Pushing my q6600 to 3.8, How?

[syp34892]

hi everybody, this is my first post here.
I apologize for my bad english.
p.s > im a nub in overclocking

My specs:
Core 2 Quad 6600
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35 (something...)
GPU: Zotac geForce 9800 GT
Fan#1 CPU: Zalman 9700 Led
Fan#2 (back case): 12mm Backfan.
Ram: 1GB x 4 (667hz)

i currently overclocked it to 3.0 and my temperature in 100% usage is around:
45c (core / cpus x 4) (if i remember correcly - im writing this not from home ..) - temperatures with everest.
should i mesure it with something else

i really whanna push my cpu further.
how far do you think i can push it with those specs..?

can you post what setting should i use for the option you present
as in (fsb / volt / etc..).

should i put extra cooling? or i shouldn't push my cpu that far..
how far can you push a q6600 with air cooling... (no wierd stuff - aka nitro cooling / water / etc...)

thanks alot !!!! in advance.

 

[blackpanther26]

I think the Q6600 GO stepping can do 3.6GHz on air. not sure about any more head room as I have the Q9650 which can hit 4GHz on air.

 

[syp34892]

im a 3d artist, so clean render power is really important to me..
im testing my system stability with s&m software... is there any better way?

what is VID (video card?) ... again ... this is not for games (generally)
btw my ddr is II (forgot to mention)
should i add another fan on my gpu? etc?
i really whana push it at least to a 3.6

 

[jsc]

VID is the "stock" voltage that the CPU programs the switching regulator on the motherboard to provide. Lower is better.

Your RAM is the limiting factor right now. DDR2-667 will take you to a 333 MHz FSB which means 3.0 GHz.

This should be your first stop.
Core2 Overclocking Guide
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/259899-11-core-overclocking-guide

Shadow's Gigabyte motherboard OC guide:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/page-245679_11_0.html
It's for an EP35-DS3L but all the Gigabyte Core2 BIOS's are similar.

Go through the guides. Then take your core voltage off Auto and set your memory voltage to factory recommended values. Change the System Memory Multiplier from AUTO to 2.00, 2.00B, or 2.00D - whichever you need to set the Memory Frequency to twice the FSB. Then when you increase the FSB, the memory clock will rise in in proportion with it. At an FSB of 266 MHz, your memory clock should be at 533 MHz.

Download CPU-Z to check your FSB:RAM ratio. It should be a 1:1 ratio.

You may be able to push a little farther by tinkering with the memory settings. Set the RAM voltage to 2.2 volts and relax the memory timings from 4-4-4-12 to 5-5-5-15 or 5's-15 to 6's-18. That should let you push your memory a little farther.

The odds of hitting 3.8 GHz with stability are very small. Prime95 is popular for stress testing.

If this is a working system, stability will be more important than if it were a hobby system.

 

[Lunarii]

Hey, I also have a question related to OC Q6600. I got mine runing 3200 mhz stable on 1.375 V. I cant get much more, even if i increase voltage. I've been told i should do slight voltage increase of other components. For example i can manipulate ICH voltage in bios, but im worried changing values could damage my SSD drive? What you think?

 

[syp34892]

if i buy 4gb (2x 2GB) of 1066hz ram.....how far can i push it..?

 

[4745454b]

Lunarii, you didn't provide nearly enough info for us to even guess what the problem is. It might not even be a voltage problem, read below.

Syp34892, buying faster ram isn't going to guarantee you a higher overclock. Lets say you wanted to hit 3.6GHz. Thats a 400MHz FSB x 9 CPU multiplier. You said you had 667MHz ram. 400 x 2 = 800 which is higher then the 667MHz you have. In this case not only are you OCing your CPU but your ram as well. By reducing the parts your OCing the greater your odds of success. (Lunarii, this is why I said it might not even be a voltage problem.)

You only need to buy 1066 if your planing on pushing your FSB up to 533. 400-450MHz is fine for most people. You'll also have better luck hitting 3.6+ if you have a G0 stepping CPU.

