality overclocking.
CPU Specifications
Before overclocking the FX-8350 is further discussed in detail and step by step, we present its technical specifications. This model The CPU is based on an architecture codenamed Vishera and is designed to fit into the now obsolete AM3+ processor socket. Nominally, this chip includes eight processing units program code. But in fact, this modification of the microprocessor includes eight integer modules and four floating-point processing units. Therefore, in the first case, this CPU shows high operating speed and can even outperform the i5 from Intel of the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th generation. And in the second, its performance decreases significantly, and it can already compete on equal terms with the Core i3.
The base frequency of the chip is 4 GHz. But when you turn on Turbobust mode, it can increase to 4.4 GHz. That is, this is automatic overclocking of the microprocessor. Also of this device multiplier unlocked. Therefore, its performance can be increased by simply increasing the value of the latter.
The chip is equipped with three cache levels. The first of them allows you to place 384 KB of data and program code, and the second and third - 8 MB each.
The semiconductor base of the CPU is produced using 32 nm technology. This is an outdated technical process. Therefore the chip has high level power consumption, which corresponds to 125 W. The supply voltage range is 0.9 - 1.3 V. The CPU die area is 319 mm 2, and the number of transistors is 1200 million.
Order of increasing performance
The best way to overclock the FX-8350 is to use a combination of the following: software, like AMD Overdrive and AIDA64. This software is freely available on the Internet. It must first be downloaded and installed on the computer on which you plan to perform this operation.
The next stage is the parallel launch of these programs. Then in AIDA64 go to the “Computer” menu item and open the “Sensors” subsection. First of all, we pay attention to the processor temperature. It should not exceed 80 - 85 o C.
Next, go to the Overdrive utility from AMD. In this program, open the menu item Clock/Voltage. Then check the Select All Core checkbox. After that, use the slider to change the value of the multiplier-multiplier. Its basic value is 20. When using an air cooling system, it can be increased to 22-23. This will allow you to achieve frequency values of 4400 - 4600 MHz. If the computer system works stably, then in some cases you can set it to 23.5. This will allow you to get 4.7 GHz. In the case of an air system, it is permissible to set the multiplier to 24.5 - 25. That is, you can count on 4900 - 5000 MHz. We save the changes by clicking the Apply soft button.
Now you need to go to the AIDA64 program. We check the sensor readings. If the temperature is within acceptable limits, then we exit this utility.
Checking computer stability
After overclocking the AMD FX-8350 processor has been completed, you need to check the stability of the PC. To do this, download programs such as PC Mark, for example, and CrystalMark from the Internet. Using each of them, we check the stability of the computer 2-3 times. If the PC is working correctly, then we leave everything unchanged. IN otherwise you need to lower the clock frequency and recheck the computer for stable operation. You also need to periodically monitor the temperature of the chip.
Performance increase
Growth clock frequency of this chip is in the range of 15 to 20 percent. But an even more important factor that affects the increase in performance is software optimization. For example, if you conduct an archiving test in WinRAR or WinZip, you can get a forty percent increase in speed. But in those programs that are poorly optimized for multi-threaded mode, the performance increase will be from 5 to 7 percent. The last group mainly includes toys.
The feasibility of performing this operation
Overclocking the FX-8350 processor, as previously noted, allows you to increase PC performance without any changes in the computer's hardware configuration. With its help, you can get a level of computing system performance comparable to a 2nd or 3rd generation Core i5. That's why this operation is still relevant.
Moreover, there are all the prerequisites for its implementation. The CPU has both the multiplier and operating frequency unlocked system bus. This allows you to flexibly increase the speed of your PC. At the same time, a more convenient and practical way to increase performance is to increment the multiplier. But it is wrong to change the frequency of the system bus for the reason that the functioning of the graphics controller is tied to it and random access memory. Therefore, this method of overclocking can affect the performance of the computer.
