ASUS P5Q w/ Q9550 and HyperX RAM

MultiCofy · Sep 6, 2014

So, I've got this 6yr old rig that I decided to clock. I've bought myself a CoolerMaster TX2 cooler (got it pretty cheap, seemed like a decent start for non-stock OC cooling) and decided to get under way.

So far, I've managed an FSB speed of 420MHz with a multiplier of 8.5 coming in at about 3.6GHz total. I've ran the IBT for 10 cycles (standard), system seems stable, moving on to a lengthy prime95 test (I've been told 10-12hrs should do it). My current voltage is 1.175 (CPU-Z shows 1.168). Also, FSB to DRAM Frequency is on a 1:1 scale atm.

The complete rig I have is the following:
PSU - Chieftec 550W (not sure on the exact model, can be provided if necessary)
Motherboard - ASUS P5Q
CPU - Intel's Core2Quad Q9550
RAM - 2x2GB Kingston 800MHz + 2x2GB Kingston HyperX 1066MHz (All DDR2)
GPU - MSI's nVidia GTX560Ti
I think I about listed it all, have I?

As for RAM - the 800MHz ones are on a 6-6-6-18 clocks by default, so I had to up the HyperXs as well to the same clock. Also, when I had only the 2xHyperXs, I couldn't manage to "OC" them to the specs that manufacturer says they work on (1066MHz, 5-5-5-15), but was instead left with a default setting of 800MHz and 5-5-5-18.

I'm new to overclocking and wish to learn more about it and other PC stuff, so I'm sorry with the number of questions and if they seem noobish. Anyways, the questions I have are as follows:

1) With the current PSU, how much can I actually push the CPU's overclock without it using up all the power the PSU provides (I'm totally oblivious when it comes to PSUs and power management)

2) What would be considered the safe temperatures of the current overclock (my hottest core is maxing at 76°C on the IBT and 73°C on Prime95 - using CoreTemp and RealTemp for the measurements)?

3) Does RAM usage affect CPU performance? I've noticed that when I use IBT I get about 5-6°C higher temps than using Prime95.

4) How can SB and NB voltage affect the temperatures (can they at all)?

5) Difference between my hottest and coolest core (Core #0 and Core #3) is 10°C+/-2°C - is that considered normal?

6) I've just recently upgraded to the GTX560Ti (from GTS250) and I was wondering whether it can cause some issues with the PSU and whether or not the CPU is bottlenecking the GPU?

7) Does anyone have an idea what I might be doing wrong about the RAM (the HyperXs ones, in particular), since I can't clock them to manufacturer's guaranteed settings?

I appreciate and thank anyone with enough time and patience to answer my questions, you're awesome

~Phil

drtweak · Sep 6, 2014

My old rig which I just upgraded last week was similar. ASUS P5N-D, Q9550 had it at at stable over clock of 3.5 GHZ (Don't remember Voltage) Ram i didn't over clock much. I just messed with the Ratio settings and it came out to be like 825 mhz on my 800 mhz ram. I have two dual channel kits that aren't the same timings so i didn't want to really overclock them. When i had my E6600 i had it over clocked to 900 mhz though.

MultiCofy :

1) With the current PSU, how much can I actually push the CPU's overclock without it using up all the power the PSU provides (I'm totally oblivious when it comes to PSUs and power management)

For the CPU the PSU as far as using watts go don't matter as much. These are 95 watt CPU's so the do use some power compared to new CPU's but upping the voltage by a few hundred millivolts is not going to affect the overall load on your PSU that much.

2) What would be considered the safe temperatures of the current overclock (my hottest core is maxing at 76°C on the IBT and 73°C on Prime95 - using CoreTemp and RealTemp for the measurements)?

I had a Zalman 9500 Cooler which is all Copper and at my 3.5 GHZ I was seeing 65 max? mid 70's is hot but for the amount of overclocking not so much. if it gets in the 80s then you need to start to worry. My FX-8320 Over clocked to 4Ghz with a Corsair H100i Cooler never gets above 45 on a maxed out load of Prime 95 for 4 hours. So may want to get a water cooler or a better fan.

3) Does RAM usage affect CPU performance? I've noticed that when I use IBT I get about 5-6°C higher temps than using Prime95.

It can but it would affect the newer Core i Series even more because the Memory Controller is on the CPU. In our case its the North Bridge. It could just be the program though and how it stresses the CPU.

