Needing more Voltage for stable stock clocks

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone had insight into this issue:

I have a FX-8350 that I used to (mildly) overclock, but have been running at stock for a long while now. I was going to overclock it again, and started running Prime95 to get a new temperature baseline - and the computer locks up. Prior, when testing overclocks, Prime95 would fail on a core, but it would only lock if I had the voltage WAY too low. After checking BIOS, and making sure everything was set to "Auto" like before, I test again - again hard lock. Aida64 and IBT have no trouble, it's JUST Prime95. When I go back into AMD Overdrive to restore some of my previously tested good overclocks, they ALL instantly lock the machine (prior even to running Prime95 - they just lock right as I push "ok").

In order to get the system stable for Prime95 at stock clocks I have to boost CPU voltage from 1.325v to 1.375v. Previous good overclock of 4.4ghz at 1.435v is no longer stable, and getting it stable at 1.465 gets too close to the thermal limits for my taste.

What is happening here? Is my MB starting to fail? Is my chip dying?

On one hand I don't mind giving the chip an extra .05v if that makes it happy, but I don't think I should have to do anything like that just for stock.

Sounds like your chip has deteriorated a bit

So, this is weird - it only goes stable at 1.375v if I set it from within AMD Overdrive. If I set it from BIOS, it will not be stable in Prime95.

I'm starting to think this isn't just the chip deteriorating. :-(

Have you tested your 12v rail with a multimeter while running Prime?

Also, ground yourself then finger test the mosfet heatsink to see how hot it is getting.

Quick update: I tried replacing the power supply (with a Corsair AX860i, just to be on the safe side) - issue persists.

I don't know how to test the 12v rail while the machine is on. I'll research it a bit and give it a try.

I'm still confused as to why it will only work when the voltage is boosted in the AMD Overdrive software. It _should_ work the same way inside BIOS, right? #sigh

My 2500k system started doing that. I don't know if the cpu deteriorated, or if the motherboard power delivery got noisy, or what.

Just curious - how long did you keep the 2500k while it would fail in Prime95 before upgrading to your 4790k rig?

Morphish said:

Just curious - how long did you keep the 2500k while it would fail in Prime95 before upgrading to your 4790k rig?

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Nah it just locked up, never program crash. The lock ups became more and more frequent, so I fixed the freq to straight 3GHz or something for a while, and that didn't last forever either. I delayed new system purchase as long as I could, heh. Like 18 months? It had problems for a long while.

So my 4.5GHz DC was a big boost, since my SB had dropped from 4.8 to 3 over time.

If only prime95 is giving you problems I wouldn't worry about it. Since you can pass IBT and aida I'd be content as long as I wasn't crashing during regular use.

Furious_Styles said:

If only prime95 is giving you problems I wouldn't worry about it. Since you can pass IBT and aida I'd be content as long as I wasn't crashing during regular use.

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It NEVER crashes. Most stable build I've ever done.

Oh well, I guess this will remain mysterious until I upgrade the entire platform late next year.