OC pro's - please confirm settings please =)

* Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 – E0 Stepping
* CPU Cooler: Xigmatek Red Scorpion S1283 w/Crossbow Backplate
* Motherboard: Asus P5Q-E
* Bios Version: 1901
* Memory: Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX - EPP: 4-4-4-12-2T (2.1V)
* Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB
* Power Supply: Corsair HX620W Modular Power Supply
* O/S: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit

Goal – To overclock to 3.8GHz (1600 FSB) with the best settings.

Note 1 – This is my first overclock, but I have read up on many how to guides and tutorials. I would like if you pros’ could look over each setting and see if all is good to go.

Note 2 – Below are the first changes I have done from default, I ran Prime95 for 6 hours, no errors. So now I will be ‘fine tuning’, but I have a few questions.

Note 3 – CPU idle temps are 26-29ºC --- load temps are 43-46ºC


Questions :
1. I set the Vcore to 1.30000 to start with and the NB voltage to 1.20 – I’m going to assume that my overall goal is to get the Vcore as low as I can stable, then bump it up 2 notches, then proceed to get the NB voltage to as close to 1.12 as possible ? -- I read a guide that said to put the NB voltage on 1.12 and not lowest since P5Q mobo’s have weird bug with being set on lowest setting , so always best to one above. (lowest is 1.10)

2. After I do get the Vcore and the NB voltage to the ‘perfect stable’ settings, do I want to [Enable] any of the features that are currently [Disabled] ?

Below are some screenshots (pictures) of CPUZ/RealTemp/HWMonitor etc for the settings below.








Ai Tweaker (tab)

Ai Overclock Tuner .............................. [Manual]
CPU Ratio Setting ................................ [09.5]
FSB Frequency .................................... [400]
PCIE Frequency ................................... [100]
FSB Strap to North Bridge ..................... [Auto]
DRAM Frequency ................................. [DDR2-801MHz]
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A1........... [Auto]
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel A2........... [Auto]
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B1........... [Auto]
DRAM CLK Skew on Channel B2........... [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control............................ [Manual]
*** 1st Information : 4-4-4-12-3-52-6-3
CAS# Latency............................... [4 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay........... [4 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# Precharge.................. [4 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precha...... [12 DRAM Clocks]
RAS# to RAS# Delay...................... [Auto]
Row Refresh Cycle Time................. [Auto]
Write Recovery Time...................... [Auto]
Read to Precharge Time................ [Auto]
*** 2nd Information : 8-3-5-4-6-4-7
READ to WRITE Delay (S/D)........... [Auto]
Write to Read Delay (S)................. [Auto]
WRITE to READ Delay (D).............. [Auto]
READ to READ Delay (S)................. [Auto]
READ to READ Delay (D)................ [Auto]
WRITE to WRITE Delay (S)............. [Auto]
WRITE to WRITE Delay (D)............ [Auto]
*** 3rd Information : 13-5-1-5-5
WRITE to PRE Delay...................... [Auto]
READ to PRE Delay........................ [Auto]
PRE to PRE Delay.......................... [Auto]
ALL PRE to ACT Delay.................... [Auto]
ALL PRE TO REF Delay................... [Auto]
DRAM Static Read Control..................... [Auto]
DRAM Read Training.............................. [Auto]
MEM. OC Charger.................................. [Auto]
Ai Clock Twister..................................... [Auto]
Ai Transaction Booster.......................... [Auto]
*** C/P : A1 A2 A3 A4 | B1 B2 B3 B4
*** LVL : 12 12 12 12 | 12 12 12 12

******** Please key in numbers directly! ********
CPU Voltage.......................................... [1.30000]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2).......... [Auto]
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3).......... [Auto]
CPU PLL Voltage.................................... [1.52]
FSB Termination Voltage........................ [1.12]
DRAM Voltage........................................ [2.10]
NB Voltage............................................. [1.20]
NB GTL Reference.................................. [Auto]
SB Voltage............................................. [Auto]
PCIE SATA Voltage................................. [Auto]
*************************************************
Load-Line Calibration............................ [Enabled]
CPU Spread Spectrum........................... [Disabled]
PCIE Spread Spectrum.......................... [Disabled]
CPU Clock Skew.................................... [Auto]
NB Clock Skew....................................... [Auto]
CPU Margin Enhancement..................... [Performance Mode]


Advanced (tab)

Configure advanced CPU settings
-----------------------------------------------
CPU Ratio Setting................................. [09.5]
C1E Support......................................... [Disabled]
Max CPUID Value Limit......................... [Disabled]
Intel(R) Virtualization Tech................... [Disabled]
CPU TM Function.................................. [Disabled]
Execute Disable Bit.............................. [Disabled]


Final Note - Sorry about the wierd look, it looks great on Word 2007, i guess the dots and spaces dont convert to the forums very well =(