[Yuji]

Tip #1. CPU Power Saving Throttling (Bios related)

Disable

• AMD Turbo Core Technology
• APM (Application Power Management) *disabling the AMD Turbo Core Technology via AMD OverDrive utility will also disable APM)*
• Cool 'n' Quiet *I actually keep this enabled so I don't waste power since high clocks aren't needed under low loads*
• CPU Thermal Throttle *be careful keep an eye on your temps, especially core temps, leave this enabled if your not the cautious type* (FX-8120 < 61C, FX-8150 <61C, FX-6100 <70C, FX 4100 <71C)
• Core C6 State
• C1E
• Enhanced Halt State
• Any other Power Saving Features in your bios, usually under CPU Advanced, Google them first.

Enable

• Load Line Calibration, play with this setting until you get stable voltages under load, remeber every bios is different, some might even be better with it disabled, but most best enabled and manually set.

Notes
*Ensure that CPU NB, Memory or HT Link values are running at default stable values.*
*CPU / Chasis Fan Control (set to full speed for best cooling, if too loud play with the manual speeds.)

Tip #2. CPU Load Throttling (Bios problem)

• Get AMD Overdrive and Open and Enable Turbo Core Control then Push OK then Open and Disable Turbo Core Control then push OK then exit AMD Overdrive.

Now test see if it still throttles. If this works then is most likely a bios issue, and you'll have to do this each time you restart. If it doesn't work then possibly from temps.

Known Motherboards with this problem
ASRock 880G Pro3 Bios 1.40

Known Fixed Motherboards & Bios Versions
Coming soon.....

Tip#3. CPU Temp Throttling (CPU/Mosfet / Board)

• Get High End Heatsinks/Cooling for your CPU and your Mosfets.

Heatsink/Cooling Review Websites
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/content/reviews/cooling/
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/cooling-watercooling,44.html

Heatsinks/Cooling Shopping Websites
http://www.quietpc.com/
http://www.frozencpu.com/
http://www.performance-pcs.com
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/
http://www.xoxide.com/
http://www.svc.com/
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.tigerdirect.com/

 

[yching07]

I really think this post should be sticky one, and thanks again the tip with the AMD Overdrive really help me out with my speed and stability, now Im running 4.0ghz stable with even less voltage and a more cooler temperature.

It looks like my problem was that disabling AMD Turbo Core on bios does not work, you have to open AMD Overdrive and enable/disable it from there and then you will make the CPU reach its full speed all time, before the speed was throttling back to 3.4-3.6ghz, now I have 1.3v and 4.0ghz and its running very smoothly.

And thanks to this I have submited the case and call Asus service and tell them the problem with the bios so they can fix it on their next update (Hopefully)

Cheer!

before this turbo core tip i was getting 5.3 on cinebench at 4.0ghz or 4.2ghz, now Im getting 6.5 on cinebench and more stable and cooler cpu temp!

 

[vinton13]

Very helpful post indeed.

 

[amd-dude]

I sense a sticky...I wish i had this when i first got my chip, would have saved me time and some profanities

 

[Yuji]

Yea it seems most of us that actually do everything right get the same problem, CPU Load Throttling (Bios problem) and the fix was a simple fix but a pain to do everytime in startup, I actually made AMD Overdrive start on startup with windows to make it a little faster to do.

Tip #2 will be the fix for most everyone who knows what theyre doing. Which means you should probably tell your motherboard manufacturer about it so they can fix it on next bios update.

If anyone knows anything I dont know or forgot to mention please let me know and I'll update the original post.

Also if your problem was fixed with Tip #2 please post your motherboard, and bios version so I can keep a list, might help people who have the same board, and when they release a bios fix please let me know so I can post the bios fix version.

 

[KarathKasun]

Quote:

Enable

Load Line Calibration, play with your this setting until you get stable voltages under load, remeber every bios is different.

On the lower end ASRock boards do not do this. It will cause massive vdroop and total instability. Voltage actually gets a slight boost with it OFF. Dont know if it is a BIOS issue (on means off and off means on) or what.
Quote:

CPU Thermal Throttle *be careful keep an eye on your temps, especially core temps, leave this enabled if your not the cautious type* (FX-8120 < 61C, FX-8150 <61C, FX-6100 <70C, FX 4100 Unknown)

FX-4100 = 71c max

 

[vinton13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarathKasun

Quote:

Enable
Load Line Calibration, play with your this setting until you get stable voltages under load, remeber every bios is different.

On the lower end ASRock boards do not do this. It will cause massive vdroop and total instability. Voltage actually gets a slight boost with it OFF. Dont know if it is a BIOS issue (on means off and off means on) or what.
Quote:

CPU Thermal Throttle *be careful keep an eye on your temps, especially core temps, leave this enabled if your not the cautious type* (FX-8120 < 61C, FX-8150 <61C, FX-6100 <70C, FX 4100 Unknown)

FX-4100 = 71c max

Hmmm...interesting...IIRC, LLC ON is 0%...are you sure it's 0% and not 100%?

 

[Yuji]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarathKasun

Quote:

Enable
Load Line Calibration, play with your this setting until you get stable voltages under load, remeber every bios is different.

