AMD Athlon x4 860k OC problem.

[IcemaX]

Hello. I have a trouble with my CPU OC, and I need help. I've searched and tried many solutions, but nothing really helps, so my last hope is ask for someones help, especially considering that I'm not an overclocker, but just an ordinary gamer.

The problem is that when I overclock my CPU by multiplier method, VID and multiplier itself drops to 40% ~ while stresstesting with Prime95 for example, and because of that I encounter FPS drops in my games. CPU's thermal margin is fine under heavy load, and motherboard is cold. Tried OC under BIOS and AMD OverDrive, still the same result.

I don't know, maybe it's a problem with my motherboard, or PSU, or I just need a better settings for my bios. PC doesn't shutdown itself and system doesn't freeze with 4.2-4.3GHz overclock, so I just want to have it stable, without multiplier jumping like crazy all around.

My specifications:
CPU - AMD Athlon x4 860k 3.7GHz
MB - ASUS A58M-K (bios version 1501)
CPU FAN - Cooler Master: Hyper T4
RAM - 8GB 2x4GB (doesn't matter probably)
PSU - 400W (a standart one, I know that it can be an issue, but it actually works pretty fine)
GPU - GTX 750Ti 2GB (doesn't matter x2, just for a whole picture)

Bios default settings

 

[Davedree]

You only have a 3 phase power reg, but theres an option called apm you need to disable that.
What voltage are you using and don't use prime, use realbench.

Be careful with voltage and vrm temps, as you can only realky.supply.95-100w safely on that board.

 

[IcemaX]

You only have a 3 phase power reg, but theres an option called apm you need to disable that.
What voltage are you using and don't use prime, use realbench.

Be careful with voltage and vrm temps, as you can only realky.supply.95-100w safely on that board.

When I change multiplier in bios, voltage sets itself automatically to 1.5V (1.4V default), and I can only change it to 1.35V or 1.65V (too high I think, so I didn't try that). I can set manual voltage in AMD Overdrive only, but I didn't tinker that too much.

I've tried to disable APM in bios and that didn't help at all, also I've read that if I disable turbo core in AMD Overdrive, it will also disable APM, and that didn't help either.

 

[Davedree]

Then there's either an option for thermal throttle hidden in the bios, or the power sensor is detecting the current draw and is protecting the board by throttling and there's nothing you can do.
Apm is def an option that needs to be disabled and core performance boost can add an adfitional offset to the vid. So try them both off.

Otherwise try 3.7 or so and reduce the voltage until you don't see throttling.
As for testing i'd say 1.25-1.35v might be the limit.
But prime 95 is an unrealistic load compared to gaming loads.

Edit also try msr tweaker and overdrive together

 

[IcemaX]

Then there's either an option for thermal throttle hidden in the bios, or the power sensor is detecting the current draw and is protecting the board by throttling and there's nothing you can do.
Apm is def an option that needs to be disabled and core performance boost can add an adfitional offset to the vid. So try them both off.

Otherwise try 3.7 or so and reduce the voltage until you don't see throttling.
As for testing i'd say 1.25-1.35v might be the limit.
But prime 95 is an unrealistic load compared to gaming loads.

Edit also try msr tweaker and overdrive together

It doesn't throttle with default settings at 3.7GHz and 1.4v using RealBench. I'll try lowering voltage now, but I think system will freeze at 1.35v ~

Okay, so my system is working with stable 1.3625v (set manually with Overdrive) while at 4.2 GHz, but after 5 minutes of stresstesting in RealBench CPU's thermal margin went to 9 and lower, so it throttled because CPU is too hot now I suppose (throttling would occure faster with bios voltage settings). I'll try setting my CPU FAN settings to turbo now, and try again.

 

[Davedree]

Cool keep us posted and do a screenprint of hwmonitor if you can.
Remember games dependent of cpu loading won't be pushing the cpu constantly on all cores like stress testing does.so really stability and throttle testing should be carried out on the apps and games you use.

 

[IcemaX]

I think hwmonitor doesn't work right with FM2+, so it shows totally wrong CPU temperatures, thats why I even installed Overdrive for a first time, just to check my temps (thermal margins). Or.. wait, you need MB temps?

With Q-fan set to turbo I've run RealBench for 5mins and no throttling whatsoever.

Result

I suppose it will overheat if I hold that bench for longer, but not sure, bench stopped because I pressed print screen. Maybe will try another run.

 

[Davedree]

Get testing in games and you can monitor cpu load and gpu load over afterburner.
Then if it looks good you could try and find the point where cpu frequency and.voltage is too much, and just back off a little.

 

[IcemaX]

Played some games for a while, everything is smooth and works just fine. No throttling.

Voltage is on the best point for 4.2GHz, can't go less, because it will freeze then.

 

[Davedree]

Thar's great, glad you managed to achieve a good overclock, without throttling too.
The 860k uses tim between die and the ihs and tends to need high voltage once around 4.3/4.4ghz.
The 870k and above was soldered so they scale better around 4.4-4.6ghz.

 

[IcemaX]

One moment I was even thinking that normal overclock is impossible with this motherboard, because found some bad info on the internet about it. Something about built-in throttling in bios, bad VRM cooling or whatever there was.

It was a good idea to ask for help here. Anyway, thanks for the help! Very appreciated.