Last Updated on September 25, 2024 by Adams
Even if the AMD CPUs have not been the fastest for some years, the company continues to tickle the palate of the most demanding users by supporting them with products that offer specific features dedicated to increasing the working frequency. We have compiled some of the best motherboards for fx 8350 overlocking in the article. We suggest you have a look at them and keep exploring things.
Software that can manipulate graphics settings in real-time on Windows systems unlocked multipliers, and platforms with far more PCI Express connectivity than the competition are just some of the features that AMD offers to those who know how to use capabilities to improve platform performance.
The same over clockers that may have been disappointed with the scalability of AMD FX Zambezi CPUs with mainstream cooling systems may have something to be excited about this time, even if we observe a very similar architecture produced in the same 32-nanometer manufacturing process.
Using a CPU voltage of 1.375 volts and a Northbridge voltage of 1.175 volts, we were able to stably run the FX 8350 at 4.8 GHz under full load. In the screenshot, you see above, we ran a single-thread test to induce the chip to go up in frequency, and the maximum highlighted temperature is the peak temperature.
The FX-8350 can give higher speed; however, the vital aspect is a relatively low voltage setting that keeps it from hitting 70 degrees Celsius.
At that point, the temperature monitoring begins to throttle the cores (as evidenced in the image above), preventing the chip from heating up further and negatively impacting performance. Until we imposed workloads capable of tapping threads, we were able to run at 5.125 GHz (with a Vcore of 1.4375 volts and a Northbridge voltage of 1.2 volts).
The capacity of the cooling system will be a bottleneck for many people. We find that the AMD heatsink and reference fan are insufficient to go much higher with the frequency, and therefore there is an additional cost to that of the FX processor if you want to dabble with overclocking.
Moreover, all chips with four Piledriver modules are compatible with the existing Socket AM3 + interface. Current motherboards need a BIOS update to recognize the new processors. Motherboards that previously had problems with FX processors will likely not be upgraded.
It is always interesting to carry out a complete performance analysis before looking at the log files of the energy consumption achieved during the benchmarks. The average power consumption and time is taken to complete all benchmarks will shed some light on the efficiency of the Vishera FX processors based on the Pile driver architecture.
The FX 8350 system required 10 watts less than the same system with the FX 8150, despite the higher clock rate and better performance. The FX-8350 is nearly 13% more efficient than its predecessor, although perhaps it is essential to see that it is overall ahead of the Phenom II X6 1100T.
The FX 8350 is faster than the older Phenom II X6 1100T. Still, the lower power consumption of the six-core chip could translate into better efficiency if the Thuban chip is not significantly slower. It would be a disaster for AMD. The fact that both Intel chips consume much less on average in all our tests makes recovery of the Vishera platform nearly impossible.
The FX 8350 is better than the FX 8150 in every respect. It is much fast, offers more efficiency, and utilizes less energy. In addition, when you look at the minor improvements Intel has made with the Ivy Bridge architecture; the FX 8350 can compete more easily with the high-end competition.
However, we are not going to forget what the FX brand once stood for. Almost ten years ago, an FX CPU was something that cornered Intel and forced it to respond. We have reviewed some compatible motherboards below for our prestigious readers.
Best Motherboard for fx 8350 Overclocking (Comparison)
| Name | Dimensions | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 | 11 x 11 x 3 inches | 1,54 Pounds | |
| MSI 970 GAMING DDR3 | 13.7 x 10.6 x 2.8 inches | 3.04 Pounds | Check Price |
| Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 | 13 x 11 x 3 inches | 3.6 Pounds | Check Price |
Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3
Mid-range motherboards are very popular with users. They allow you to assemble a sound system in terms of capabilities and reliability without spending significant funds.
Therefore, the GA-78LMT-USB3 MicroATX board from GIGABYTE fully justifies all the money invested in it.
The board is equipped with a Socket AM3 + processor socket and allows installing FX 8350. In addition, there are four slots for installing RAM at once.
At the same time, work in dual-channel mode is supported, and the maximum volume can reach 32 GB DDR3 1066 MHz RAM.
The disk subsystem is assembled using 6x SATA2 (3Gb/s). Built-in RAID controller allows you to collect arrays 0, 1, 10, JBOD. Thanks to the IDE controller, you can connect two drives at once with this completely outdated interface.
The board also boasts a good set of expansion slots: PCI, PCI-E 2×16, and PCI-E 2×1. Quite enough to meet the needs of the vast majority of users. It is also true for the description of the interface panel, which contains PS / 2, LAN, 2x USB v3.0, 4x USB v2.0, audio connectors (Realtek ALC887 codec), as well as HDMI and DVI-D graphics connectors.
The manufacturer emphasizes that this board is built using the Ultra Durable 4 Classic concept. As a result, it is highly reliable, less susceptible to the harmful effects of dust and high humidity.
So, the board is made of special fiberglass with denser nodes, between which it is more difficult for moisture to penetrate. Besides, the use of high-quality microcircuits gives it additional electrostatic protection; it becomes less susceptible to voltage surges.
In addition, a feature of this model is support for on/Off Charge technology, which allows you to charge mobile devices even when the computer is turned off. Moreover, the charging time is shorter than when using a standard charger.
This motherboard has built-in graphics of the HD 3000 level, which can handle almost all games at minimum or even medium settings. The chipset impressed with its ability to install up to 32 gigabytes of RAM!
All heating elements are covered with radiators. The board has an Ultra Durable 4 class, which is remarkable for a price niche product. The list of supported processors is fantastic, and the BIOS allows you to open locked CPU cores.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful integrated AMD HD 3000 graphics | Careful use of blue VGA connector |
| A massive list of supported processors | |
| Smart BIOS that can turn on CPU cores |
Conclusion:
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-USB3 will be a sound basis for an inexpensive but quite advanced system. In addition to the affordable price, this board is distinguished by good functionality and high reliability.
