FX8150 odd behaviour and voltage

[X3T]

(Yes I bought an AMD FX-8150 )

Anyway I eventually got it installed in my new PC after a load of problems with every other component.

I downloaded AMD Overdrive and noticed the frequencies of each core were going wild. They must have been changing 10 times a second to seemingly completely random numbers between 1400MHz and 4200Mhz, all independently. I thought there were just 3 fixed frequencies it can run at (3.6, 3.9 and 4.2.)

Secondly I noticed the temperature sensor must be faulty. It too was fluctuating wildy (e.g. it would go from 28 to 14 to 23 to 11, etc.. really fast)

Lastly I noticed the reported CPU voltage was 1.42v! I double checked and everything is set to AUTO in the BIOS. That voltage is too high for this CPU for 24/7 usage.

Do I have a dodgy CPU? I wouldn't be suprised as everything else I bought has been faulty

I will upload screenshots of Overdrive and CPU-Z etc.. later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Orcvader]

1.4ghz is the Cool 'n' Quiet speed. It drops to this when the CPU is on idle to save power. 4.2ghz is the max Turbo speed when the other cores are inactive. The speeds you're thinking of are other Turbo speeds depending on how many cores are being used. It's perfectly normal so don't worry about it.

AMD CPUs don't have temp sensors within the CPU. So they are usually guessed from other temps, such as the motherboard socket. What are you using to read temps?

Last but not least, what board are you using? If you only just replaced your 965, then it might be on the 965 settings. You need to reset the CMOS when you swap out the CPU. What does the BIOS report the voltage as?

 

[Muel]

1.42v is fine, AMD say 1.5v max?

Fluctuating is fine. It's just the turbo core scaling thingy they do.

Since when have you had to reset the BIOS with a new CPU? That's awful advice, he'll lose all his other settings?

Just go into the BIOS, check what you have set manually for the CPU related stuff.

 

[kitch9]

1.42v is fine, AMD say 1.5v max?

Fluctuating is fine. It's just the turbo core scaling thingy they do.

Since when have you had to reset the BIOS with a new CPU? That's awful advice, he'll lose all his other settings?

Just go into the BIOS, check what you have set manually for the CPU related stuff.

Why would you want settings that are for another cpu with a completely different memory controller?

 

[Muel]

Eh? Where did I say that?

I said, revise anything you've set manually. This is the exact opposite of leave everything set for the old CPU.

 

[gareth170]

i've had a 8150 so heres my advice

1. the clock speed will jump up and down, thats normal because of CnQ

2. when you seen the voltage at 1.42v that because of turbo core kicking in, which is normal.

3. core temp sensor readings are wrong, you should monitor the cpu temp reading (tmpin0 or tmpin1)

4. if you already had a 965 why did u get a 8150?

 

[X3T]

Cheers for the replies.

Yes I did a CMOS reset after installing the new cpu. So it all seems normal then? How do I get access to the tmpin0/1 readings?

Hehe based on the reviews the 8150 was a bit more powerful than my 965, and I was building a new system from scratch so I went for the best AMD had to offer (arguably it could be fairly equal to a 1090/1100t.)

It seems to be running at 3.9ghz or 4.2ghz 80% of the time, I've rarely seen it stay at 3.6, which is a good thing I suppose

EDIT: I'm using a Crosshair V mobo

 

[gareth170]

Cheers for the replies.

Yes I did a CMOS reset after installing the new cpu. So it all seems normal then? How do I get access to the tmpin0/1 readings?

Hehe based on the reviews the 8150 was a bit more powerful than my 965, and I was building a new system from scratch so I went for the best AMD had to offer (arguably it could be fairly equal to a 1090/1100t.)

use hwmonitor program to see the tmpin0/1 readings.

tbh a 1090/1100t @ 4ghz would have performanced a lot better in most things then the 8150. e.g in gaming a 8150 needs to be clocked at 4.6ghz to get the same level of performance of a a 1090/1100t at 4ghz

 

[X3T]

Thanks.

Hmm just checked in the BIOS, and cool n quiet is disabled. Why is my cpu frequency still bouncing all over the place?

 

[gareth170]

Thanks.

Hmm just checked in the BIOS, and cool n quiet is disabled. Why is my cpu frequency still bouncing all over the place?

because of turbo core is enabled + windows power options may not be set to high performance

if u disable it it'll stay at 3.6ghz

tbh i'd keep turbo core enabled if your not going to overclock