 

[syp34892]

my stepping i G0, and i understood from several people that 1066 is a bit problematic
and it has some compatibility issues..

my first main question is, should i buy myself ram with 800hz memory?
(my current ratio is 1:1 on 677hz)

 

[MRFS]

pay attention to what JSC wrote above.

If I were trying this, I would set an interim goal of 3.6 GHz initially.

3600 MHz / 9 multiplier = 400 MHz Bus Speed (using CPU-Z nomenclature)

This will call for a DRAM Frequency = 400 MHz (also using CPU-Z nomenclature)
in order to reach a 1 : 1 FSB : DRAM ratio (using CPU-Z nomenclature).

With DDR2 (double data rate RAM), 400 MHz DRAM Frequency = DDR2-800

So, right off, your 667 RAM is too slow at stock speeds.


Secondly, 4 x DIMMs put more stress on the Northbridge than 2 x DIMMs;
and, as a general rule, overclocking 4 x DIMMs is much more risky.

I'd strongly suggest that you upgrade to 2 x 2GB DDR2-8500 DIMMs,
and then start over e.g. we recommend Corsair:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145247&Tpk=N82E16820145247
(5-6-6-18)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145215&Tpk=N82E16820145215
(5-5-5-15) <--- recommended


If you succeed in reaching the interim goal as described above,
then you can try to tweak your settings a little more to reach 3.8.


MRFS

 

[MRFS]

> if i buy 4gb (2x 2GB) of 1066hz ram.....how far can i push it..?

Give us the full model number of your motherboard,
and we can try to find that motherboard's User Manual.


RTFM (Read The "F"ine Manual -- not always "F"ine, however


MRFS

 

[MRFS]

I found this P35 chipset diagram at the SuperMicro website for their C2SBE motherboard:

http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Core2Duo/P35/C2SBE.cfm

Note that the max RAM is 800, but the max FSB is only 1333 (NOT 1600).

So, the BIOS and chipset on your P35 machine may not permit
a Bus Speed of 400 MHz (Rated FSB = 1600).


What does your motherboard User Manual say about these items, please?


p.s. If you prefer Gigabyte, the P45 chipset supports a stock FSB = 1600 e.g.:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128433&Tpk=N82E16813128433


Under "Details" find:

FSB 1600/1333/1066/800


The beauty of the P45 chipset was that it supported a stock 1 : 1 FSB : DRAM ratio
at raw clock speeds of 400 MHz for RAM and the front-side bus i.e.:

400 MHz Bus Speed x 4 (quad-pumped) = 1600 MHz Rated FSB
400 MHz DRAM Frequency x 2 (double data rate) = DDR2-800


MRFS

 

[MRFS]

GUIDE: Overclocking On EP/P35-DS3L v1.3.1 [UPDATED: 10/2/2008]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=29&post=245679&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=3&trash=&trash_post=&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0#t1742852


MRFS

 

[syp34892]

1) thanks a lot for your help guys
and yes, im gonna buy 2x 2gb of 800hz ram ...
and i think 3.6 is enough for me

 

[MRFS]

See if you can find a quality P45 motherboard somewhere:

this ASUS P5Q Deluxe is no longer in stock at Newegg,
but it has a really robust chipset and excellent BIOS features
and was very stable for its time e.g. with Core 2 Duo CPUs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131297


The Intel P45 chipset was the last one for the LGA-775 socket,
just before the Core i7 LGA-1366 socket came along,
followed later by the LGA-1156 socket.


Maybe eBay?

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=%22ASUS+P5Q+Deluxe%22&_sacat=58058


MRFS

 

[MRFS]

Google overclocking +ASUS +"P5Q Deluxe" +Q6600

... finds 45,600 entries as of today


MRFS

 

[jsc]

My Gigabyte EP35-DS3P motherboard will run at 400 MHz FSB freq, but not all P35's will.

Anything over 3.3 GHz is going to require a really good cooler.