Overclocking 8320 / 970GTX details & tips requested

[Anonyzero]

I'd like some feedback on my overclocks, and I feel I should be able to push out a bit more on my GPU. Otherwise any feedback is appreciated! It started off as a budget PC aimed at overclocking, with a couple of upgrades through the years. Here's a list of my setup / clocks and results.

OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Version: 10.0.10586 Build 10586

MBO: Asus Sabertooth 990fx R2
PSU: Seasonic 620W (S12II Bronze 80+)

Processor: AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core Processor - CM 212 EVO cooler
GPU: Gigabyte-G1 970 - Driver 361.75
RAM: 16GB Hyper-X Fury 1866

SSD: Samsung 850 Pro 250gb
various other Seagate 1TB drives

PSU fan and 1x120 more fan at the back for outlet, 2x120 inlet fans 'ghetto' mounted on the side panel over the GPU and CPU, 1x120 inlet fan at the front. Planning to also mount an additional fan under the mobo for socket cooling.

Here are my current overclocks:
http://valid.x86.fr/k2xsyp

BIOS:

AI Tweaker
CPU ratio: 21
Bus freq: 211
PCIE freq: 100

Memory: 1968mhz
CPU/NB: 2321mhz
HT Link: 2743mhz

CPU voltage: 1.30625v
CPU/NB voltage: 1.175v
rest: auto

Digi + Power Control:
CPU load line: Ultra High
CPU/NB: High
CPU current capability: 130%
CPU/NB capability: 130%
Power phase: Standard

CPU Configuration:
Cool'n'quiet: Disabled
C1E: Disabled
SVM: Disabled
Core c6: Disabled
HPC: Enabled
APM master mode: Auto

CPU:
4446MHZ - 1.308V
Idle/browsing: 23-25C core / 37-38C socket
Intelburn / Prime95: 57-58C core / 64-65C socket

Increasing the clock causes stability issues, and I'd rather not increase the voltage anymore, because the higher temperatures will also cause instability. Unfortunately I couldn't reach the 4.5ghz mark, but getting a +750 clock out of the CPU is decent enough. Disabling HPC mode might let me push a bit higher, I'd have to test it.

GPU:
Core Voltage: +87
Power Limit: 110%
Core Clock: +120
Memory Clock: +200
Fan speed: auto

I feel like my GPU setup (and looking at other people's clocks on a 970) could be improved on. It's running furmark stable at 1538mhz, never reaching critical temperature. Load is at 100%, However the power usage caps at 87-88% (Voltage and OV limit reached). Increasing the clock starts to cause artifacting. Once again, this felt like the highest full stable clock.

Link to 3Dmark Firestrike benchmark:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/7548799

Rainbow Six: Siege - Maxed (HD texture DLC) 1440p - 76 min, 86 avg, 114 max on benchmark

As I mentioned let me know what you guys think! I'd like some tips what could be improved upon (also gearwise), or maybe this post will be useful for overclockers that use a similar setup (quite common). I'm not sure if it's the older CPU or perhaps worse quality PSU causing the artifacting at higher clocks. I'm also not sure if the memory clock (1968mhz) is interfering with the overall performance. (amd 8320 having a limit of 1866). Maybe lowering the memory's rate to 1600mhz could also give me more stability at higher clocks.

My next PC will be intel once GTX 1K hits the market at an affordable price!

 

[Darkbreeze]

Fan under the motherboard is a waste of time. Been there, done that, as have many other overclockers, and there was little to no added benefit to the CPU or motherboard VRM temperatures. Don't bother.

You must either have a problem with the memory or you are using the FSB to overclock, because that is not a standard RAM frequency. I'd NOT use the FSB for overclocking. Using only the multiplier is fine if that IS what you are doing. Speeds over 1866mhz can be a problem, as can using four modules when memory speeds are over 1600mhz, on AMD systems. Are you using 2 x8GB or 4 x4GB modules and are they mismatched or did they all come in a matched set? I'd set the memory manually to 1866mhz or use the SPD profile if one is present on your modules.

Until I just recently made the switch to Intel Skylake, I was running an FX-8320 with 1866mhz Kingston Hyper X modules and the Sabertooth 990fx motherboard, and had zero issues. I'd make sure you have the most recent BIOS version as well. I have never seen memory running at that frequency, so I'd be surprised if that isn't somehow related to your issue.

This is the backup system I have now, which was my primary system until just recently, and as you can see it's almost identical to your configuration.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2528266/140mm-rear-exhaust-storm-enforcer.html

 

[Anonyzero]

Fan under the motherboard is a waste of time. Been there, done that, as have many other overclockers, and there was little to no added benefit to the CPU or motherboard VRM temperatures. Don't bother.

You must either have a problem with the memory or you are using the FSB to overclock, because that is not a standard RAM frequency. I'd NOT use the FSB for overclocking. Using only the multiplier is fine if that IS what you are doing. Speeds over 1866mhz can be a problem, as can using four modules when memory speeds are over 1600mhz, on AMD systems. Are you using 2 x8GB or 4 x4GB modules and are they mismatched or did they all come in a matched set? I'd set the memory manually to 1866mhz or use the SPD profile if one is present on your modules.

