Hello there everyone,
After many days of web research, trying to overclock my FX-8150 I could not bring it to stability over 3.8 Ghz, disapointing, don't know what to do...
I followed many tutorials available over the web, including this one specifically addressed for Bulldozers: BD Overclock Tutorial.
My system config. is:
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
Processor: AMDFX-8150 @ 3.6 Ghz (stock)
Cooler: Corsair H100
RAM: 16GB (8x2) GSkill DDR3 1833 Mhz F3-14900CL10D-16gsr @ 1.505V 11-10-11-30 2T (stock timming)
PSU: XFX 750W
OS: Linux Mint 12.10
On stock setup, I'm able to pass every Prime95 test flawlessly.
When it comes to tweaked setup, I'm able to achieve stability even @ 4.6 Ghz (the maxium I tested...), Vcore 1.38v, but just on Prime95's test #1. If I try to run test #3 (blend) the system crashes in a matter of minutes. This led me to think that I have memory issues on overclock, as the Blend test is the most memory intensive.
Given that, I pushed memory voltage a little bit higher to 1.6v, CPU/NB voltage a few notches up, lowered DDR multiplier until it reaches 1333 Mhz, lowered HT to 2000 Mhz (2600 stock), raised memory timming, and many, many combinations of them... Nothing made the system stable after 3.8 Ghz Blend test.
Unfortunately I cannot monitor CPU temperature precisely during the tests as I'm running under Linux, thus no HWmonitor and other cute tools for me, but I really don't think that is the temperature that is holding me back. I have set a BIOS alarm if the CPU temperature goes beyond 60