new to intel overclocks

Nitrams64

Nitrams64

Nitrams64

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30 May 2005
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Location
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I have a abit ip35pro xe ,q6600 and 4gig ocz pc2 8500.have been reading guides and posts but am now bambuzzled as to what voltages to use.
I have turned off speed step with voltages set on auto and got the speed to 3ghz but it became unstable.So set voltages manually for cpu 1.35 ddr2 2.0
but its still unstable.So do i have to adjust other items in the bios like these
CPU CORE VOLT
DDR2 VOLT
CPU VTT VOLT
MCH 1.25V VOLT
ICH 1.05V VOLT
ICHIO 1.5 VOLT
DDR2 REF VOLT 0%
CPU GTLREF 0&2 67%
CPU GTLREF 1&3 67%
Cpuz reports 1.31 underload.The cpu is watercooled so was hoping to get 3.4 ghz.This is my first intel system since a 233mmx now thats going back a while.I am impressed even at stock.
thanks in advance :)
 
Some you want to set manually, some you will want on auto.
CPU core volt is going to be a manual one, and probably the most important.
DDR voltage is that for your ram. Dont go above whatever is written on your RAM (2.1V if its the same as mine).

VTT = fsb termination [I think, I use asus who name things differently] in which case its manual. Start with it at the minimum.
MCH = northbridge, same as above. This one is very likely to need increasing after a bit.
ICH / ICHIO I believe you want to leave on auto or their default/minimum voltage.

Leave the ref ones on auto, if you're lucky you'll never have to play with them. They matter at high fsb, and its basically blind tweaking and hoping for the best with them.


I suppose the question is how carefully do you want to do this? Id recommend dropping back to 2.4ghz, voltages as low as you can get them. MCH etc should be fine on minimum, RAM will definitely be fine at its rated voltage, CPU will probably need around 1.2V to be stable. Once youre sure that 1/ this is stable and 2/any lower vcore and it wont be, then start to overclock.

Failing this, decrease fsb until it is stable, then increase just enough to destabalise it and start trying settings one at a time, putting them back if they dont help, until it stabalises. And repeat.

+600mhz in a single step is a big one, im currently moving upwards in 5fsb intervals and testing for at least half an hour at each step. This helps keep voltages at the minimum required.


I think the q6600 starts to get upset over 1.5V. Watercooling probably means you can completely ignore cpu temperature limitations, but keep an eye on them in case something goes wrong. The northbridge under water will help overclocking if this is possible.
The voltage to use is the minimum your system needs to be stable, so its hard to find recommendations. General consensus on maximum voltages are available (here and on google), and for 3.4ghz id expect you to be well under all of them.

A final note (didn't intend this to be so long :( ) is that several different things can be unstable and working out which can be difficult. Running the RAM below stock speed while testing processor limits and vice versa can help with this.

Do report back :)
 
Thanks i will try and go a bit slower.I will set the voltages i know and take it from there.System boots to windows @3ghz so hopefully just a little tweak.
:)
 
Well been playing about and have just stopped prime after 2.5 hours with no errors,i know ill have to run it longer to be sure but still want to go more.
These are the settings.
356 x 9 3.2ghz
CPU CORE VOLT 1.40
DDR2 VOLT 2.1
CPU VTT VOLT default
MCH 1.25V VOLT 1.30
ICH 1.05V VOLT default
ICHIO 1.5 VOLT default
DDR2 REF VOLT 0% default
CPU GTLREF 0&2 67% default
CPU GTLREF 1&3 67% default
Cpu temp idle 29 28 27 27 under full load 53 51 49 49
So do i now push it more and hope its ok if not tweak voltages more? I don't really want to put to much in the cpu and northbridge as id like it to last.have seen some with 1.6v in cpu but don't want to go there.
Am i right in thinking the memory should go to 533mhz. :)
So any suggestions ;)
 
cheers mate will do :D
Have just had a read and it seems cpu voltage is the main one.
As my memory is 1066 would i be better using 1/1 ratio and dropping multiplier and using higher fsb.

I have now gone to 378 x9 3400 mhz voltage in bios at 1.45.
When cpu idle cpuz shows 1.43 but under full load drops to 1.39/1.40 is this the vdroop iv'e read about.
 
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