Until I just recently made the switch to Intel Skylake, I was running an FX-8320 with 1866mhz Kingston Hyper X modules and the Sabertooth 990fx motherboard, and had zero issues. I'd make sure you have the most recent BIOS version as well. I have never seen memory running at that frequency, so I'd be surprised if that isn't somehow related to your issue.

This is the backup system I have now, which was my primary system until just recently, and as you can see it's almost identical to your configuration.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2528266/140mm-rear-exhaust-storm-enforcer.html

I seem to have no issues with the memory. I also ran a custom stress test with p95 (allowing up to 12gb to be stressed, since the default is 2gb) for roughly 1.5-2 hours. I have 2x8GB hyperx furys 1866mhz. Bought them as a set.

My current DRAM frequency is: 987.9MHZ, with a cycle of 10-11-10-30. So it is clocked above the 1866mhz limit. (1975.8mhz if the value is doubled) I tried running the memory at 1600 in bios (~1788mhz after the fsb clock) but there is no difference.

I have my bios settings at FSB: 211, CPU ratio: 21.

(so FSB+11, CPU: +3.5 above the default)

I prefer the FSB in combination with cpu ratio as it allows me to fine-tune my clock a bit more.

My voltage is also quite a bit lower than the average 8320 clocks I see around, but a small FFT stress test can bring me up to 58degC on the core and 68degC VRM. Custom stress test varies between 54 to 58 degrees.

I'd love to know what other memory stress tests there are, besides P95, so I could have better feedback what memory settings are the best.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Memory speed must be due to the FSB values. I'd return those to the normal setting of 200, change the CPU multi to 22.5 (4.5Ghz) and the RAM behavior should return to normal. Overclocking on the 990 chipset using the FSB is unnecessary and in my experience I've seen it do nothing but wreak havoc with the memory, usb, northbridge and sata circuits. Multiplier is unlocked for a reason as is the memory multi, so use them to get where you want to be.

I'd set the CPU multi to 22.5 for a 4.5Ghz OC and use 1.35v as a baseline to start checking stability. Leave or set the memory manually to 1866mhz with with 1.5v, if that is the spec for your modules.

I think you're somewhat confused on CPU behavior as well. High temps do not cause instability. Lack of voltage when you increase the multi is what causes instability. High temps can result in throttling or thermal trip, not instability. High temps are due to too much voltage of course which should not be the case at 1.35v which is very mild for an FX chip and with any amount of decent case airflow and a good CPU cooler should easily be manageable.

Is you power supply bottom mounted or top mounted? If it's bottom mounted, is the intake fan on it facing down or into the case? What model of CPU cooler are you using as I see no mention of that above. I highly suspect that you need more case exhaust which means either modification of the top panel or a new case may be in order. Intake brings cool air in but without getting heated air out fast enough, cooling performance is drastically reduced.

 

[Anonyzero]

After applying your settings (22.5multip, 200 fsb, 1.35v) the package temps quickly rise into the unsafer area of 62+ degrees, making me stop p95 after a few minutes. Idle temps are between 25 and 30 deg.

(p95 running small FFTs, 'maximum heat')

CPU-Z's built in cpu stress test keeps me at 59 degrees stable. Perhaps I should try intelburn as well

The PSU is top mounted, and on the cpu I use a Coolermaster hyper 212 evo. I'd like to think that my case has decent airflow, even though it's quite compact. I'm have an additional 'exhaust' fan near the PSU right next to the CPU (80mm fractal fan).

So if you guys think my temps are too high maybe I could look at applying new thermal paste and perhaps dusting the PC a bit more. (might be some more stuck in the cooler block, even though I cleaned it a couple weeks ago)

update -- intelburn also raised my temps into 62/63 before I chickened out and stopped the run.

 

[Darkbreeze]

What version of Prime95 are you running? What are you using to measure thermal sensor readings?

With a top mounted PSU and only one single exhaust fan, I'd highly recommend you move to a case with a bottom mounted PSU and preferably at least one rear and one top exhaust fan in addition to two intake fans at either the front or front and side or front and bottom.

That case does not in my opinion have the necessary design or airflow for overclocking. One thing you can do to verify this is to run your tests with the side panel off. If you drop temps more than 3°C then you have an airflow limitation problem, which I suspect you do. This is the main reason enthusiast cases have moved away from top mounted designs and additionally it's particularly stressful on the power supply as it has to use hot air to cool it's internal components which drastically shortens the life of the power supply.

Bottom mounted cases flip the PSU to intake air from beneath the case where the air is the coolest, thus increasing it's ability to cool and increasing it's lifespan. You can get a half decent case with all these features and much more for somewhere between 40 and 60 bucks if you decide to do so. Try your testing with the case panel off and only use version 26.6 of Prime95. Other versions of Prime95 run AVX instruction sets and cause unrealistic temperatures.

 

[Anonyzero]

Sorry for my delayed response. I'm running p95 v28.7 (latest?). It is a top mounted PSU as mentioned before. And indeed, it is exhausting a lot of hot air that comes through the case. I'll keep it in mind as a future project to upgrade my case! I'll test it in the near future with my case open and with p95 v26 .6!