Help overclocking a fx4350

[Alex t]

This week I tried to overclock my 4350 for the first time, I've read online or people getting 5ghz without much trouble but I've hit a limit at 4.6, I've adjusted all the bios settings and I've tried different voltages but no dice, any ideas?

 

[CraptacularOne]

Get a better CPU. Really even overclocking it won’t help. The Bulldozer architecture is terrible. Even a Ryzen 3 1200 will handily mop the floor with that old FX chip.

 

[ZGR]

4.6 isn't bad imo

 

[chrisjames61]

This week I tried to overclock my 4350 for the first time, I've read online or people getting 5ghz without much trouble but I've hit a limit at 4.6, I've adjusted all the bios settings and I've tried different voltages but no dice, any ideas?

Getting 5 GHz on any FX chip is hard to achieve. You need a really good motherboard and cpu cooler and case cooling in general. You also need a good chip. You also need a good amount of knowledge and experience overclocking FX cpu's and the 990FX chipset in general.

 

[chrisjames61]

Craptacular, Maybe because he doesn't want or need to do a wholesale upgrade?

 

[Alex t]

Craptacular, Maybe because he doesn't want or need to do a wholesale upgrade?

yep

 

[daveybrat]

Hard to give you any help without the rest of your system specs. Please list the Motherboard, CPU Cooler, Ram, and Power supply.

 

[Alex t]

parts list
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gzN8FT
also wraith cooler

 

[ao_ika_red]

Wraith cooler is a no for a sustained OC. Try use this. It's quite cheap and it might help you achive better OC than wraith.
edit: You should check your case clearance first because that thing is pretty tall, about 155mm ~ 6.1 in.

 

[Alex t]

Wraith cooler is a no for a sustained OC. Try use this. It's quite cheap and it might help you achive better OC than wraith.

the problem isnt cooling it is way under 70c

 

[ao_ika_red]

the problem isnt cooling it is way under 70c

I deduce yours is limited by motherboard. But 4.6 is pretty high for Bulldozer CPU.

 

[daveybrat]

It's your motherboard. That board is only a 4+1 power phase design for up to 125 Watt processor's. Your cpu already has a 125 Watt TDP.

As you overclock the chip the power usage goes up as well. To have any chance of hitting higher speeds you need a 990FX chipset.

 

[Alex t]

oh well

 

[ao_ika_red]

What's your main purpose with your rig? If it's mainly for gaming, better gpu will help, even GT1030 is an upgrade for your Kepler-era gpu.

 

[Alex t]

oh that isnt my current gpu forgot to change that i now have https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126170

 

[daveybrat]

A GTX 1050 Ti 4GB is a fine card for gaming. So in reality your only big upgrade that you can do next is to move on to a Ryzen platform.

 

[Alex t]

yep

 

[ao_ika_red]

Oh, that's pretty good. Another option is putting more thread to the board. Keep an eye for bargain / used 8350 on ebay or other e-tailer. But, as Ryzen 2000 series will come on late spring /early summer it will be a massive upgrade to whatever FX CPU could offer.

 

[DrMrLordX]

You CAN get close to 5 GHz on the right 970 board; it's risky, though, and probably not worth the expenditure.

760G, though, no way. I'm surprised you hit 4.6! So good job there. Try not to burn out any VRMs doing that. Can you monitor their temperature with something like HWiNFO64?

edit: if you were going to hit 5 GHz on a 4350 with a non-990FX board, this would be the one:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Vrdqqs/gigabyte-motherboard-ga970aud3p

Good luck finding one. You could get them for $70-$80 about two years ago, and they paired well with the "what's old is new again" FX chips like the 8320e. Looks like people have them for $100-$130 on eBay. At those prices, I would say that it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

 

[NTMBK]

You've probably squeezed all you can out of that CPU. Just enjoy it for the time being, don't spend any more money on new motherboard/cooler/whatever, and save up for a new system.