On the lower end ASRock boards do not do this. It will cause massive vdroop and total instability. Voltage actually gets a slight boost with it OFF. Dont know if it is a BIOS issue (on means off and off means on) or what.
Quote:

CPU Thermal Throttle *be careful keep an eye on your temps, especially core temps, leave this enabled if your not the cautious type* (FX-8120 < 61C, FX-8150 <61C, FX-6100 <70C, FX 4100 Unknown)

FX-4100 = 71c max

I actually have a fairly low end board ASRock 880G Pro3 and I get better stability overclocks with it enabled and set to 1/4, but as I said every bios is different so the user should play with it to see what gets them the best results, Enabled usually better but some may have better results with it disabled, I dont know every bios some probably need bios updates to fix alot of issues.

Oh and thanks for the FX-4100 max temp updated it.

 

[KarathKasun]

The 970 extreme series may be backwards. With it on I got vdroop, with it off I got a voltage boost under load.

 

[Yuji]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarathKasun

The 970 extreme series may be backwards. With it on I got vdroop, with it off I got a voltage boost under load.

You might try enabling it and manually setting it to one of the manual settings. Not sure what bios you have nor the options but usually there is manual settings to chose from.

 

[KarathKasun]

There is only on or off, no advanced options. The BIOS works right in every other regard, so it doesnt bother me.

 

[Yuji]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarathKasun

There is only on or off, no advanced options. The BIOS works right in every other regard, so it doesnt bother me.

Ah ok yea w.e works best for stabilty, you might tell ASRock about it. Not sure what they can / will do, but its worth mentioning.

 

[SkateZilla]

I still havent gotten my FX8120 to work right.

it Idles at Turbo 01 (3.4Ghz, 200Mhz HTTx17).

When it loads all 8 cores it drops to 15.5x200HTT (3.1 Stock Clocks), then dips to 14.0x200HTT (2800MHz).

When it loads only 1 or 2 cores teh 4.0Ghz Turbo 02 State works. 4 cores turbo 01 works.

So when I run Cine Bench, it drops to 3.1 and 2.8 Ghz. 5.09, which is a hair better than the nonSB Corei7 @ 2.8 Ghz (according to cinebench.)

and When I run Single core, the load is bouncing around all 8 cores so it never kicks in any form of turbo.

I dont want to overclock this CPU, so keeping it at stock settings is what im gonna do until the new stepping comes out (pile driver). then If that one is better, use that one and keep this as a spare/hand me down.

I've Disabled CnQ, Thermal Throttling, C1/C6.

One thing i did notice is during all 8 cores in Prime, voltage would start to drop to 1.02v, but as I disabled workers, voltage would go back up.

I think LLC in Bios is set to AUTO.

Any Hints/Tips....................?
Running all Updates, Bios Updates, Driver Updates.

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922
Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply
Mainboard: ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional AM3+ AMD 990FX
CPU: AMD FX-8120 Zambezi 3.1GHz Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor
CPU Cooling: CORSAIR H100 (CWCH100) Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Gaming Series 16GB DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Graphics: Sapphire RadeonHD 7950 w/ 3GB, Factory Overclocked 900Mhz
Physics Processor Unit: eVGA Geforce 8800 GTS SSC with 640MB of Memory
Audio: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
HD Recording : Black Magic Intensity Pro 10-Bit HDMI 1080p Capture Card
Harddisk: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1502FAEX 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
External HDDrive: Seagate External USB 3.0 1 TB HDD
Displays: 3x Asus 24" 2ms 1080p

 

[dm22]

interesting.. will test later on to see if this helps.

 

[bluefirexp]

Dear Yuji,

i'm really happy to find this thread!
I have exactly the Asrock 880G Pro3 and i'm getting these throttlings when the CPU reaches about 63 degree celsius (= just around 49 degree celsius coretemp). I'm using a Deep Cool Killer Whale Cooler which should really be sufficient - still the throttling occurs even with stock settings @ full load.

The trick with AMD Overdrive didn't work for me...Could you tell me which (other) settings exactly you had to apply for the 880G Pro3 to get it stable without throttling? Thanks in advance!

 

[AMD4ME]

Attention Gigabyte AM3+ mobo owners.

Recently Gigabyte Tech Support has confirmed that all Gigabyte AM3+ mobos will throttle the CPU frequency even with all power saving options disabled, when the VRM circuit reaches 90C, which is very easy to achieve with any OC'd 8000 series FX processor. Gigabyte has no plans to update their VRM circuit for lower temp operation with FX CPUs so if you are looking for a mobo for an 8000 series FX processor that you plan to OC, especially a new Vishera which can reach close to 5 GHz. on good air cooling, you might want to consider a mobo with a better or different VRM circuit design that doesn't overheat and throttle the CPU.

 

[cez4r]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMD4ME

Attention Gigabyte AM3+ mobo owners.
Recently Gigabyte Tech Support has confirmed ...

Could you supply a source for this? TIA

 

[xd_1771]

^ Gigabyte's 990XA/970A series recently received a string of BIOS updates that added "VRM MOS protection".

 

[AMD4ME]

^^^^^ This is Gigabyte's efforts to prevent VRM burn out at the expense of CPU overclocking - for which they charge a premium and advertise their mobos to be particularly good at OC'ing, which is open to debate.

This BIOS change to protect the VRM was done some time ago but may not have been documented until recently?

cez4r-

"Could you supply a source for this? TIA"

Gigabyte Tech Support is the source of the confirmation.

 

[xd_1771]

^ I think he wanted a link or a screenshot. Anyway, however, the recent BIOS updates do already point out the fact that GIGABYTE has taken the need for VRM safety into account to the next level.