FX-8350 Frequency drops

[beardedtexan]

Good afternoon everyone,

So, this has only started happening recently with my PC and I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. I am already going to take steps to see if I can make sure this is fixed, but I wanted to get some feedback and see if what I was doing was the right call...

I started playing ARMA 3 again with some buddies and having a blast, but I noticed I had some rather frequent FPS drops; going from 50-60 FPS all the way down to about 9 FPS. So, I did some digging and thought I could have had a virus ( friend decided to try and download 'BluRay Quality' Jurrasic World Torrent and ended up getting me a nice Virus and a hefty amount of Malware that has since been dealt with. I noticed using CoreTemp that my CPU Frequency was dropping from 4400 Mhz to about 1400 Mhz. So, I narrowed the issue down to that, without even looking at my temps ( stupid, I know). So, I thought there was maybe a Virus or some Malware sneaking around in the background so I did a complete System Reformat of my PC. It was long over due and I needed a clean start.

But, After the System Reformat I noticed that it was still happening even without OC'ing the CPU. Even at stock 4000 Mhz, It was dropping periodically down to 1200-1400 Mhz. I noticed my Temps were going from 60C to about 70C, then maxing at 79C. When I noticed it macing at 79C, the Frequency would drop down and my temperatures would slowly move down, then it would repeat until I would stop the game and it would idle. I forgot the Idle Temps.

So, I am guessing my CPU Cooler is going out... Or is there something else I should look at? I really don't want to throw my CPU in the Deep Fryer. Am I doing the right thing by replacing my CPU Cooler? I just wanted some professional opinions on the matter. I'd rather not have to buy a new CPU or MOBO in my current situation.

I just managed to buy an Antec Kuhler H20 950 at my Local Fry's.

My Build:
CPU: FX-8350 4.0 (was OC'd to 4.4 but I backed it down because of my issue)
MOBO: Gigabyte 990FX-UD3
RAM: G.Skill X Series 16Gb 2133 Mhz
GPU: XFX R9 290X Double Dissipation Edition
CPU COOLER: Thermaltake 2.0 120mm
PSU: Corsair RM1000

 

[BSOD BSTD]

Good afternoon everyone,

So, this has only started happening recently with my PC and I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. I am already going to take steps to see if I can make sure this is fixed, but I wanted to get some feedback and see if what I was doing was the right call...

I started playing ARMA 3 again with some buddies and having a blast, but I noticed I had some rather frequent FPS drops; going from 50-60 FPS all the way down to about 9 FPS. So, I did some digging and thought I could have had a virus ( friend decided to try and download 'BluRay Quality' Jurrasic World Torrent and ended up getting me a nice Virus and a hefty amount of Malware that has since been dealt with. I noticed using CoreTemp that my CPU Frequency was dropping from 4400 Mhz to about 1400 Mhz. So, I narrowed the issue down to that, without even looking at my temps ( stupid, I know). So, I thought there was maybe a Virus or some Malware sneaking around in the background so I did a complete System Reformat of my PC. It was long over due and I needed a clean start.

But, After the System Reformat I noticed that it was still happening even without OC'ing the CPU. Even at stock 4000 Mhz, It was dropping periodically down to 1200-1400 Mhz. I noticed my Temps were going from 60C to about 70C, then maxing at 79C. When I noticed it macing at 79C, the Frequency would drop down and my temperatures would slowly move down, then it would repeat until I would stop the game and it would idle. I forgot the Idle Temps.

So, I am guessing my CPU Cooler is going out... Or is there something else I should look at? I really don't want to throw my CPU in the Deep Fryer. Am I doing the right thing by replacing my CPU Cooler? I just wanted some professional opinions on the matter. I'd rather not have to buy a new CPU or MOBO in my current situation.

I just managed to buy an Antec Kuhler H20 950 at my Local Fry's.

My Build:
CPU: FX-8350 4.0 (was OC'd to 4.4 but I backed it down because of my issue)
MOBO: Gigabyte 990FX-UD3
RAM: G.Skill X Series 16Gb 2133 Mhz
GPU: XFX R9 290X Double Dissipation Edition
CPU COOLER: Thermaltake 2.0 120mm
PSU: Corsair RM1000

did you put the voltage back down to 0/auto when you took the frequency back down? also is cool and quiet enabled? this causes the CPU speed to drop every so often.

 

[beardedtexan]

did you put the voltage back down to 0/auto when you took the frequency back down? also is cool and quiet enabled? this causes the CPU speed to drop every so often.

Yes, when I reformatted the computer I made sure Cool and Quiet was off before I tested my Frequency. I also set everything back to Auto after I put it back down to stock speeds.

 

[BSOD BSTD]

did you put the voltage back down to 0/auto when you took the frequency back down? also is cool and quiet enabled? this causes the CPU speed to drop every so often.

Yes, when I reformatted the computer I made sure Cool and Quiet was off before I tested my Frequency. I also set everything back to Auto after I put it back down to stock speeds.

do you have any thermal paste? it would be a good idea to clean the old stuff off and reapply, to see if thats the issue first. is the radiator fan still running at normal speed

 

[beardedtexan]

did you put the voltage back down to 0/auto when you took the frequency back down? also is cool and quiet enabled? this causes the CPU speed to drop every so often.

Yes, when I reformatted the computer I made sure Cool and Quiet was off before I tested my Frequency. I also set everything back to Auto after I put it back down to stock speeds.

do you have any thermal paste? it would be a good idea to clean the old stuff off and reapply, to see if thats the issue first. is the radiator fan still running at normal speed

I'll do that first. They are running at stock speeds. I can boost them up if need be. When it was OC'd I had them running a little higher than stock which was about 65-75%. I already cleaned the fans and rad but didn't think of taking the block off and applying newer thermal paste. I'll give that a shot and if it does work I'll return the new cooler.

 

[BSOD BSTD]

its worth unplugging and reseating the heatsink power cable as well. good luck!

 

[beardedtexan]

its worth unplugging and reseating the heatsink power cable as well. good luck!

I appreciate your assistance and suggestions. I will do all these, but I am still going to pick up my new cooler just for the hell of it. Might even use my old cooler and put it on my GPU with the help from a mounting bracket and then use the new one for my CPU. This is also if the old Cooler still works.

 

[beardedtexan]

its worth unplugging and reseating the heatsink power cable as well. good luck!

I wanted to thank you for your assistance last month and give you an update in what happened.

I tested my CPU once again and discovered that when my CPU temperature would reach 80C The Frequency would drop to cool it off. I then ran a test on my Liquid Cooler and found that the Pump was no longer working. I was lucky I didn't burn up my Motherboard or CPU.

I went and purchased one of the new Corsair GT 80i's and it works perfect. I keep my temperatures at around 30C--40C during regular usage and during gaming I get up to about 50C-55C under a heavy load; playing ARMA 3 is usually when I reach 55C.

Thank you very much for the assistance.

 

[BSOD BSTD]

its worth unplugging and reseating the heatsink power cable as well. good luck!

I wanted to thank you for your assistance last month and give you an update in what happened.

I tested my CPU once again and discovered that when my CPU temperature would reach 80C The Frequency would drop to cool it off. I then ran a test on my Liquid Cooler and found that the Pump was no longer working. I was lucky I didn't burn up my Motherboard or CPU.

I went and purchased one of the new Corsair GT 80i's and it works perfect. I keep my temperatures at around 30C--40C during regular usage and during gaming I get up to about 50C-55C under a heavy load; playing ARMA 3 is usually when I reach 55C.

Thank you very much for the assistance.

great, thanks for the update! good to know that you found the problem, and good temps as well!