4) How can SB and NB voltage affect the temperatures (can they at all)?

Yes. Increasing Voltage to ANYTHING means it will use more Watts and make more heat. Only up the NB/SB Voltage if you have to. I know i upped my NB voltage a bit to get my stable 3.5 Ghz. I never touched the south bridge

5) Difference between my hottest and coolest core (Core #0 and Core #3) is 10°C+/-2°C - is that considered normal?

I noticed that on my Q9550 there was usually a 5-8 C difference between the two sets of cores. and if you look around most people will tell you the same thing.

6) I've just recently upgraded to the GTX560Ti (from GTS250) and I was wondering whether it can cause some issues with the PSU and whether or not the CPU is bottlenecking the GPU?

I have a GTX 480. With the Q9550 I was able to play Crysis 3 on High Detail with minimal Lag. Not sure what my FPS was there.

7) Does anyone have an idea what I might be doing wrong about the RAM (the HyperXs ones, in particular), since I can't clock them to manufacturer's guaranteed settings?

Ram is more tricky in my opinion than CPU's to over clock because of the timings. Sometimes the motherboard may not take the ram at that speed and timings. Also when some people over clock ram (But in you case the ram isn't really being over clocked but you do have to push the motherboard and memory controller faster than what they are rated) you need to increase the timings some times but when it comes to over clocking ram i'm not an expert. I just had good expereices over clocking my old P4 3.2 to 3.8 Ghz, my E4600 2.4 to 3.0 E6600 from 2.4 to 3.0 a Q6600 2.4 to 2.8 Q9550 2.83 to 3.5 and my FX-8320 from the stock 3.5, turbo of 3.7 to a solid 4.0 (want to go higher just i've only had the thing for a week now and no time)

MultiCofy · Sep 6, 2014

drtweak :

2) What cooler would you recommend? (my budget is around 40€)

4) My NB and SB voltages are currently on auto and my CPU's pretty stable. I'm just wondering if I put in manual voltages whether I'll get lower CPU temps.

6) So I'll take that as a no

7) Well, I'm thinking of pushing higher on the FSB and I'd like to keep the 1:1 ratio but the RAM is holding me back, in a sense that I'm only on 800MHz of RAM. So, if I take the 2x800MHz modules out and up the timing of the other two 1066MHz RAMs (to, say, 6-6-6-18 - as they are now), I'd be able to push the FSB up to a max of 533MHz, with proper cooling ofc? (though I doubt I'll even get that high but I still want to go over the 420ish MHz FSB mark)

EDIT: How inconsiderate of me - thanks for replying mate

drtweak · Sep 6, 2014

Not sure on what the price is for coolers in Euro's. In the US Here. But I like the Zalman All Copper stuff but that's just me. I would look around a bit more for some reviews. Just be careful but a lot of coolers don't support the 775 socket as much anymore. I know a lot of closed looped water cooling done.

No upping any voltage will ALWAYS increase temp not lower it. If you have a stable over clock without upping the NB/SB Voltage leave it.

Yup. I mean higher end cards it will bottleneck but to begin with the games that would bottle neck you or the graphics it would be the CPU holding you back to begin with and not much you can do with that since there is only one or two CPU's you can get that is better than what you got.

Yea if you put in 1066 mhz ram (Though you had that. Must have read it wrong) then you should be able to not worry about the RAM when over clocking since for the most part you probably won't max the RAM Speed out with out changing the 1:1 ration (I think i had a 3:2 or something like that to get me my 825) may have to give the Ram a higher ratio that the CPU honestly but not sure. Pushing a 533 FBS is a big deal from the 333 stock FSB.

MultiCofy · Sep 6, 2014

drtweak :

I do have what the manufacturer says is a 1066MHz RAM. However, those get shipped with a default setting of 800MHz and 5-5-5-18 clocks with the option of going for 1066MHz with 5-5-5-15 clocks (must be done by the end user). What I said was that I can't seem to get a stable RAM memory while doing that.

Again, thanks for your time

drtweak · Sep 6, 2014

yea i would try loosing up the timings. the 5-5-5-15 might be too tight for your system and overclocking. Not sure what ya should make them though.

and good lol i didn't read it wrong then lol

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ASUS P5Q w/ Q9550 and HyperX RAM

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MultiCofy

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