FX8350 throttling with M5A78L-M/USB3 motherboard

[SlammichTheSorcerer]

Hi, for a long time now I've been having CPU throttling issues with what I assume is either my CPU or my motherboard VMRs. During intensive games, my fps would dip, along with my CPU and GPU-usage in frequent intervals.
I've applied Enzotech MOS-C1's to the VRMs which I feel helped the problem a bit, but not entirely. What else could I do to resolve this problem? Maybe a better CPU-cooler? I'd considered maybe getting another motherboard, but my case only supporting micro-atx limits my choices.
Is there maybe a way to clock back my CPU to help things out?

My specs are as follows:
MoBo: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro-ATX
CPU: AMD FX-8350
Cooler: Scythe Shuriken Rev. B
GPU: Nvidia gtx 970
PSU: Cooler Master G650M
Case: Cooler Master Silencio 352

Thanks in advance!

 

[thamespeak]

What CPU do you have that required you to disable 2 cores and AMD Turbo Core? You have a cheap motherboard (4+1 phase VRM with no heat sink), but it could also be the cooler that isn't good enough or isn't blowing over the VRM MOSFETs to cool them. It's difficult to determine the source of the issue without knowing the thermal margins in AMD Overdrive when the frequency drops. Are they above 10°C? You're not the only one having similar issues because you didn't spend enough money up front to get high quality parts. The Asus M5A97 EVO R2.0 is a good motherboard (6+2 phase VRM with a heat sink), but you need to make sure the cooler is good enough for your CPU. Why consider a motherboard released 5 years ago instead of the new ASUS 970 PRO GAMING/AURA?

I should have invested more and wish i had, should have gone Intel i think. I have an FX-8320 with an "ARCTIC Freezer 13 - 200 Watt Multicompatible Low Noise CPU Cooler for AMD" which has a 92mm fan. It ins't the temp of the CPU that is the problem it sits at 25 degrees at idle and around 50 degrees under full load. The thermal margins are around 10 degrees when i run prime95 and look at AMD overdrive. And the reason for looking at that motherboard is that it seems to be recommended and doesn't break the bank. I suppose the newer ones arent that much more expensive so will definitely look at them as well. Thanks for the reply

 

[GhislainG]

You can't accurately measure the temperature of that CPU; you need to rely on AMD Overdrive. The frequency probably drops because the thermal margins get below 10°C (they obviously increase again if the frequency drops). Personally I believe that your 92 mm cooler is causing the frequency drop.

 

[thamespeak]

not the motherboard? my case has very good airflow and even with all 5 fans on 100% the temp stays even lower but the throttling is still there

 

[GhislainG]

not the motherboard? my case has very good airflow and even with all 5 fans on 100% the temp stays even lower but the throttling is still there

Again you can't accurately measure the CPU temperature; you have to use AMD Overdrive to check the thermal margins. If they slowly drop below 10°C while running P95, then blame your cooler. The VRM and the cooler can both cause throttling if all cores are enabled. Load AOD and monitor it as soon as you start P95 Small FFTs. Post pictures if not sure as to how the results should be interpreted.

 

[thamespeak]

not the motherboard? my case has very good airflow and even with all 5 fans on 100% the temp stays even lower but the throttling is still there

Again you can't accurately measure the CPU temperature; you have to use AMD Overdrive to check the thermal margins. If they slowly drop below 10°C while running P95, then blame your cooler. The VRM and the cooler can both cause throttling if all cores are enabled. Load AOD and monitor it as soon as you start P95 Small FFTs. Post pictures if not sure as to how the results should be interpreted.

This is the screenshot of my results after running for over 10 minutes

https://gyazo.com/84db6de629d26ffe4fd0bcc5d1538e6b

 

[GhislainG]

The thermal margins are good; therefore something else (probably the motherboard) is causing the frequency drop.

 

[thamespeak]

The thermal margins are good; therefore something else (probably the motherboard) is causing the frequency drop.

Ok thank you, i might try do some more research int o why they are dropping to that frequency as for most people they drop to 1.4GHz while mine sit at 2.9GHz. If they arent much different would the MSI 970 Gaming motherboard be ok?

 

[GhislainG]

It's a good motherboard, but a 990FX with a very VRM should be considered. After all you probably built that system because you wanted an AMD CPU, not because you could save money.

 

[thamespeak]

It's a good motherboard, but a 990FX with a very VRM should be considered. After all you probably built that system because you wanted an AMD CPU, not because you could save money.

No stupidly at the time I had a budget of £400 and didn't see the point in Intel. How foolish I was! Thanks for all the help you've given me anyway!

 

[GhislainG]

You have to identify the reason why the frequency isn't stable when running P95; it shouldn't drop to 2.9 GHz. Did you disable AMD Turbo Core to see if it makes a difference? If not, also disable APM and test again.

There's nothing wrong with an AMD build if one prefers it over Intel, but a quality motherboard and CPU cooler should be bought; builders often don't realize the importance of those parts.

 

[thamespeak]

You have to identify the reason why the frequency isn't stable when running P95; it shouldn't drop to 2.9 GHz. Did you disable AMD Turbo Core to see if it makes a difference? If not, also disable APM and test again.

There's nothing wrong with an AMD build if one prefers it over Intel, but a quality motherboard and CPU cooler should be bought; builders often don't realize the importance of those parts.

