AMD FX-8370E at 4.5 GHz
4.5 GHz is, as always, a kind of magic limit for FX processors that you want to reach if possible. This is also the case here – regardless of whether it makes any real sense from an efficiency point of view or not. Much higher values would certainly be feasible and we also reveal that we managed the 5 GHz sound barrier with 1.4 volts, at least for Windows startup. However, an insane 1.5 volts are required for long-term stable benchmarking, which we simply doubt at this point. That’s why this review ends at 4.5 GHz, since the exploding power consumption can hardly be justified by the ever decreasing performance increase. We look in the direction of the FX-9590, realize the connection and just let it be.
1. Core voltage (Vcore)
Preset in the BIOS was 1.315 volts, which results in a real core voltage of 1.26 volts in the end. Even though this value already seems quite high now – in relation to what was just described, it is still quite restrained, which really makes further overclocking absurd.
2. Power consumption
With 116 watts for CPU and voltage converter, we are still well within the trend, since experience shows that the CPU itself should account for significantly less than 100 watts and we are once again annoyed about the board and the almost 80 °C hot heat sinks of the voltage converters. If higher overclocks are really envisaged with this processor, it would be better to focus on a more frugal and efficient motherboard with a better design.
3. Temperatures
We are also not surprised by the package temperature of only 47 °C, because the power consumption is still relatively moderate. The temperature under the heatspreader is barely higher at 53 °C (sensor measurement), so we can still certify that the CPU is easy to cool even during fairly massive overclocking.
The infrared image reveals it: The massive Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 is a bit oversized. But it acts so confidently that you can hardly hear the two fans. 39 °C – at the heat pipe, mind you! – are, in any case, almost negligible.
A comparison measurement then also confirms that even when installed, less noise is produced than most water pumps of common AIO water cooling systems alone. Hats off to the cooler and the CPU that (still) plays along!
Efficiency assessment and interim conclusion
More clock, more voltage more power? Yep, because if you look at the individual curves, several things crystallize very clearly. First, when manually overclocked to 3.5 GHz, the CPU is slightly faster at the same Vcore without changing any motherboard settings at almost the same power consumption, which we have to chalk up to the motherboard. Secondly, the sweet spot, i.e. the point where efficiency starts to drop, is around 3.8 GHz. And thirdly, we see that sensible overclocking above around 4.2 GHz goes in the direction of senseless wasting of electrical energy.
If you want to hit the sweet spot, 3.8 GHz and less than 90 watts of power consumption for the CPU and voltage converter are spot on. If you want more clock and have at least a lime green colored soul, you better stop at 4.2 GHz at the latest. The hardcore can still easily use 4.5 GHz, even if the global warming of about 116 watts is then already a clear advantage. Then you do not make the mistake that AMD does with the current top models by forcing computing power and forgetting about the power consumption.
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