FX 8350 Voltage and other BIOS settings

[justiceforall]

Hello, my problem is unstable and rather high voltage values for my FX 8350. On idle, both CPUZ and HWM shows sudden changes on voltage and core speeds. Core speeds are either 1400 or 4099 MHZ. Voltage is changing between 0.896-1.4ish. Voltage even changes in CPUZ when on idle. When it comes to gaming, I played Battlefield 1 and will provide a screenshot for you to look max values on HWM. CPUZ screenshot taken when on idle.

Windows' power setting is on High Performance. Running Standart Mode on BIOS. Also I didn't change anything on BIOS, it's all default. All valuable settings are mostly on Auto. As for settings with disable and enable ability, like CnQ, I can provide information after looking for them in BIOS.

I don't want or didn't intend to overclock my CPU. Just these sudden voltage changes doesn't look right. Besides people claim that this processor should run at 1.375V at max for stock. Mine is going to 1.472V without overclocking. I looked so many threads but everyone says it's specific to motherboards, processors, conditions etc. So I'm looking here for help.

Motherboard: MSI 970A-G43 (Latest BIOS)
CPU: FX 8350
GPU: GTX 970
PSU: 750W
Ram: 2x4 DDR3 1600 Mhz

 

[elbert]

Ok this is a real head scratcher. The motherboards support list doesn't have the 8350 or the 8370. It has the 8320 so you may have to set the clock rate and voltage yourself. You should just set the ratio and voltage the way you would overclock. The 8320 works on 17.5 which may be a good place to start.
https://us.msi.com/file/test_report/TR19_2743.pdf

 

[justiceforall]

Ok this is a real head scratcher. The motherboards support list doesn't have the 8350 or the 8370. It has the 8320 so you may have to set the clock rate and voltage yourself. You should just set the ratio and voltage the way you would overclock. The 8320 works on 17.5 which may be a good place to start.
https://us.msi.com/file/test_report/TR19_2743.pdf

Yeah but which clock rate and voltage to set? I really am unexperienced on these things. Besides I just want it at stock speed like now, 4.00 GHz. Because overclocking comes with a lot headaches like hours long stability tests etc. I want it to slow down when on idle, rise up when on load, like it is now. The problems are unstable core speeds and voltage on idle and high (1.472) voltage on load.

 

[elbert]

Thats the thing the motherboard doesn't support any fx 8 cores at 4Ghz. To get 4Ghz its a ratio of 20. I suggest starting at 3.5Ghz and use the 1.375V. See how high you can increase ratio while testing each stablity at 1.375v. Given the motherboard doesn't support 8 core 4Ghz CPU's it may be causing the instablity.

 

[justiceforall]

Thats the thing the motherboard doesn't support any fx 8 cores at 4Ghz. To get 4Ghz its a ratio of 20. I suggest starting at 3.5Ghz and use the 1.375V. See how high you can increase ratio while testing each stablity at 1.375v. Given the motherboard doesn't support 8 core 4Ghz CPU's it may be causing the instablity.

First of all, how to test each stability after changing ratio? Second, can't I just try ratio of 20 and static voltage of 1.375 directly rather than slowly increasing ratio? Besides I don't want to use it lower than 4.00 GHz. I prefer unstable 4.00GHz over stable 3.5 or 3.8GHz to be honest.

 

[elbert]

Use prime95 version 26.6 small CPU test for about 10 minutes and watch temps using CPUID.
http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=15504

 

[justiceforall]

Use prime95 version 26.6 small CPU test for about 10 minutes and watch temps using CPUID.
http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=15504

Thank you, but you didn't answer my second question. I will be happy if you can.

 

[elbert]

Its unlike that 20 ratio will work as the motherboard doesn't support an 8 core running 20. This is why you have all the wild swings in voltage. You may need to disable CnQ and turbo boosts in bios to run the CPU at 3.8~4Ghz stable. Only way to run the CPU at full speed is buy a supporting motherboard unfortuantly. My guess is the motherboard VRM's cant handle the voltage required for your CPU. You can try 20 with 1.375v but you better know how to reset your bios if it hard crashes. If you dont know how the old way always works. Unplug the system from the wall and remove the motherboard battery for 5 minutes.

 

[justiceforall]

Its unlike that 20 ratio will work as the motherboard doesn't support an 8 core running 20. This is why you have all the wild swings in voltage. You may need to disable CnQ and turbo boosts in bios to run the CPU at 3.8~4Ghz stable. Only way to run the CPU at full speed is buy a supporting motherboard unfortuantly. My guess is the motherboard VRM's cant handle the voltage required for your CPU. You can try 20 with 1.375v but you better know how to reset your bios if it hard crashes. If you dont know how the old way always works. Unplug the system from the wall and remove the motherboard battery for 5 minutes.

I think I will pass. Have been using this system like this for 2.5 years. I recently changed CPU Cooler and noticed these swings while monitoring temps. Thank you for your help but I will continue to ignore this problem if I can't find any other easy way.

 

[elbert]

If you want an easy way get a motherboard that supports the CPU. This ASRock 970 extreme 4 is good.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: ASRock - 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $79.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-31 14:43 EDT-0400