AlienALX
Well-known member
Hi guys, me again. Here is a in depth analysis and thesis I wrote on the AMD FX 8320. Please note, it's not a review. I gave up writing reviews years ago as I can't behave myself.
Note. In this write up I was using two different boards. One has a 4+1 VRM layout, the other an 8+2+2. As thus when it comes to clocking YMMV. I would always get the best board you can, as this will allow you to get every last drop of performance from your chip.
Hey guys. So I've been meaning to do this for ages but pretty much everything that could get in the way got in the way.
It's been a lot of work and I've collected an enormous mass of data.
So why is this an analysis and not a review? well firstly I have not included any other processors as put simply, I don't have them. This is not going to be a "who can pee the highest" sort of write up any way so all that matters here is the subject matter itself; the AMD FX 8320 8 core CPU.
There are two ways in which to use one. You can go cheap, and be limited in your clock speeds or you can go the opposite and spend a pretty penny on the sort of motherboard you would need for extreme clock speeds. In this write up I will be demonstrating both, thus leaving nothing to chance. I will even be showing you exactly how I based my testing on the numerous clock speeds used and how they were achieved.
How I tested.
This is going to differ to many of your usual review type write ups. I always tend to do things differently (that'll be the Aspie in me !) but I will do my best to explain my methods.
Firstly let's cover our system specs.
When I mention 4.3ghz I will be referring to this machine -
AMD FX 8320 clocked to 4.3ghz
Asus M5A97 R2.0 (4+2 power stages)
4GB Geil Extreme memory
GTX 670 SLI
Cost for board and CPU - £172 (est)
When I mention either 4.6 or 5ghz I will be referring to this machine -
AMD FX 8320 clocked to either 4.6ghz or 5ghz
Asus Crosshair V Formula Z motherboard
8GB Mushkin memory
Radeon HD 7990.
Cost for board and CPU £272 (est)
In 3Dmark I will use the following terms.
P = performance mode and or score
X = Extreme mode and or score
Our clock speeds
4.3ghz

4.6ghz

5ghz

So without any further ado, let's get benching.. First up is the rather old 3Dmark Vantage.
Performance

And Extreme

3Dmark 11 Performance

3Dmark 11 Extreme

3Dmark Firestrike Performance

3Dmark Firestrike Extreme

Unigene Valley Benchmark Extreme HD

Unigene Heaven 4.0

Cinebench R15

Now onto the games. Battlefield 4, using this level here.


Crysis 3 using this level (follow Psycho)


Metro Last Light inbuilt benchmark

Tomb Raider inbuilt benchmark

Hitman : Absolution max settings 8XMSAA

Bios settings on 4.3ghz PC


Bios settings on 4.6ghz PC 2


And 5ghz


Peace out
Note. In this write up I was using two different boards. One has a 4+1 VRM layout, the other an 8+2+2. As thus when it comes to clocking YMMV. I would always get the best board you can, as this will allow you to get every last drop of performance from your chip.
Hey guys. So I've been meaning to do this for ages but pretty much everything that could get in the way got in the way.
It's been a lot of work and I've collected an enormous mass of data.
So why is this an analysis and not a review? well firstly I have not included any other processors as put simply, I don't have them. This is not going to be a "who can pee the highest" sort of write up any way so all that matters here is the subject matter itself; the AMD FX 8320 8 core CPU.
There are two ways in which to use one. You can go cheap, and be limited in your clock speeds or you can go the opposite and spend a pretty penny on the sort of motherboard you would need for extreme clock speeds. In this write up I will be demonstrating both, thus leaving nothing to chance. I will even be showing you exactly how I based my testing on the numerous clock speeds used and how they were achieved.
How I tested.
This is going to differ to many of your usual review type write ups. I always tend to do things differently (that'll be the Aspie in me !) but I will do my best to explain my methods.
Firstly let's cover our system specs.
When I mention 4.3ghz I will be referring to this machine -
AMD FX 8320 clocked to 4.3ghz
Asus M5A97 R2.0 (4+2 power stages)
4GB Geil Extreme memory
GTX 670 SLI
Cost for board and CPU - £172 (est)
When I mention either 4.6 or 5ghz I will be referring to this machine -
AMD FX 8320 clocked to either 4.6ghz or 5ghz
Asus Crosshair V Formula Z motherboard
8GB Mushkin memory
Radeon HD 7990.
Cost for board and CPU £272 (est)
In 3Dmark I will use the following terms.
P = performance mode and or score
X = Extreme mode and or score
Our clock speeds
4.3ghz

4.6ghz

5ghz

So without any further ado, let's get benching.. First up is the rather old 3Dmark Vantage.
Performance

And Extreme

3Dmark 11 Performance

3Dmark 11 Extreme

3Dmark Firestrike Performance

3Dmark Firestrike Extreme

Unigene Valley Benchmark Extreme HD

Unigene Heaven 4.0

Cinebench R15

Now onto the games. Battlefield 4, using this level here.


Crysis 3 using this level (follow Psycho)


Metro Last Light inbuilt benchmark

Tomb Raider inbuilt benchmark

Hitman : Absolution max settings 8XMSAA

Bios settings on 4.3ghz PC


Bios settings on 4.6ghz PC 2


And 5ghz


Peace out
