Wondering if this build is well fit for overclocking.

[TristanForthe]

I'm going to be building my first PC, and I plan on overclocking it to the point I can play Crysis 3 at maxed setting, with playable FPS at 1920x1080. I'm just not sure if the build is solid for overclocking.

Here are the specs:

Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+
CPU: AMD FX-8350 @ 4.0 ghz
CPU Cooler: CM Hyper 212 EVO
GPU: Radeon HD 7970
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB(2x4) DDR3-1866
PSU: Corsair CX 600w 80+ Bronze

 

[Quaddro]

you have a very good processor..
you have an excellent graphic card..
you have a decent cooling for overclocking..
you have a pair of good memory..
and you have more than enough psu for overclocking..

the problem is, your motherboard..

this series is for a budget user..without vrm sink.
that's mean your overclocking will be very limited..
fortunately, asus vrm is throttling when it's getting too hot..so, it will not burn..

well, for further clock, you have to add some vrm cooling, something like this from enzotech..

so, make sure that you can keep cool this area, then you'll be fine..

 

[TristanForthe]

well what if i just keep the side panel off the case and have a fan blow on it, would that work?

 

[Quaddro]

well what if i just keep the side panel off the case and have a fan blow on it, would that work?

if you want only 100mhz overclock value, then yes, it's enough..
but if you want to overclock it more..
unfortunately not..
it'll keep throttling while it's too hot..
and a slow wind blow from your side panel fan will not suffice to keep it cool..

you need a real heatsink cooler.

 

[TristanForthe]

well what if i just keep the side panel off the case and have a fan blow on it, would that work?

if you want only 100mhz overclock value, then yes, it's enough..
but if you want to overclock it more..
unfortunately not..
it'll keep throttling while it's too hot..
and a slow wind blow from your side panel fan will not suffice to keep it cool..

you need a real heatsink cooler.

Well if I were to buy a heat sink, which one shuold i buy? I'm ooking to overclock a lot, at least to like 4.8, maybe 5. Preferably the cheapest one that would be capable of that. And also, I really don't know where to put it if I get one?

 

[Quaddro]

Well if I were to buy a heat sink, which one shuold i buy? I'm ooking to overclock a lot, at least to like 4.8, maybe 5. Preferably the cheapest one that would be capable of that. And also, I really don't know where to put it if I get one?

well, unfortunately, 4.8Ghz -5Ghz with that 4+2 phase mobo, is impossible..
even 4.6Ghz seems very hard to touch..

you'll need best 990fx mobo to do that, something like asus crosshair V..

well, 4.4-4.5Ghz is probably is the highest clock with that mobo + heatsink vrm...

You can buy enzotech C1

put the sink in red circle area..well, this heatsink equipped with thermal tape..

the sink position will like this..

that's all..

 

[TristanForthe]

Alright, I'll just return the motherboard and get a different one. Could anyone recommend a cheap motherboard, well fit for overclocking, that is under 100$?

 

[Quaddro]

well, asus m5a97 r.2 for $95, is the best budget motherboard for overclocking..
note, this one is non LE version..

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a97r20

 

[TristanForthe]

What about this motherboard, and I decided to switch from 8350 to 6300. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138372&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[Quaddro]

well, actually is a good motherboard despite of cheap price..

But overclocking capability is very low, because low quality of vrm component..

your motherboard (asus m5a97 le r.2) is better than this one..

 

[TristanForthe]

Alright so if I was to look through a bunch of different motherboards, what exactly should I be looking at on the motherboard, and in the specs, to decide whether or not it is good for overclocking?

 

[Quaddro]

1. vrm count..
2. vrm heatsink..
3. vrm quality..

it's all about vrm..
better vrm (phase and quality), will lead to better overclock ability of motherboards..

You can read this article to learn about vrm.. => http://www.overclock.net/t/943109/about-vrms-mosfets-motherboard-safety-with-125w-tdp-processors

 

[TristanForthe]

alright i tried to read it and learn, i really did but it's just not clicking for me. what about this motherboard? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131942

 

[Quaddro]

alright i tried to read it and learn, i really did but it's just not clicking for me. what about this motherboard? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131942

let's see..
as you can see..in that mobo, there are 5 choke, that's mean it's 4+1 phase..
4 for processor and 1 for nb, sb and memory..

if you find 6, then that's means 4+2 phase
4 for processor and 2 for nb, sb and memory..

if you find 8, then that's means 6+2 phase
6 for processor and 2 for nb, sb and memory..

if you find 10, then that's means 8+2 phase
8 for processor and 2 for nb, sb and memory..

and so on..

so, like i said before, 4+1 phase,
but let's see..this one have no vrm sink..
so we can assume this one is not intended for overclocking..why? well..you've already read that article, right..?

the other factor is this mobo use 760 chipset for northbridge..this chipset actually is not designed to run any 8 core cpu..
asus patch the bios, so it can run, but in very limited performance..much lower than if you run it in 970/970 chipset which is designed for vishera architecture..

so, the conclusion is no..it's not a good mobo..

 

[TristanForthe]

alright, well ar the chokes the black square chip looking things? if not, could you point them out to me?

 

[Quaddro]

alright, well ar the chokes the black square chip looking things? if not, could you point them out to me?

black square chip in the red circle area..

 

[TristanForthe]

alright, well ar the chokes the black square chip looking things? if not, could you point them out to me?

black square chip in the red circle area..

 

[Quaddro]

well, in my example is asus m5a97
just read big black box with 1R2 mark..in my picture above you can find 6 box on it, means 6 phases ..
Split to 4+2 phases..4 for processor, and 2 to memory nb etc..

yes, your example in right picture with a blue vrm heatsink on it..

 

[TristanForthe]

well i found a mobo that's 970 and has a god looking heatsink on it, would this be good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135337.

 

[Quaddro]

well i found a mobo that's 970 and has a god looking heatsink on it, would this be good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135337.

well..it's actually really surprise me..

this is a good mobo..with a nice overclock result..
read review here http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/ecs_a970ma/6.htm

 

[TristanForthe]

well 😀 thank you and it's very very cheap, also with a 15$ rebate. thank you very much, you've really helped me a lot, and thank you for your patience, i know i'm kinda slow, most people would have just given up. couldn't have done it without you!

 

[TristanForthe]

And another thing, this is slightly off topic, but i've found a cheaper RAM, that is also faster, but i also don't know alot about ram, would this be conidered good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468 it's 50$ cheaper than the ram I was going to get as well. right now it is at least.

 

[Quaddro]

you are very welcome..

 

[Quaddro]

And another thing, this is slightly off topic, but i've found a cheaper RAM, that is also faster, but i also don't know alot about ram, would this be conidered good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468 it's 50$ cheaper than the ram I was going to get as well. right now it is at least.

whoah..
grab it..
that's very excellent ram at (really) crazy price..

 

[TristanForthe]

wow i must be getting really lucky xD i'll be sure to grab it as soon as i can, i really hope they don't up the price like crazy before i can bring up the cash to buy it. I saw a diamond hd 7970 platinum edition for 300$ once, but i didn't have the money to pay for it at the moment, and then the next time i looked at it it was 450$