New to overclocking. Seem to be stuck at 2.8GHz - system is running stable at this point, but if I raise the clock beyond this, it will freeze after a while or not post. Tried messing with the voltages but can't get it to run higher - I am sure I am not applying the right combination of volts, timings, etc. The only changes I have made so far are to increase clock to 400 MHz, set 1:1 ratio (FSBRAM), increase DDR2 voltage to 1.9 V from default 1.8V. System is staying cool - CPU idles at 12 C, load at 20C.

Would like to get my rig to 3 - 3.2Ghz which should within the realm of possibility for this board and CPU on air. Please help with suggestions.


Q9300 @ 2.8 GHz (stock volt 1.125V), Abit IP35 Pro (FSB 400 Mhz), Geil DDR2 800 2 x 2GB memory (1:1 DDR2 800, 1.9 V), ZeroTherm BTF90, Antec NeoPower 650, EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB, Lian Li PC-60BPLUSII (2 x 80 mm, 2 x 120 mm case fans).

Try setting the Ram on auto wile you stabilize the CPU? And if you havent changed anything, that means its all on auto? I am not sure about the q9xxx series processor itself, but you do need to do all the basic stuff.

North bridge to 1.45 or so, disable all the spread spectrum junk you can find! Disable the processor options like c1e, vanderpool, disable bit, etc. (Not CPU internal cache!) And then disable whatever you are not using.

(You kinda wanna have everything on stockish while getting the CPU to OC. That way you know what to blame any problems on.) I cant give you VCore requirements because I havent played around with the newer chips, but you'll prolly need to add some, if you kept it on stock.

--Lupi

You cant increase the Clock to 400 Mhz AND set the ram to 1:1 ratio while running @2.8Ghz. That would have left you at 2.8Ghz.

You may want to increase the CPU to 1.3V which is safe and well as increase the NB as mentioned above.

Make sure to lock the PCIe bus to 100MHz.

- PCIe bus is locked at 100 MHz
- RAM is set on auto (By SPD) - and has switched automatically from 4-4-4 timings to 5-5-5 when I moved the clock from 333 MHz to 400 MHz.
- zenmaster, sorry, I did not understand the first line of your comment, is that a typo there?

OK, got it to 2940 MHz stable (420 FSB) - pushed VCore to 1.135V and RAM to 2.0 V, timings on auto, Prime95 went 4 hours with no issues. Then tried 444 MHz FSB with no other changes and Prime95/system froze after 1.5 hours. Any suggestions?

Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to overclock it?

Just curious as to what applications you are looking for help with here, as it's plenty fast enough for most things now.

You do realize that this is a hardware enthusiast forum right? we dont need a reason to OC!

http://processorfinder.intel.com/D [...] Spec=SLAWE

Raise the voltage, 1.135v is very conservative for this chip. Remember also that you get vdroop on most motherbaords, so if you have it set to 1.135v in the bios it may only be getting just over 1v. Get up to a true 1.2v to the processor and you should make your goal, just watch the temps.

He is running a $285.00 processor at the speed of a $609.00 processor for free. Actually faster than the $609.00 processor at stock.

Do you really mean 1.135 or 1.35? If the former, then you have to increase it more. I'm surprised it runs at that speed on that voltage. If the latter, you still might have to bump it up, but it will get hot fast. Either way, RAM voltage should probably be set to 2.0 or 2.1 just to be sure.

Ya got it!!! Why leave money on the table if it can be had, without hurting anyone???? For apps, I do quite some amount of video editing and encoding and OCing definitely helps shave minutes off of long encodes.

The chip is running at 1.135V not 1.35, I will bump it up some more. Should I increase NB and ICH at this time from default? Also, can I enable SpeedStep so I can drop power consumption when idle? Thanks all.

Try reading one of the overclocking guides before asking someone to hold your hand.

Now disable SpeedStep till you finish your OC and get it stable
Then try to enable and see the result
If it became unstable it means you have to disable
Sorry don't know much about this processor but what is the default FSB and Multiplier??