AMD FX-8350 at 4GHz running at 1.4Ghz why?

[thedarkrein]

My Fx-8350 is meant to be running at 4000Mhz constantly but instead it is going down to 1400Mhz with the odd fluctuation of 4000Mhz. I have a msi 970 motherboard, 8GB Hyperx ram 600W PSU with a gtx 580 SC. The Cpu cooler is a be quiet darkrock TF with both fans installed. Sometimes It will be at 4000Mhz for 30 mins and then will just go back down to 1400. Any ideas as to why this is the case? The CPU was running fine for 1 year and the recently it just decided that it doesnt like a normal clockspeed. The ratio is x7 and not x20 like it should be. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MeanMachine41]

I don't know what method you have used to OC your system however, it should only be done in Bios and not from software within Windows.
The reason your frequency varies is because you have Turbo mode enabled or Auto
Go into Bios and disable Turbo mode and set a fixed frequency. BCLK @ 200 x 20 = 4000
Also disable Cool and Quite and any C1E sleep states.

 

[thedarkrein]

I don't know what method you have used to OC your system however, it should only be done in Bios and not from software within Windows.
The reason your frequency varies is because you have Turbo mode enabled or Auto
Go into Bios and disable Turbo mode and set a fixed frequency. BCLK @ 200 x 20 = 4000

I havent overclocked anything and the turbo has been disabled. I set the cores to manual and enabled all of them I also disabled AMD cool and quiet and all the CPU power limiting settings and also disabled the high power option because that was causing long loading times and didn't help anything. After all this my CPU is still constantly at 1.4Ghz 20x7 ratio.

Thanks for the quick answer though.

 

[MeanMachine41]

I don't know what method you have used to OC your system however, it should only be done in Bios and not from software within Windows.
The reason your frequency varies is because you have Turbo mode enabled or Auto
Go into Bios and disable Turbo mode and set a fixed frequency. BCLK @ 200 x 20 = 4000

I havent overclocked anything and the turbo has been disabled. I set the cores to manual and enabled all of them I also disabled AMD cool and quiet and all the CPU power limiting settings and also disabled the high power option because that was causing long loading times and didn't help anything. After all this my CPU is still constantly at 1.4Ghz 20x7 ratio.

Thanks for the quick answer though.

The only other thing I can think of is if you have a Slow Mode switch, not sure if your MSI board has one. I do know some ASUS MB do and maybe its been accidentally switched over. Have you set your Power plan option in Windows for performance.?

 

[thedarkrein]

It does have a slow mode switch but when I flip the switch It either does nothing, or it goes to 4Ghz for a couple seconds and then back to 1.4Ghz.

 

[MeanMachine41]

It does have a slow mode switch but when I flip the switch It either does nothing, or it goes to 4Ghz for a couple seconds and then back to 1.4Ghz.

I just updated my last Post to ask what your Power plan was set to in Windows.
The other thing that can cause this is Overheating on the Core and the CPU throttles when under load. Check your temperatures.

 

[thedarkrein]

My power plan is at High performance and the CPU power is at 100% minimum and maximum and the cpu wouldnt get higher than 60 degrees when playing GTA V when it ran at 4Ghz.

 

[MeanMachine41]

My power plan is at High performance and the CPU power is at 100% minimum and maximum and the cpu wouldnt get higher than 60 degrees when playing GTA V when it ran at 4Ghz.

Then I think it's either your PSU or MB voltage regulation imo. Check the capacitors on the MB cause if the caps near the NB VRMS are bulging or looked discolored then its the MB. The only way to check your PSU properly is to swap it out with a known working unit of the same Wattage or higher.

 

[thedarkrein]

My MB's capacitors are fine but (im not sure if this is helpful) I did notice a rather large patch of oil I think coming down from the NB VRMs and when I ran my finger across it my finger was slightly shiny but not wet, just slightly sticky hence why I think that it might be oil from the VRMs and dont currently have a PSU that is the same wattage

 

[MeanMachine41]

My MB's capacitors are fine but (im not sure if this is helpful) I did notice a rather large patch of oil I think coming down from the NB VRMs and when I ran my finger across it my finger was slightly shiny but not wet, just slightly sticky hence why I think that it might be oil from the VRMs and dont currently have a PSU that is the same wattage

That oily patch is very suspicious and if the Capacitors are leaking then its probably the cause and it will get worse. If it's still under Warranty then your entitled to get an RMA and have it replaced.

 

[spdragoo]

FX chips automatically downclock when they're idling. I see it all the time in CoreTemp (utility I use to monitor the temps, frequency & activity on my FX-8320). When it's just idling, the clock speeds on all 8 cores drop down to 1400MHz. When it starts getting used, the clocks ramp up to their full/turbo speeds as needed.

 

[thedarkrein]

The oil is not coming from the capacitors but I will check if I still have my warranty.

Thanks for the help.

 

[thedarkrein]

When playing GTA V and stress testing the CPU I still get 1.4Ghz
EDIT: I wasn't Running GTA V and stress testing at the same time

 

[MeanMachine41]

The oil is not coming from the capacitors but I will check if I still have my warranty.

Thanks for the help.

Your Welcome thedarkrein