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Mobo for OCing Q6600?

Last response: in Overclocking
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So I currently have the following:

P5N-E SLI
Q6600 @ 2.0 GHz, 6x Multiplier
4GB Ram @ 400 MHz Frequency, 5-5-5-18
512mb GeForce 8800 GT

1000watt PSU
Aftermarket CPU cooler to support overclocking ability
Air cooled case with lots of breathing room


I have heard lots of bad things about the P5N-E SLI with the Q6600 and overclocking. I'm not great at it yet, but I recently starting diving into 1:1 ratios and memory timings. It's sorta confusing. I wanted to overclock my CPU to get from a 2:3 ratio to a 1:1 ratio, while getting the most out of my CPU, since I know you can overclock the Q6600 way up.

Ideas on a good motherboard to support it, or can I continue to run on my P5N-E SLI board? And how much would I need to overclock it to hit that 1:1 ratio? Is that even desired? I don't want to under clock my Ram either, since I know the speed from 1:1 wont match up to the speed lost from under clocking ram.

More about : mobo ocing q6600

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Motherboard Master
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The X6 multiplier is caused by SpeedStep throttling the CPU back during times of light CPU load. You can disable it by going into the BIOS and looking for something called EIST. Disable it.

Because I use Gigabyte motherboards (EP45's), I am unfamiliar with the BIOS options of the various Asus motherboards. Some of the Asus boards are good overclockers. Try your board first.

So here's my "standard" list of overclocking links. Use what you need.

This should be your first stop.
HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - Guide v1.6.1
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overc...

This should be your second stop. You need to know something about thermal management or you can fry your CPU. It's actually kind of difficult to fry a modern CPU, but it is possible.
Core 2 Quad and Duo Temperature Guide
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/221745-29-sticky-core...

Third stop will be a guide for your particular motherboard. Google is your friend.

For anything higher than about 3.0 GHz, you will need better cooling. Here are two under $50 heatsinks that are pretty popular:
Sunbeam
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Xigmatec Dark Knight
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

They both require a somewhat different approach to applying thermal compound.
Suggestions for applying thermal compound:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

And they are pretty large, so they might not fit inside your case.

And here's a good budget cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Go through the first two threads. Do not do anything until you have a good idea about what you are trying to do. Once you have definite questions (you will, you will :) ), come back and ask.

Keep in mind that these are guides, not cookbooks. YMMV. Your Mileage May Vary. Because of all the variables, you may not do as well as someone else with a similar system. Or you might do better.

I am not a proponent of overclocking memory for Core2 systems. Many times, overclocked memory limits the CPU overclock - where the speed really comes from. Here's a thread discussing that:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/251715-29-ratio-myth
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Overclocking since 1978 - Z80 (TRS-80) from 1.77 MHz to 2.01 MHz
 
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