MSI 970 GAMING DDR3
The MSI 970 Gaming series for the AMD AM3 + platform is a 970-chipset motherboard. It comes with a gaming network adaptor, an advanced sound system, a set of exclusive software, and high-quality built-in components, essential for more overclocking of high energy-consuming FX 8350 processors.
This motherboard has considerable weight; the reasons are thick multilayer textolite adapted to climates with high humidity and massive metal radiators on both chipsets and the processor power subsystem. The radiators are painted incorporate black and red colors and are decorated with images of dragons.
The processor power subsystem is made 8-phase, and its operation is stabilized by high-quality solid-state capacitors, Dark CAP, and SFC ferrite chokes that meet the Military Class 4 reliability standard. All this contributes to the durable and uninterrupted operation of the motherboard and the successful overclocking of the processor.
In addition, there are as many as four connectors for additional case ones, the rotation speed of which can be adjusted in the BIOS settings.
The MSI 970 Gaming has four DIMM-DDR3 memory slots: officially, AMD FX processors only support 1866 MHz, but the motherboard allows you to overclock up to 2133 MHz. Two of our test Kingston HyperX Savage memory modules worked without problems at this frequency as soon as we selected the appropriate XMP profile in the BIOS settings.
There are six expansion slots: two PCI-E x16, PCI-E x1, and PCI. It is possible to install two video cards simultaneously, and it can be either a pair of AMD Radeon or a duo of NVIDIA GeForce (an SLI bridge is included in the bundle). However, you can only use one PCI-E x1, while a two-slot video card tightly covers the second.
Moreover, there are six SATA III ports available, and all of them are rotated to the side for neat cable management inside the PC case. Nevertheless, the currently fashionable M.2 connector for solid-state drives is not: firstly, they are supported only by Intel chipsets, and secondly, the Northbridge occupies the place where M.2 is usually located on the motherboard at MSI 970 Gaming.
The network controller and audio subsystem deserve special attention. Gigabit Ethernet is based on the Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2205 chip, capable of hardware-based prioritization of Internet traffic. Prioritized applications such as multiplayer games can be specified using the Killer Network Manager Windows application.
The sound subsystem is called Audio Boost 2 and is based on the older Realtek ALC1150 audio codec. In addition, there are two amplifier chips capable of driving headphones with an impedance of up to 600 ohms. A protective shield and high-quality Japanese Nichicon capacitors ensure sound purity.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Killer Game Network Controller | Placement of Bios reset jumper |
| High-quality sound subsystem Audio Boost 2 | |
| Automatic OC Genie overclocking |
Conclusion:
Overclocking requires a motherboard with a high-quality component base and a massive heatsink on the processor power subsystem, and this motherboard fulfills all such requirements with high quality.
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 is developed based on the flagship combination of AMD 990FX and AMD SB950 chips, so it is primarily positioned as the basis for gaming overclocking or just a productive system with a set of appropriate features for FX 8350. An 8 + 2-phase power subsystem, a powerful passive cooling system, supports multi-graphics AMD Crossfire and NVIDIA SLI.
The GA-990FXA-UD3 is made in ATX format (305 x 244 mm) on a black PCB. The dark tone of the printed circuit board perfectly matches the steel-colored heat sinks, making the model look very stylish and discreet.
Furthermore, the layout of the onboard elements as a whole is made at a very high level, so you should not have any inconveniences in the process of assembling the system.
For example, the installed video accelerator does not interfere with the connection and disconnection of RAM modules, even though the DIMM slots are equipped with latches on both sides.
The same can be said about the disk subsystem: even the most extended expansion cards will not block access to the SATA 6 Gb/s ports since the connectors are installed parallel to the PCB.
On the reverse side of the PCB, the standard CPU socket base plate and the screws that secure all three heatsinks of the cooling system are immediately visible, which guarantees their reliable retention and the necessary down force.
The bottom of the GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 PCB contains the following connectors: front panel audio connector, S/PDIF Out, COM, TPM, and IEEE 1394a connectors, CMOS reset jumper and front panel connector. Additionally, there are three pads for activating USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0.
The motherboard features four DDR3 memory module DIMM slots with latches on both sides. The RAM can work in two-channel mode. In addition, modules operating at frequencies from 1333 to 1866 MHz in nominal mode and up to 2000 MHz in overclocking are supported.
The presence of two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots, operating in x16 + x16 mode, and support for 2-Way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX technologies provide an opportunity to organize robust graphics subsystems from a pair of video cards.
At the same time, graphics adapters can even be equipped with a three-slot cooling system, and you still have access to one PCI Express 2.0×1 slot.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality element base | Professional installation required |
| Nice design | |
| Good overclocking capabilities |
Conclusion:
This motherboard deserves attention as a well-balanced mid-range solution with proper equipment. Its key features include a high-quality element base, compliance with the Ultra Durable 4 concept, support for modern USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s interfaces, as well as the presence of eSATA 6 Gb/s and IEEE 1394a ports.
Final Verdict:
The FX 8350 is undoubtedly a better product than the FX 8150 was a year ago and is making up ground in those areas where the Bulldozer architecture had abdicated.
The Piledriver architecture does not cure all the problems that plagued Bulldozer; however, the advances in design and the production process improvement lead to lower consumption, allowing the company to increase the working frequency without violating the TDP of 125 watts. The changes are not sensational, but they are high enough to give the flagship Core i5 a hard time.
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