Are all AMD FX-8350 AM3+ Black Edition Unlocked?

[kwalkingcraze]

I have a customer who is really confused and told me that not all FX-8350 are Black Edition with unlocked multiplier. I told him they are all unlocked, but he told me his FX-8350 is a locked processor (impossible), and he cannot overclock it. So, I opened this thread for real response. For now, I just tell him he doesn't know how to overclock or set BIOS.

So, are all FX-8350 Black Edition Unlocked?

 

[R0H1T]

There's only one 8350, that I know of, & it's unlocked, tell the guy to look at this ~ http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series FX-8350.html

 

[VirtualLarry]

For now, I just tell him he doesn't know how to overclock or set BIOS.

That is correct; he is clueless. ALL FX-series CPUs, like Ryzen, are unlocked, AFAIK. Although, not all of them are "Black Edition", so I could possibly be wrong. But I've seen overclocking reported for all FX CPUs. Maybe some are limited to bus overclocks? But I doubt that.

 

[R0H1T]

Maybe he's getting confused with the (E) parts which are low power, like 8320E & 8370E ?

 

[SPBHM]

I can't remember ever seeing a locked FX, in any case, it's AM3+, very easy to OC with the "fsb".

 

[kwalkingcraze]

That is correct; he is clueless. ALL FX-series CPUs, like Ryzen, are unlocked, AFAIK. Although, not all of them are "Black Edition", so I could possibly be wrong. But I've seen overclocking reported for all FX CPUs. Maybe some are limited to bus overclocks? But I doubt that.

"Black Edition" means this CPU has unlocked multiplier. All FXs are Black Edition.

 

[R0H1T]

"Black Edition" means this CPU has unlocked multiplier. All FXs are Black Edition.

I dunno if all FX are branded as BE (surely not?) but all of them are OCable & unlocked. The BE is a remnant of Phenom era IIRC.

 

[SPBHM]

first BE was the A64 6400+, they also had the 5000+ and X2 7850 BE I think, thing is all A64 could be easily overclocked because it was easy to do the bus clock OC, same as with AM3+, Phenom II had the BE parts but everyone OCed the "locked" ones.

with Fm1/2 it's different, bus clock is tricky so the BE was a real advantage.

so I don't think they even bothered with "locked" FX, since the platform is easy to OC with bus clock anyway, or maybe they did some for OEM which I'm not aware.

 

[kwalkingcraze]

Well, all of the FX processors I sold on eBay have the words called "Black Edition" on top of the sticker, which means they are all overclockable. He tells me his old FX-8350 is a "locked" processor and he can't overclock it, so he went out and buy a new FX-8350 again (from me). Unless his old FX-8350 CPU is defective in first place.

 

[kwalkingcraze]

since the platform is easy to OC with bus clock anyway, or maybe they did some for OEM which I'm not aware.

If it's OEM and locked, it would be called FX-8350B, "B" stands for business. But it doesn't exist (or does it)?

 

[Muhammad Faheem]

FX-8350B most of the times processors are unlocked and perform well as per requirements of the day. These processors also maximum tunable performance. I think these are unlocked and performance wise better option.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm not aware of any locked FX chips or any FX-8350 that is not a black edition unlocked chip.

There are a few oddball FX chips out there such as the 6330, but they are all unlocked.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series FX-6330.html

 

[EXCellR8]

I've also wondered, in the past, if there were any non black edition 8350 chips... never seen one advertised as such

 

[kwalkingcraze]

Yeah, my only concern is my buyer will be disappointed to see his new FX-8350 work and run like the same as his old one. There's no benefit upgrading from old FX-8350 to a new FX-8350 other than a newer manufactured date because he thinks his old one is a "locked" processor. What a waste of money...

 

[R0H1T]

Yeah, my only concern is my buyer will be disappointed to see his new FX-8350 work and run like the same as his old one. There's no benefit upgrading from old FX-8350 to a new FX-8350 other than a newer manufactured date because he thinks his old one is a "locked" processor. What a waste of money...

So is he paying for the new 8350 or do you have to go to the hassle of arranging a replacement & handling($) any returns?

 

[kwalkingcraze]

So is he paying for the new 8350 or do you have to go to the hassle of arranging a replacement & handling($) any returns?

That's what my buyer wrote:

"I have a 8350 and it was supposed to be a black unlocked but it's just a 8350 turns out. That's why I hope this one is the real deal."

"Well the one I have now is locked. And just bought a gigabyte 990fx gaming motherboard because I thought maybe my old motherboard was the issue. But I know this board is capable."

Looks like he bought a new Gigabyte motherboard as well because his old board cannot overclock, and now he tells me the new board cannot overclock his old FX-8350 as well. So he went shopping on eBay and purchase another FX-8350, this time from me as a seller.

 

[LTC8K6]

The cheapest AM3+ mobos I have will allow overclocking.