Where to start?! Q6600

[bigbeef2604]

I'm interested in overclocking my Q6600. I posted a simliar thread in the overclocking section but recieved no answers.

I want to overclock my cpu but dont really know where to start. I've read a bit on overclocking but I'm stuck trying to find information on what exact settings to change in the bios for my p35 motherboard.
Here's what I have:

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (S-Series) motherboard
Q6600 B3 stepping (stock cooler - i'll change that)
4 gb ram - (4) 1 gigabyte sticks (2 different manufacturers though - does this matter?)

Can anyone give me specifics on what exactly I should be changing in the bios? What programs to download for the testing if it's stable and temperatures? thanks!
-Ryan

 

[badge]

I'm interested in overclocking my Q6600. I posted a simliar thread in the overclocking section but recieved no answers.

I want to overclock my cpu but dont really know where to start. I've read a bit on overclocking but I'm stuck trying to find information on what exact settings to change in the bios for my p35 motherboard.
Here's what I have:

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (S-Series) motherboard
Q6600 B3 stepping (stock cooler - i'll change that)
4 gb ram - (4) 1 gigabyte sticks (2 different manufacturers though - does this matter?)

Can anyone give me specifics on what exactly I should be changing in the bios? What programs to download for the testing if it's stable and temperatures? thanks!
-Ryan

Sticky at the top of Overclocking forum:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overclock-quads-duals-guide

 

[drumr1829]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overclock-quads-duals-guide

I'd start there. Just get an idea of what you're trying to do. When you adjust frequencies make sure you know that your Front Side Bus (FSB) x your CPU will give you your total processing power. Note that your Q6600 is quad pumped; the rated FSB or QDR (effective Front Side Bus) will be 4 times the processing frequency. Not sure how your mobo post's its frequencies but many people get confused by this...the last thing you'd want to do is set your FSB 4x faster than what you thought you wanted!

Anywho, the Q6600 I believe is stock FSB 266mhz X 9 multiplier giving 2.4 Ghz processing power. The effective FSB since quad pumped is 266 X 4; or 1064mhz. What you'd want to change in overclocking is the 266 number. Since you have the B3 stepping, you may need to change your stock voltage a little bit (very SMALL increments)...once you get closer to 3 Ghz.

Also of note; if you're trying to get a 1:1 ratio with your RAM; DDR is double pumped so if they run at an EFFECTIVE speed of 800 mhz, the real frequency is half that. For instance, what I'm trying to do is a 1:1...

333 mhz for CPU X 9 = 3 Ghz
333 mhz for RAM X 2 = 667 mhz (If you lower your memory from 800 to 667, you can try tighter timings...i.e. 4-4-4-12 instead of 5-5-5-12)

Hope this helps!

 

[drumr1829]

Can anyone give me specifics on what exactly I should be changing in the bios? What programs to download for the testing if it's stable and temperatures? thanks!
-Ryan

Missed this part...

For stability, Prime 95
For temps, Everest Ultimate

OR if you want to stay the free route for monitoring, Speed Fan (not always accurate) and CPU-Z

 

[pogsnet]

Can I ask? Q6600 in stock speed need only DDR2 533Mhz? So if you use DDR2 800Mhz it will drop down to 533Mhz am I right?

Since 1066 is the FSB
1066Mhz / 4 Quad pump = 266 Base
266 Base x 2 DDR multiplier = 533Mhz DDR2 needed, 667Mhz or 800Mhz attainable only in overclocking

Therefore there is no way I could use DDR3 on this processor isnt it?

 

[Grimmy]

Yep. DDR2 533 will run on any @ stock C2D or C2Q 1066 rated FSB.

 

[pogsnet]

Therefore there is no way I could use DDR3 on this processor without under clocking the RAM, isnt it ?

 

[Grimmy]

The bios would automatically do that, depending on the chipset... or in other words, you, yourself wouldn't exactly have to. The only reason for faster memory is to have the room to OC.

Edit:

Although I haven't had a chance to mess with DDR3, or should I say, spend the cash? :lol:

 

[jerseygamer]

I have bought and built Asus systems for years. The main reason I uses Asus MBs and vid cards is because my buyers can literaly click=OC with high amounts of saftey. I highly recomend a high performance Asus MB if you are a new OCer.

 

[Grimmy]

Gah... my MSI has that feature, known as D.O.T. Never did like it (disabled it in the bios), actually had to remove the MSI app in windows, cause I manually OC my system, and it blue screened on me from accidentally clicking on the settings. :lol:. o O (and I could NOT stand the alarm for RPM's being zero)

 

[pogsnet]

Now I get it. Higher RAMs is for OC if I dont OC my Q6600 then I will stick to DDR2-533 or DDR2-800 at the most for a little room ofr a little OC. Is this a nice idea?

 

[m1ddy]

yes, thats the best idea. I am not too sure how the FSB/RAM/divider interact. I.e if you change the divider, will it alter the FSB or the RAM freq to get the right ratio.

Just seems easier to me to use 1:1 I am going to be using 8x400 on my Q6600 G0 to achieve 3.2Ghz. I just got my therm ultra 120 in the post yesterday

 

[bobbknight]

MEH, wrong forum, and look at the overclocker sticky.

 

[jitpublisher]

You can overclock the processor as much as you want without changing your RAM, you just have adjust the speed divider for the RAM to a higher ratio (meaning lower initial speed) as you raise the front side buss to keep your memory running within specs.

 

[pogsnet]

Ok thanks I am helping a friend who wants to build a Q6600 rig this christmas. He was fascinated with DDR3 or any of the fast RAMs yet I have known just now even though the motherboard support it but the processor cannot so it is useless buying an X38 or soon X48 for Q6600 just to run in stock speed.