Tuning this Q6600

[karm100fists]

Here is the build:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100244L Radeon HD 4850 512MB
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
Case: LIAN LI Lancool
HDD: (X2) Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200

* For some reason, when I built it I could not get the computer to boot from one of these drives so I added an old drive and loaded the OS onto it. It runs ok but I would rather run off of the newer faster drives.

Here are the questions:
Should I try to run the OS in raid off of both drives together to increase the data rate/load times/etc?
Are there any bios settings that I need to change?
Should I try overclocking (dust is definitely an issue but I have a couple big 120mm case fans and the stock CPU heatsink seems fine)?

I enjoy gaming, but my main concern right now is speed and stability.

Thanks for any advice...

As a quick benchmark my Windows Experience Index reads as follows:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 7.1 5.1
Determined by lowest subscore

Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB 7.1
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series 7.3
Gaming graphics 2303 MB Total available graphics memory 7.3
Primary hard disk 80GB Free (114GB Total) 5.1

I will download 3dMark when I get a chance to benchmark some more.

 

[jimbo21]

Well first, have you set the boot device settings in the bios to boot the the Caviar? and if so, the right one? The P5Q family has a weird boot setting, you must set one hard drive as the main one and then set that as the boot device. And as far as raid, that will not help at all if you cannot boot to the device.

And speaking of overclocking, as a Q6600 owner myself I saw a massive upgrade in performance when i overclocked mine. As of now its at 3.6ghz and stable, my roommate recently upgraded to an i7 920, and with that at stock I can keep right up with it. So I would say yes to overclocking, as long as you have a good heatsink/fan since you never mentioned it in your post.

 

[lindley010]

Well first, have you set the boot device settings in the bios to boot the the Caviar? and if so, the right one? The P5Q family has a weird boot setting, you must set one hard drive as the main one and then set that as the boot device. And as far as raid, that will not help at all if you cannot boot to the device.

And speaking of overclocking, as a Q6600 owner myself I saw a massive upgrade in performance when i overclocked mine. As of now its at 3.6ghz and stable, my roommate recently upgraded to an i7 920, and with that at stock I can keep right up with it. So I would say yes to overclocking, as long as you have a good heatsink/fan since you never mentioned it in your post.

What did you use to overclock the Q6600? And what are your current temps in idle & while playing games?

Btw to the Karm, i would check the bios, make sure the boot order is correct etc, then install an OS to it. I'd stay off the raid my self, use one for a storage drive while the other as your main drive.

 

[jack_attack]

1. Run those puppies in RAID0.
2. Overclock that CPU after you buy a better cooler. They run warm to begin with, but if it's a G0, you should be able to see 3.2-3.6 relatively easy.

 

[karm100fists]

Cool, I think that I will do that once I have time to back up my data to an external. I've always enjoyed having a storage and a main drive so I may get a third drive for media/storage.

 

[lindley010]

Externals shouldn't used as storage drives if u frequently use that data, such as music, movies etc. Thats why i replaced my 1tb external with a 1tb samgsung F2 drive. much quicker, and less chances of failure. So yeah, get a 3rd.

 

[jack_attack]

Once you see the benefits of RAID0, you'll forget about that.

 

[coldsleep]

Once you see the benefits of RAID0, you'll forget about that.

Until you lose all of your data when one drive fails.

I mean, go ahead and set up RAID 0, just make sure that you have proper backups so that you don't lose anything. Getting some sort of image so you can quickly reinstall would be helpful too.

 

[lindley010]

Until you lose all of your data when one drive fails.

I mean, go ahead and set up RAID 0, just make sure that you have proper backups so that you don't lose anything. Getting some sort of image so you can quickly reinstall would be helpful too.

your been over paranoid.

Ive never had a Internal HDD fail on me(in around 9 years). The chances are even if he didnt have it in raid, the one that failed would be his OS drive, which would mean just as much loss as in RAID.

Data such as movies, music and important files should be backed to a external harddrive anyway, raid or no raid.

 

[jack_attack]

Drive quality is an important factor. Just like lindley, I've had drives last a long time, +8 years. You get what you pay for. This mediocre Seagate has been active 24/7 for the past +3 years, still going strong. It's never advised to put critical data on a RAID0 setup, a sleepy internal is nice for a good image.

 

[Wolfshadw]

your been over paranoid.

Ive never had a Internal HDD fail on me(in around 9 years). The chances are even if he didnt have it in raid, the one that failed would be his OS drive, which would mean just as much loss as in RAID.

Data such as movies, music and important files should be backed to a external harddrive anyway, raid or no raid.

As I've had exactly one internal HDD fail on me (in around 13 years), and considering that it held all my media files, I'd say he's NOT being overly paranoid.

-Wolf sends

P.S. I now have my media backed up to my server (and an external).

 

[lindley010]

As I've had one internal HDD fail on me (in around 13 years), and considering that it held all my media files, I'd say he's NOT being overly paranoid.

-Wolf sends

P.S. I now have my media backed up to my server (and an external).

exctactly, 1 in 13 years.
me, 0 in 9 years.

THe chances of internal HDD failure is very low.

however in the last 4-5 years, ive had 4 externals fail on me.

although like i already said, all media fils & important files should be backed up to a external or other HDD.

 

[jimbo21]

What did you use to overclock the Q6600? And what are your current temps in idle & while playing games?

Btw to the Karm, i would check the bios, make sure the boot order is correct etc, then install an OS to it. I'd stay off the raid my self, use one for a storage drive while the other as your main drive.

Confused on the wording but I use the bios haha. If you are speaking of coolers I have the CM Hyper N520 and love it. As we speak my CPU is 25 degrees, in Prime 95 for 3 hrs gets up to ~61. Never had a problem with overclocking the good old Q6600.

 

[jsc]

I've had two of my internals fail in 18 years. I have seen about half a dozen of other peoples' drives fail in that time also.

You can usually run a G0 Q6600 at 3.0 GHz with the stock cooler if you take care not to overclock your RAM will you are at it. A G0 Q6600 will nearly always run at 3.3 GHz with practically any better than stock cooler. Anything higher will take serious air cooling.

 

[lindley010]

I've had two of my internals fail in 18 years. I have seen about half a dozen of other peoples' drives fail in that time also.

You can usually run a G0 Q6600 at 3.0 GHz with the stock cooler if you take care not to overclock your RAM will you are at it. A G0 Q6600 will nearly always run at 3.3 GHz with practically any better than stock cooler. Anything higher will take serious air cooling.

I have artic pro freezer 7, so i think mine should manage 3ghz. ill mess about in the bios when i get round to it, until then ill find some overclocking threads for advice.

 

[jack_attack]

I'm on an ACF7 too @ 3.4Ghz. At 400x8, she peaks around 54C, at 380x9, around 60C.