Q6600 won't post after 3.2Ghz

[nemesis75]

Hi this is my first post in this forum and I wanted to ask a couple of questions. I have overclocked my Q6600 (GO) to 3.2 ghz(8X400). I tried to overclock to 3.4ghz and when i save my settings in the BIOS I get a black screen and the code A0. But if i turn on the PC it will boot up sometimes. I was wondering if this has to do with the voltages? I had the core at 1.46 in Bios. Also i ran Prime95 (small FFt's) and my temperatures under 100% load were 80-85C for all cores. Is this safe for stress testing?
My Specs:
Q6600 GO, 780i Mobo, Thermaltake Maxorb hsf, 4gb Corsair XMS2 PC2 6400

Let me know if you need anything else. Thank you in advance.

EDIT: I noticed that on core Temp that Core #1 and Core#3 are both always lower than the other 2 usually 5 or more C. Is this normal? And do you know if that cooler will fit an Apevia x-Jupiter Full Tower Case?

 

[dagger]

85C is bad. Thermal threshold is 71C, you need to keep it below that. As for oc, use 9x multiplier instead. Your 780i chipset runs at 1333mhz fsb natively, and reliably oc to 1600mhz (3.2@8x, 3.6@9x). It's possible to go above that, but it's hit or miss, so don't count on it. Your ram is also ddr2 800mhz, which means 2x400 -> 4x400 (1600mhz fsb). Above 1600mhz fsb means ocing the ram, which may not work.

 

[doomturkey]

I suggest a new cooler... As dagger said, 85C is way too high.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
Keeps my G0 Q6600 under 60C full load @ 3.6ghz

 

[edwilson]

I hope you have not done permanent damage to your CPU!?!?! DO NOT run anything but stock speeds until you getting your cooling issue resolved

mine runs @ 400x9=3.6 ghz --- temps 37c idle / 60c full using a zalman 9700

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118020&Tpk=Zalman%209700

 

[jeremyrailton]

too hot, plus you're not guaranteed to get above 3.2 even with good cooling. I've had two q6600s. one did 3.6 no sweat, the other couldn't go past 3.2, both under the ziggy cooler

 

[V3NOM]

OH! how rude of you all not to welcome a stranger to the forums

Welcome to the forums! We hope you enjoy your stay, please buckle in for safety!

on a more serious not :lol:, do you see an option on that 780i for a half multi? eg 7.5x? i would realllllllllllllly like to know if that's possible on a Q6600 on an nforce 7 series

 

[knotknut]

Other than with speed step how do you get the Q6600 to have anything other than the locked in 9X multiplier?

 

[dagger]

Other than with speed step how do you get the Q6600 to have anything other than the locked in 9X multiplier?

You set it to 8x in bios? Lock only means it doesn't go higher.

 

[metalweenis]

The key to having lower temps and more stability is raising your other volts in the bios(NB,FSB,DRAM). They will let you bring that vcore down a lot which makes your temps a lot better. 3.2ghz is not hard to hit.