Can't Get Q6600 past 300

dr. sarf

dr. sarf

dr. sarf

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Hi guys, hope you can help; these are supposed to be able to get to 3.1Ghz easily, as you know.

I'm currently on 300x9 but if I raise that any further (say to 310) the system won't boot. It just gets stuck on the Motherboard screen which gives you options to enter BIOS/boot menu etc.

Currently these settings apply:
RAM voltage = +0.4v (2.2 rated)
RAM unlinked & unchanged (any ratio setting seems too high?)
Timings as seen - manufacturer's spec
Vcore = 1.45v
Speedstep is disabled and CPU fan on full.

Spec:
4GB (4 modules) PC5300 Ballistix Tracer
Gigabyte N650SLI-DS4
OCZ StealthXstream 600W PSU
2x 8800GT
XP Pro

Cheers guys.
 
From what I have read in the past, the NForce boards are not too good at OCing quads.

Though, just for the hell of it, why not try closer to 400 FSB with multiplier on 8?
 
ffallic said:
Though, just for the hell of it, why not try closer to 400 FSB with multiplier on 8?
Click to expand...

No that won't work either.
I've had a good play around with various memory settings/ratios/voltages but it just hangs on startup.

So have I reached the limits of my motherboard at a measley 300Mhz overclock or am I missing something fundamental? :(
 
Did a bit og googling, and on the first page of results there were three references to your board and a q6600, and only achieving about what you are getting...
 
Thats pants, from the reviews I read, I heard of better Overclocking with this board - heard it was fantastic actually. Unless that was for the E****, but it didn't specify, or the reviews are bull.
Maybe I should RMA it and get something Intel based. Do others agree this is the issue here? Just seemed a good board for the money.

At least my overclocking ability isn't put to shame then if it's a hardware issue.
 
OK, here's the action:

RMA the board and Buy a P35 or similar
Get one of the 8800GTs on the 'bay
Overclock the CPU to something decent.
 
Have you tried to get the OC higher with only 2 sticks of ram installed? It could be your NB holding you back with 4 installed. try +0.1 or 0.2v through it to help stability?

If it clocks higher with only 2 installed then you at least know the board will do it its just a case of finding out what tweaking you need to do.
 
dr. sarf said:
Are they a good quad overclocker mind?
They seem to be from what I've read.
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One of the reasons I got this board was its overclocking capabilities. Was originally going to get a Q6600 like yourself, but decided to wait for the Q9450 and get an E2180 for £50 instead. Did extensive googling, checked the MSI forums etc., gotten good reviews everywhere. I'm sure there may be better overclockers out there, but it suits me. Got a nice easy overclock as in sig. without any probs. Also I liked the fact it comes without parallel and serial ports clogging up the rear I/O, for which I have no use. Instead has extra USB's for which I do have a use! Came with firewire as well, which I also use. Has lots of LED status indicators which look nice in my windowed case as well :)

Gotta say, feel no rush to upgrade the CPU. Coming from an Athlon 64/754 socket single core running at 2.4Ghz to this dual core running at 3.2Ghz is simply amazing!
 
Cheers for that mate - Just read a load of bad reviews for it too lol
Typical of the internet.
Think i might go for the Asus PK5 Premium, since there seems to be a lot of happy PK5 owners around. :)
 
dr. sarf said:
Cheers for that mate - Just read a load of bad reviews for it too lol
Typical of the internet.
Think i might go for the Asus PK5 Premium, since there seems to be a lot of happy PK5 owners around. :)
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yeh aint that the truth lol.

Is it this one?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-258-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=913

If it is, at that price I'd be buying an X38 chipset. I hummed and hahhed whether to get a P35 or X38, decide there wasn't enough in the X38 for an extra £70 odd quid over mine.

Also I believe with that board you lose one or two sata ports with a long i.e. 8800, graphics card in slot one. I stand to be corrected!
 
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It just goes to show the difference in equipment.
There I was scratching my head thinking I was incapable of overclocking past 2.7Ghz, whne it was the motherboard all along.

I've swapped out the GA-N650SLI-DS4 for an Asus P5K Premium, at a cost mind.
As a result of upgrading the mobo, I'll be getting shut of one of my 8800GTs - I don't really have a big enough monitor for SLI anyway to be honest. I can always pick up another when I come into some money.


I'm currently sat at 3.1Ghz idling at around 31-33 on each core - that took me 5 mins to overclock, so gonna have proper look over next few days and find the perfect overclock/temp ratio.

Amazed at how poop the Gigabyte Nforce board was.
 
dr. sarf said:
Amazed at how poop the Gigabyte Nforce board was.
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Not just the Giga, it's all the nforce mobo's unfortuntaly.

Only thing that has stopped me going SLi.

If only nvidia would see sense and let us run SLi on X38's :(
 
I'm up to 3.2Ghz happily now (well just under) and so far, no probs through Prime95. My hottest core is peaking at 62'C-63'C atm. What's the sensible limit on these chips?

Sadly, I had to take off the Arctic Freezer 7 when got new mobo so using some cheapo compound at the moment - supposed to be having some AS5 on the way. :rolleyes:

Anyone else find these an arse to fit compared to the AFPro?!
 
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