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Overclocking, BIOS, Test Specs
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| Overclocking Results: |
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Overclocking an AMD Fusion A8-3850 APU is
somewhat complicated, the integration that makes the A8-3850 a
wonderful mainstream CPU also makes it a bloody stubborn mule. Here's why; the A8-3850 APU is multiplier locked so it can
only be overclocked by increasing the motherboard bus speed. Ordinarily
this isn't a big deal, PCSTATS has overclocked countless multiplier locked
processors this way.
What's different with the socket FM1 AMD A8-3850
APU is that the Northbridge, graphics and a few other devices are tied directly
to the board's 100MHz bus speed. If we overclock the motherboard bus to 150MHz
(for example), we're indirectly overclocking EVERYTHING that's tied to it. There
are clear benefits to overclocking a CPU for sure, but the same isn't
necessarily true for the northbridge, PCIe lanes or devices like hard drives.
To
give this 2.9GHz quad-core processor a fighting chance at overclocking to its
best, a sweet set of Crucial Ballistic DDR3-1600 memory was locked into the AMD
A75 based Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H motherboard and set to run in DDR3-800 MHz
mode. This way the memory won't hold things back when bus speed increases.
A stock
AVC Z7U7414001 heatsink was used to cool
the CPU.
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Socket
FM1
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AMD's Fusion A8-3850 APU operates with a 29x multiplier that cannot
be changed, so PCSTATS set about overclocking the processor by increasing
motherboard bus speed from it's 100MHz default.
In the BIOS, the Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H's bus speed was increased to from
100MHz to 115MHz, then 120MHz.... and at 125MHz the system
crashed. Higher bus speeds were tried, but the best PCSTATS could squeeze from
the 2.9GHz AMD Fusion A8-3850 APU was 3.48GHz (29x multiplier @ 120MHz
motherboard bus speed).
Next up, a look at the BIOS
and our test system specs.
BIOS Controls and
Tweaks
Gigabyte kept the traditional BIOS for the GA-A75M-UD2H motherboard. The main
overclocking controls for adjusting the CPU multiplier (and BCLK frequency) are
found in the MB Intelligent Tweaker section.
The processors' IGP can be
overclocked and tweaked to your hearts content, though in reality the best
performance gains will come from dropping in a discreet videocard.
VGA clock speed
can be adjusted if you'd like to try you hand at a little IGP overclocking.
The amount of
memory allocated away from the system can also be controlled. The default is
512MB. The BIOS has extensive memory control options, timings can be set down to
the individual clocks cycle, per channel.
With the BIOS covered, let's
move onto overclocking and the PCSTATS motherboard benchmark suite.
Test System Specs
PCSTATS has relied on Crucial memory for its servers for years, so
it was only logical to install 4GB's of Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24
memory into the Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H motherboard test system. The storage
device is super quick OCZ Vertex 2 SSD (120GB, SATAII). The effect on
system-wide benchmarks is dramatic! Thanks to
AMD, Crucial Memory and OCZ Technology for help
outfitting this test platform.
Gigabyte
GA-A75M-UD2H Motherboard
Details on how the socket FM1 Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H
motherboard was configured for benchmarking - including specific hardware,
software drivers, operating system and benchmark versions - is listed in the
Test System Spec chart below. Please take a moment to look over PCSTATS test
system configurations before moving on to the individual benchmark
results.
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| PCSTATS
Test System Specs |
|
|
|
test system |
|
|
| processor: |
intel core i7 3820
(32nm) |
intel core i5 2500k
(32nm) |
amd fusion a8-3850
(32nm) |
amd fx-8150 (45nm)*
amd Phenom II X6 1090T
(45nm) |
Intel Core i7 920
(45nm) |
| Clock
Speed: |
36 x 100MHz = 3.6 GHz |
33 x 100 MHz = 3.3 GHz |
29 x 100 MHz = 2.9 GHz |
18 x 200 MHz = 3.6 GHz*
16 x 200
MHz = 3.2 GHz |
20 x 133 MHz = 2.67 GHz |
| Socket: |
Socket LGA2011 |
Socket LGA1155 |
Socket FM1 |
Socket AM3 / AM2+ |
Socket LGA1366 |
| Motherboard: |
- Intel X79
-
Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5
Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5H-WB |
- Intel Z77 -
Gigabyte
GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H
ECS
Z77H2-A2X
-
Intel Z68
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Gigabyte
GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD
- Intel P67
-
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Gigabyte
GA-P67A-UD4
ASUS
P8P67 Pro
MSI P67A-GD65
ECS P67H2-A
- Intel H67
-
ASUS P8H67-M
Evo
Biostar TH67XE
ECS H67H2-M
Intel DH67BL |
- AMD A75
-
Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H
Gigabyte
GA-A75M-UD2H
Biostar TA75M+ |
- AMD 990FX
Biostar TA990FXE*
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7*
ASUS
Crosshair V Formula*
- AMD 890FX
Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD7
ASUS Crosshair IV
Formula
Biostar TA890FXE
MSI 890FXA-GD70
- AMD 790FX
-
Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P
- AMD 785G -
MSI 785GM-E65
|
- Intel
X58
Gigabyte G1.Assassin*
|
| Videocard: |
Gigabyte GV-N470SO-13I (Geforce GTX470) |
*Gigabyte GV-N470SO-13I (Geforce GTX470)
ASUS ENGTS250
DK
(Geforce GTS250) |
| Memory: |
x32 - 4GB / x64 - 4x4GB Corsair
CMZ16GX3M-4X1600C9 DDR3-1600 9.9.9.24 |
2x 2GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8.8.8.24 |
2x 2GB Corsair XMS3-1600C8 |
3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3 |
| Memory
Speed: |
DDR3-1600 |
DDR3-1333 |
DDR3-1333 |
DDR3-1066
*DDR3-1333 |
DDR3-1333 |
| Hard
Drive: |
120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA
II)
|
120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II)
Intel SRT
Tests: 74GB Western Digital Raptor WD 740 & 20GB Intel Larson Creek 311 SSD |
74GB Western Digital Raptor WD 740 (3GB/s SATA II)
*120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD
(3GB/s SATA II)
|
| Optical
Drive: |
Plextor PX-B310U
Blu-Ray |
ASUS BC-1205PT-BD |
| Power
Supply: |
NoFan P-400A (400W) |
Seasonic SS-760KM
(760W) |
PC Power & Cooling TurboCool 750W |
| Heatsink: |
Zalman CNPS11X Performa Heatsink |
Intel Reference LGA1155 Heatsink |
AMD Reference
Heatsink |
AMD Reference
Heatsink |
Intel Reference LGA1366 Heatsink |
| Monitor
(1080p): |
ASUS MK241
24" HD LCD |
| Software
Setup: |
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultiimate 32-bit
& 64-bit
Intel INF 9.2.3.1020
nVidia 285.62 |
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x32/x64
Intel 9.2.0.1025
nVIDIA 266.58 |
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x32/x64
AMD Catalyst 8.86RC2
nVIDIA 266.58 |
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
AMD Catalyst
9.12
nVIDIA Forceware 195.62 |
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
Intel INF 9.1.0.1012
nVIDIA Forceware 182.08 |
| Benchmarks: |
System Benchmarks:
Sysmark 2012, SYSmark 2007, PCMark Vantage, SiSoft Sandra
2011
Gaming B/M: 3DMark 11, 3DMark Vantage,
3DMark
06
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