Intel Q9400 CORE 2 QUAD. Wont overclock.

[roobbaayy]

Hi all.
My current setup is:
Intel Q9400 @ 2.66GHz. -- WITH STOCK FAN.
16GB DDR3 1333MHz.
ATi 4650 HD 1GB DDR2 :\
500 GB Sata drive.
ASUS P5P43TD-PRO.

So with this setup i am unable to overclock at all. Ive tried a lot but no luck. Even if i overclock from 2.66 to 2.8ghz or 2.9ghz it will crash after 10 minutes. Not very stable. Also if i overclock , will i lose my custom DRAM Timing (CAS/RAS etc.) because this makes the memory work. Could it be voltages ? Could it be the fan? My fan isnt going over 1950 rpm with Prime95 going.
PS. Im trying to overclock CPU not memory

-Roberto

 

[steddora]

Stock cooler = Poo. That's the biggest problem there. I had a Q6600 for a few months; that thing wouldn't overclock to 2.66Ghz stable with a halfway decent Zalman. You need to get CPUID and watch the temperatures on the chip. It's most likely overheating and crashing out. My personal motto, Stock cooling means stock speeds.

 

[roobbaayy]

My Core temps vary from 75°c to 85°c whilst fan from 1800rpm to 2000rpm.
do you reckon this will do the job? http://www.coolermaster.com.au/product.php?product_id=5279

 

[steddora]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

The hyper 212 is a better cooler; just bear in mind that it is pretty big. Those core temps are pretty high though. My 2600k with the Hyper 212 is clocked to 4.2Ghz and honestly; I hardly ever get a temperature over 60C and that's with IntelBurnTest which is known to get a processor hotter than ANY typical type of usage. Plus the Hyper 212 can be had for a cheaper premium. I suggest; if you have the room in the case and on the motherboard to have two fans on the 212 as well.