MSI A88X-G45 GAMING - FM2+ goodness

[TheGoat Eater]

I have the the MSI A88X-G45 GAMING FM2+ motherboard on my bench and ready for testing... Though unfortunately my 7850K was delayed, so I will get started on Monday. I have these pictures to show you of the package and motherboard though, this is indeed the Assasins Creed Liberation bundle. If you want some larger photos I will provide a link to a zip file with the large versions of these.

These are to start this off and I will be updating this with more info and testing

Let me know if you want something tested or whatnot and I will try to get that done

http://i.imgur.com/auVNxdf.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uNkduxg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9u7RPjJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Pv7OjQb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/L1SnEzE.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GAj1i50.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/qvWQ6o7.jpg

 

[Deceneu]

Hi!

I have some interest.

I want to know the exact clocks for NB and if the turbo core clocks are reached often or rarely.
I want to know overclockability of the board and APU and some real gaming tests,
with the integrated IGP ,stock and overclocked and with some additional AMD video card.
Temperatures and voltages also interesting to know.

So the games i would look at are :

Crysis all of them ,
Far Cry 2 and 3 ,
Counter Strike Global Offensive
Assassins Creed IV Black Flag
Americas Army Prooving Ground
BF BC2 ,BF 3 and BF 4
Dirt 2 and 3
Hitman Absolution

and some other you may want to at resolutions of 1920 X 1080.

I am really curios to see what a user is experiencing as the reviews on the HW sites did not satisfied me.

I ll be waiting for this

 

[TheGoat Eater]

I will be getting better RAM for OC tests and right now I am tinkering with things and learning it again as I have been away from AMD for a long time

Testing Setup

http://i.imgur.com/lPm57oG.jpg

Swapped in some Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 2x4GB 1600 for these runs. Good runs on a bloated OS (8.1), I think my RAM isn't up to the task of higher clocks on AMD - any good module suggestions for higher clocking RAM for AMD? I can run quite tight, and this was just a rough run. I know I could squeeze out even more with better RAM and a tuned OS (plan to )

 

[from416]

what memory and psu do you use

 

[from416]

by the way, where did you get this?

I checked on newegg, they don't have it

 

[dragantoe]

gorgeous motherboard! I just don't understand the point of a high end motherboard for a low end chip... can't wait to see if overclocking results prove me wrong!

 

[TheGoat Eater]

I am using a Corsair TX750W and Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 2x4GB 1600 for testing. This is a sample straight from MSI, I have been testing their stuff for some time now. I try to abuse it as much as I can, though I have stopped extreme-OC due to costs... But I am thinking about it again

Updated:
"Swapped in some Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 2x4GB 1600 for these runs. Good runs on a bloated OS (8.1), I think my RAM isn't up to the task of higher clocks on AMD - any good module suggestions for higher clocking RAM for AMD? I can run quite tight and this was just a rough run. I know I could squeeze out even more with better RAM and a tuned OS (plan to )"

 

[Deceneu]

RAM Modules should be indicated in the MSI list support.Keep the RAM at 2T Command Rate.

You have at least 400 Mhz in that NB.A NB of 2400 Mhz should bring nice performance increase in all areas with little voltage tweaks for it (the weak point of MSI boards usually )

Let s see some games now.Forgot to add to the list the Ghost Recon Future Soldier a very intensive game resources wise when you pump up the tessellation and other advanced settings.

Nice rig ,it should run with a 400-450W good PSU even overclocked , in case someone wants to build a similar rig "normal" overclocking included.

 

[TheGoat Eater]

Yeah I am finding it hard to pick up where I left off with AMD so long ago. Though with hours of time to test a change herre and one there I am starting to get it back. I am the kind of person who just needs to sit down and try stuff, fail, fix, fail, fix, etc... I tend to be heavy handed with my testing and go brute force style to get what I want out of the HW. It has been good to me in the past but always from there down to fine tuning voltages and keeping it right at the needs of the system have given me the most stress. LOL . I will try 2T and get back to you, I have it in my head so much that I just go 1T w/o thinking.

Games are going to be a bit hard to do since I moved to the country and have a crap connection/ speed so what I don't have the install/files for backed up on my server it will be a while to DL. I am getting BF4 downloaded now and it has been going for over a day now :/ ugh

 

[WackyWRZ]

I just bought an X4-760K and an Asus A88X-PRO mobo... I am still in my return window, would this be a big difference from what I have? The A88X motherboards are so new there aren't many good reviews / direct comparisons out there yet.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Are you still updating this thread, goateater? If so, I have some requests:

1). Run something like 3dmark with only the iGPU and see if your CPU throttles back to 3 ghz during the run. If so, are there any ways for you to thwart this behavior in the UEFI (disabling C&Q, Turbo, etc)?

2). Do your iGPU clock speeds jump around at all (again, during something like 3dmark while using the iGPU) ?

3). What kind of NB speeds can you get on that chip? 2 ghz seems to be the maximum for most folks.

4). Read this thread and this thread for some possible hints on what to do, though it is clear that not everything yet is known on how to overclock these Kaveri APUs.

edit: Also, are you getting the AHCI bug when pusing HTRef/BCLK/HTT past 105-106 mhz? Does your board have any ways to get around that?

 

[TheGoat Eater]

Yes I am still updating the thread. I am trying to source some better RAM to test higher clock from a friend. My budget for HW was reached this month with the 7850K, Cooler, and RAM. I also had a obstacle come up with health issues the last couple of weeks and long story short I am wearing a heart monitor the next month. I am trying to cut down the time I am testing at my desk to avoid any additional stress. I used to test hours on end - up to 11 in a sitting, especially when I did Extreme OC. Its almost done - I just had a couple of those hurdles to get over first... unfortunately :/

 

[DrMrLordX]

Hey, take your time. No sense in risking heart failure over board testing for an internet forum. Thanks for the update nevertheless.

 

[Deceneu]

Still waiting for the game tests ,if they will ever come .