And just to ask do you know of any 990FX boards around the £100 mark. Im going to run some more tests now and check. What is APM?

 

[madmatt30]

APM = automatic power management.

There's not a lot you can disable in bios though.

Download this

http://


Unzip to desktop & double click the off.bat file .
This will disable APM as much as it can be.

Try prime again & see if its still throttling.
If it is (& I do expect it to) then its vrm related .

A tower cooler , a 4 phase board , & a 125w 8 core chip do not make a great combo.

 

[GhislainG]

APM = Application Power Management

I don't know where you will buy, but check the Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0; you could also consider 970 motherboards like the Asus M5A97 R2.0 and the Asus 970 PRO GAMING AURA (the newest 970 motherboard).

No motherboard is perfect, even the expensive ASUS ROG Crosshair V Formula-Z doesn't always receive top ratings.

 

[thamespeak]

APM = Application Power Management

I don't know where you will buy, but check the Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0; you could also consider 970 motherboards like the Asus M5A97 R2.0 and the Asus 970 PRO GAMING AURA (the newest 970 motherboard).

No motherboard is perfect, even the expensive ASUS ROG Crosshair V Formula-Z doesn't always receive top ratings.

i was lucking at the 970 gaming aura. Did some more tests one with turbo disabled and one with it on AUTO

Disabled: https://gyazo.com/232f4768c1241c192d166737183d305a

AUTO: https://gyazo.com/5deb2657ea8db215fe298e1384a27e08

i tried that .bat file earlier and didnt seem to help :/

 

[madmatt30]

The aura is a great board.
If you want to spend a little less
Gigabyte 970A-UD3P Motherboard (AMD 970, SB950 DDR3, SATA, RAID, ATX, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Socket AM3+) Rev. 2.0. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F5R9O46/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_gG6LxbXEG7W6K

A great board if you don't need all the bells & whistles on the aura.

 

[GhislainG]

Honestly I don't understand why cores are dropping to 3.0 GHz with good thermal margins; try running 6 threads instead of 8. Cheap motherboards can make it challenging to stabilize a system.

 

[thamespeak]

Honestly I don't understand why cores are dropping to 3.0 GHz with good thermal margins; try running 6 threads instead of 8. Cheap motherboards can make it challenging to stabilize a system.

Sorry that screenshot was to show that it goes back up. I had HWMonitor on on the left side and it shows the highest and lowest frequencies that it runs at. On both it dropped to 1.4GHz when left running long enough. It just doesnt show it on the AOD as i couldnt catch it on screen. It limits all cores at ones and drops the voltage as well when throtteling. After seeing it for myself i do believe that it is the vrms throttling as it does all the things that other people with the same problem have had so i belive a new MB is in order. I am interested in the gigabyte board but am unsure if it does the same things practically and most importantly if it has a female USB 3 plug on the motherboard for the male plug that comes with most cases.

 

[GhislainG]

If it drops to 1.4 GHz, then the VRM causes the throttling issue.

 

[thamespeak]

The aura is a great board.
If you want to spend a little less
Gigabyte 970A-UD3P Motherboard (AMD 970, SB950 DDR3, SATA, RAID, ATX, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Socket AM3+) Rev. 2.0. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F5R9O46/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_gG6LxbXEG7W6K

A great board if you don't need all the bells & whistles on the aura.

yeah could you read my last post please about the differences?

 

[GhislainG]

They both have front USB 3 (labelled F_USB30 on the Gigabyte).

 

[thamespeak]

They both have front USB 3 (labelled F_USB30 on the Gigabyte).

Thanks. Did you understand the screenshot. the AOD was to show thermal margins while the HWMonitor was there to show the lowest recorded frequency while P95 was running?

 

[GhislainG]

Yes I did. I presume that you started HWmonitor after P95 and the screen capture was taken before stopping it to ensure that idle times are not taken into account.

 

[thamespeak]

Yes I did. I presume that you started HWmonitor after P95 and the screen capture was taken before stopping it to ensure that idle times are not taken into account.

Yes i did otherwise it would show the lowest Hz while it was idle as well

 

[madmatt30]

The gigabyte ud3p has a straight out better vrm configuration & better voltage regulation, if you ever come to want to overclock its a better board in that respect)

The aura has USB3.1,m2, sli support.
Ultimately its not as good a board IMO but is better featured.

You're suffering straight out vrm board throttling on your little Asus IMO.

You could cut 2 cores off in bios as a temporary measue to see if it stops the throttling (it should do)

 

[thamespeak]

The gigabyte ud3p has a straight out better vrm configuration & better voltage regulation, if you ever come to want to overclock its a better board in that respect)

The aura has USB3.1,m2, sli support.
Ultimately its not as good a board IMO but is better featured.

You're suffering straight out vrm board throttling on your little Asus IMO.

You could cut 2 cores off in bios as a temporary measue to see if it stops the throttling (it should do)

i think ill go with the gigabyte board now really if it has better power side. Anything is an improvement over my current board and ill be happier as this will have USB3 plug for my ports on the front of the case which will be nice. It is cheaper as well and if the asus isnt actually better for power which is what i want i will just go for the gigabyte. My case doesnt have a window so wouldnt benifit from the good looks of the asus even with it having better features. Even if they were the same price would you still reccomend the gigabyte? and just to confirm this is the right board ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-970A-UD3P-Motherboard-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00F5R9O46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469565345&sr=8-1&keywords=gigabyte+970-ud3p )?