Do I reduce the wattage of my CPU safely?

[PrestickNinja]

I am running an AMD FX 8350 on an MSI 970A-G46 motherboard. Although the CPU is supposed to be running at 125w, a quick test with Sandra reveals 148w draw from the CPU before the system crashes.

Before I fork out for a new MB I want to be sure this is the problem. How do I safely reduce the MB settings in my bios to get the power draw back down to 125w?

 

[refillable]

Retain stock speeds by resetting the BIOS to default. If however you don't see any crashes beside those Sandra tests, you don't have to worry.

 

[PrestickNinja]

Retain stock speeds by resetting the BIOS to default. If however you don't see any crashes beside those Sandra tests, you don't have to worry.

Thanks for the answer - it's been generally unstable on and off for quite a while. One thing I seem to have found which may work (it's actually finishing the benchmarks without a BSOD, as well as passing MEMTEST with all my RAM installed, a first) is setting the CPU voltage in the BIOS to the actual expected voltage (1.325V) rather than AUTO. I noticed CPU-Z was recording voltages creeping towards 1.4V under stress, which are now stable at 1.33 and below. I just hope it holds. if so, this may be the solution to something I have been banging my head against for years.

 

[PrestickNinja]

Retain stock speeds by resetting the BIOS to default. If however you don't see any crashes beside those Sandra tests, you don't have to worry.

Also a note - this was under stock settings. My FX 8350 draws around 148W when it is supposed to only draw 125W. Motherboard just can't handle it.

Fixing the voltage at the expected value seems to have helped (so far)...

 

[refillable]

Hmm... Motherboards should not put it at Auto in default BSOD settings. I guess it's different in your case. But hey, if it fixed the issue congratulations!