Question Is the Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P motherboard a good option for the AMD FX-8120?

[vixeko_]

I have an AMD FX-8120 cpu that according to the specifications its base frequency is 3.1GHz but for some reason in the task manager it says that its base frequency is 2.81GHz, it is strange and I would like my CPU to use the base frequency that supposedly it says in the specifications to be able to get more out of my computer
I even put in the power settings that it will use 100%
and for some reason the bios of my motherboard does not let me modify anything regarding the frequency and voltage of the processor (basically it does not let me overclock)
I don't know what I can or even know if this is normal or not
I hope you can help me and solve my doubts about it
I thank you in advance

The specifications of my computer

• OS Windows 10 Pro version 22H2
• Motherboard Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H
• CPU AMD FX-8120
• GPU AMD Radeon R7 200 Series
• 8GB Memory RAM in dual channel

https://imgur.com/a/zbxdZCV

 

[DSzymborski]

This is an older AM3 motherboard that was retrofit to work with AM3+. The Bulldozer chips are not officially supported at 125W, only 95W. This was not the motherboard to choose at the time for this CPU, though it certainly wouldn't make sense to change it at this point.

Given the rate at which the AM3+ 125W CPUs killed off those budget boards with pre-Bulldozer chipsets, this behavior has likely contributed to this motherboard still being alive in 2023. There was a period in 2015-2016, when AM3+ wasn't ancient, when we'd have a dozen threads a week involving 8350s and 8150s killing off motherboards (though the 760G motherboards tended to be the worse than the 880Gs).

 

[vixeko_]

This is an older AM3 motherboard that was retrofit to work with AM3+. The Bulldozer chips are not officially supported at 125W, only 95W. This was not the motherboard to choose at the time for this CPU, though it certainly wouldn't make sense to change it at this point.

Given the rate at which the AM3+ 125W CPUs killed off those budget boards with pre-Bulldozer chipsets, this behavior has likely contributed to this motherboard still being alive in 2023. There was a period in 2015-2016, when AM3+ wasn't ancient, when we'd have a dozen threads a week involving 8350s and 8150s killing off motherboards (though the 760G motherboards tended to be the worse than the 880Gs).

so would it be better for me to get a new motherboard and processor than a newer motherboard for my fx-8120?

 

[DSzymborski]

so would it be better for me to get a new motherboard and processor than a newer motherboard for my fx-8120?

Ideally, yes. This is a very old platform and getting 400 MHz more out of an 8120 isn't really going to make a meaningful difference at this point. Motherboards for this haven't been made for a decade. Save money for something better at some point.

 

[vixeko_]

I have an AMD FX-8120 and the motherboard I have for this cpu does not use any of its power (in fact it uses less than its base frequency)
I would like to be able to get power out of this cpu to see how far it can go and that's why I ask how do I know which AM3+ motherboard can be good for overclocking and be able to make my cpu use its true power?

 

[NanoSuit3]

AMDs' FX CPUs are all overclockable and yes do require specific mobos to as well since you kinda said that. I used MSIs' 970 Gaming for an AMD FX-4100 back in the day and I still have both which is funny. Consider that Mobo or any of ROGs' as I recommend their products to everyone no matter what.........................

 

[CountMike]

I have an AMD FX-8120 and the motherboard I have for this cpu does not use any of its power (in fact it uses less than its base frequency)
I would like to be able to get power out of this cpu to see how far it can go and that's why I ask how do I know which AM3+ motherboard can be good for overclocking and be able to make my cpu use its true power?

Any MB with 990fx chipset would do.

 

[vixeko_]

I am looking for a motherboard for my AMD FX-8120 since the one I have is not very good and I want to take advantage of my CPU
I choose the Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P which is one of the cheapest I found that takes advantage of the FX series? or is there a better alternative

 

[Lutfij]

CPU shows up on the supported processor's list;

GA-970A-D3P (rev. 1.0) Support | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

How much do you have to spend on the motherboard?

 

[vixeko_]

CPU shows up on the supported processor's list;

GA-970A-D3P (rev. 1.0) Support | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

How much do you have to spend on the motherboard?

The motherboard that I mentioned is at $61.94 dollars (converting the price of my local currency to usd) and the truth is that it will cost me a bit to get that amount currently but it would not exceed 90 dollars, maximum 100

 

[DSzymborski]

As I noted in your previous thread in the issue, being a new motherboard is a poor idea. In 2023, there's nothing about your CPU that you can really take advantage of; running an FX-8120 at 125W instead of 95W is the equivalent of taking the snow shovel out of the trunk of your car to improve your gas mileage.

Spending anything more for such a tiny incremental improvement on a CPU that was disappointing a decade ago is simply a phenomenal waste of money.

 

[DSzymborski]

Also, please do not start a thread for every iteration of the same question. I'm merging the threads because they're all related; it's one thread per situation. When you continually start new threads on the same subject, then everybody has to start over without all the knowledge of the situation unless they remember the previous thread(s).

And when you have three threads for a single issue, then other people see *their* threads with *their* problems pushed off the front page, and that's unfair; your problem with using an FX-8120 on an iffy motherboard is not three times as important as anyone else's problems are.