I may have a bad chip I'm not sure, then again I am new to OCing so maybe you guys can help me.
 
CPU: 2160 1.8 ghz intel dc
MOBO: p35-ds3L
PSU/TOWER: antec nsk4480b with a 120mm fan on back and a mastercooler tx fan on the chip. 380 watt PSU came with the tower
RAM: 2 sticks of 512 ddr2 pc2-6400
 
at factory settings both chips idle around 35-37. when i run a prime95 inplace large FFT they run around 45-50. my case is open right now, the coverings are off to the side.
 
I turned off:
 
smart fan
EIST
TM2
C1E
 
I keep the PCI express frequency at 100
CIA2 disabled  
Performance Enhance on turbo.
 
Now aside from:
CPU clock ratio
CPU host frequency
system mem multiplier
 
DRAM timings (at factory mine reads with cpuz 5-5-5-18 with a 1:2 FSB: DRAM)
 
and adjusting the system Voltage on the
 
DDR2
PCI-E
FSB
(G)MCH
CPU
 
is there anything else i should be tweaking in the bios? I can't seem to get my chip to boost at all.
 
I've read the sticky on OCing and I think I have a general idea how to approach the bios, but I really need someone to simplify it all. I get a feeling I'm missing something small but important in that people don't hint at when they generally converse about OCing because it should be common sense. If anyone has some helpful advice they learned while they were first starting off it would be immensely appreciated.
 
When I tried boosting my FSB from the factory 200 just up to 250 my memory timings and fsb : dram skyrocketed. is this normal? by manually adjusting the timings and upping the voltage on DDR2/FSB/MCH//CPU can i get it back down? Because OCing is new to me I'm awfully timid about experimenting. I'm trying to get a solid concept of how to balance out the voltages vs upping the FSB/Multiplier.

Your RAM should be going up in mhz, since your fsb is linked to it.  And since your RAM is 6400 it'll be underclocked all the way up until your cpu fsb is 400mhz.  You should be able to manually set your RAM's timings, set it to the rated values and voltage.
 
I think your probably good to have your FSB and MCU voltage set to auto.
 
Upping your fsb 50 all at once is a large jump.  Try backing it off bit by bit until it boots up.  At this point you can up the cpu voltage and attempt to push the cpu further.  A safe max voltage for your processor is, i think, 1.4 it may be 1.5v. But go with 1.4v MAX until your 100% sure it's safe to go further.
 
Also watch your temps.  Just because you can put 1.5v through it doesn't mean it'll stay within thermal limits.  Also depends on your Stepping, see below.
 
M0 Stepping temp should be below 75C at 100% load.
 
Scale 1: Duo
E4x00: Tcase Max 73c, Stepping M0
E2xx0: Tcase Max 73c, Stepping M0
E8x00: Tcase Max 72c, Stepping C0
E8x90: Tcase Max 72c, Stepping C0
E6x50: Tcase Max 72c, Stepping G0
E6540: Tcase Max 72c, Stepping G0
 
-Tcase/Tjunction-
--70--/--75--75-- Hot
--65--/--70--70-- Warm
--60--/--65--65-- Safe
--25--/--30--30-- Cool  
 
L2 Stepping temp should be below 65C at 100% load.
 
Scale 5: Duo
E6x00: Tcase Max 61c, Stepping L2
E4x00: Tcase Max 61c, Stepping L2
E21x0: Tcase Max 61c, Stepping L2
X6800: Tcase Max 60c, Stepping B2
E6x00: Tcase Max 60c, Stepping B2
E6x20: Tcase Max 60c, Stepping B2
 
-Tcase/Tjunction-
--60--/--65--65-- Hot
--55--/--60--60-- Warm
--50--/--55--55-- Safe
--25--/--30--30-- Cool
 
Charts courtesy  of CompuTronix  
 
Hope this helps

i got the FSB up to 225 from the stock 200. the timings are 5-5-5-18 and the system voltage is on auto.
 
I tried going up to 230, but the machine wouldnt past  POST. I tried manually upping the voltages on FSB and MCH, still wasnt stable.  
 
any suggestions? at this point im not sure how to go about tweaking.

You never mentioned a graphics card, are you using one?  If so which one?
 
Reason being is your PSU is likely the culprit.  It probably not capable of supplying the current you need.

my graphics is a 8800gs xfx card, pcie 16x,the same PSU and setup as the 500$ gaming rig
 

turn performance enhance to normal instead of turbo.

no luck, still cant clock the thing past 230 FSB.

Don't let the mobo automatically do the RAM settings for you.  Change Dram/FSB ratio to 1:1, timings at 5-5-5-15 (have to hit CTRL F1 or shift F1 in the main bios screen to access memory timing settings).  leave it there so you're not hitting a RAM bottleneck.  Once you've got a stable overclock, you can go back and start messing with RAM speed/timings.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] cking-ds3l
 
This guide is specifically for your board.  I have the same board and chip and this guide got me to 333FSBx9 so far which puts me @ 3ghz.  I'm shooting for 400FSB x8 for a 3.2 ghz final overclock but im not ther quite yet.
 
And jeremyrailton is right, make sure you set performance enhance to normal or standard in stead of turbo.

you guys rock the house, muchos appreciation

::Looks around in wonder!::

one last question then i can lay this thread to rest, is it better to have a closer ram ratio to 1:1 or lower timings? im currently running at 5-5-5-12 with a 5:6 ratio OCed at 3 ghz (that guide you posted rfatch answered all my questions ) is that a good ram setup?

You mean run the memory faster or lower the timings instead? Many people say 1:1 offers the best performance, and lowering the timings to a minimum should increase performance. However, no matter what settings you use, the difference in real world performance is minimal.

so the timings and the ratio are two seperate entities of efficency? how do i modify the ratio? do you think that 4 4 4 12 is as fast as 5 5 5 12 or at least not that much faster? same Q with the 1:1 vs the 5:6?