AW9D-Max, Q6600 - Locking PCIe Frequency?

Plazek · 30 Jun 2009 at 07:50

Hi,

So I am attempting to overclock a Q6600 with this. However I hit a wall at 2.8ghz FSB @ 310 goin any higher makes me restart when running Prime95, even with the multiplier down. I tried increasing the vCore from default of 1.325 to 1.375, I made sure the RAM is not overclocked and I tried increasing MCH voltage, up to 1.55 from 1.5. I have the latest BIOS and have heard that I hsould be able to get FSB much higher.

A problem though even at that speed is that my microphone will not work at the same time as the headphones on my headset. Windows explorer sometimes hangs, CPU-Z can cause my system to freeze and if I put FSB at 320 I crash as soon as I log into Windows.

My friend told me that this could be caused by PCIe frequency being pushed too high with the increase in FSB. He advised me to lock it however I do not know how to do so, or if it is possible. I have a seen similar uGuru screen to this one with the PCIe frequency below the "Estimated New DRAM Clock" but it is not present on mine.

Could this be the problem? Can I solve it? Or could it be something else?
Any help would really be appreciated as this is my first proper overclock. If I can get it to work that is

Plazek · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:01

No one has any idea?

ANyhow I heard the option to lock PCIe frequency is not in the AW9D Max BIOS for some stupid reason so I may have to use a modded one. Anyone know a good place to find such things?

wnm0 · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:08

Hi, I have the same MB and I have clocked my E6600 to 3.8 but its running at 3.2 while the weather is hot, try these settings

external clock 400
multiplyer 8
mess with ram settings to get it to 1.1

core volt 1.375
mem 2.0
mch 1.6
this should give 3.2
Hope it works, if you need a shot of my bios give me a shout..

Edit: is your bios number 17?

Plazek · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:11

Thanks I will give it a go

Plazek · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:20

Didn't work with your settings.

I will try some variations.
Is there not PCIe frequency problem for you? I saw a pic of an old BIOS which I think was for this board with the option but does the board deal with it automatically or something?

wnm0 · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:26

What bios version are you using the last 1 they did was 17 which is what I have and I updated that in windows with the uguru utility, gonna take a pic of my bios and post it see if that helps..

Plazek · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:30

I got the latest BIOS too.
I tried 75 less FSB with a 1.4 and 1.425 vCore sayin as I am a quad and you a duo I will need more power.

With the same as you I did not boot.
With the later ones I booted but when selecting my OS I restarted moments after.

wnm0 · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:39

This is what I am using now, when I do go higher it requires core volt of 1.375 and 8x 450, then its 1.4 and 8x475 but it does get warm on prime, I would need to be under water to have 3.8 all the time..
Edit: try to get as high as you can at stock volts on cpu, only alter them when it fails to boot..

Plazek · 30 Jun 2009 at 18:45

Nice one mate.

Maybe I was just being too conservative with my voltages the entire time.
I have it back at 2.8ghz now on 9x @ 310 and my headset works

1.4
2.0 >my voltages
1.5

Im gonna run some Prime95 and if it works out I will try higher FSB and prob a higher MCH sayin as you got it.

-------

ok so that passed Prime small FPU for 30 mins so I decided to up to 322 FSB.
Unfortunately this caused it once, to log into Windows but then crash within seconds of running Prime95 then on subsequent attempts and with MCH up to 1.6 and vCore up to 1.425 it restarted my PC as soon as I put in my password and it tried to log in.

So I am going to run Prime95 for some hours to check my 2.8ghz overclock with 312 FSB, 1.4 vCore and 1.5MCH see if it stays stable.
Then I am going to try lowering the multiplier with 322FSB if it runs that would indicate it is my CPU(and I should try lower multiplier with higher FSB?)? If it fails then it indicates it is prob my motherboard or something else being pushed up with the FSB? Am I right?

If it fails what can I do then? How high can MCH go on this board if anyone knows?
Oh and can I go from 1066 to 1333 N/B strap? I tried to find out but failed so far.

Plazek · 1 Jul 2009 at 13:04

So I tried 322FSB with multiplier 2 notches down. Did not work failed to even get into Windows login screen.

Then I decided to try upping the MCH instead incase that was limiting it. I put it at 1.65 and the vCore at 1.425. This time I actually managed to get into Windows, looked at a couple things on Firefox and listened to an MP3 but when I ran Prime95 it lasted for only 10 seconds or so.

Seems upping the vCore is pretty useful but I am wary of pushing it higher without any extra N/B cooling. I have no temp sensor and the AW9D Max cooling for it is passive. ALthough my HAF932 does give good airflow so may keep it cool, I am not sure. I heard 1.8v would be the max for MCH without extra cooling but I am careful of what I read on the net any opinions? Maybe I Should put the vCore higher but I feel it is the motherboard.