newbie overclock Q6600

leppard

leppard

leppard

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Joined
15 Mar 2009
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7
Recently bought an aftermarket cooler for my Q6600.
Ended up going for a Noctua U12P as I was wanting to reduce noise, as the stock intel cooler sounded like a small aircraft powering up.

Just going for a modest overclock, 2.4 to 3.0. Here are my specs

Asus P5K mobo
Noctua NH-U12P cooler
NZXT Hush case (yes I know its a bit cramped in there)
Q6600 overclocked to 3.005 MHz
Core Voltage (left @ auto) 1.32v
Corsair DDR2 XMS2 4GB 8500C5 @2.1v /DRAM Freq 534 /FSB: DRAM 5:8

Here are the results on CPU-Z
cpuzcpu.jpg
cpuzmemory.jpg


Cores are running at 46-50 C idle topping out at 62 C at max load. ( temps from Core Temp v0.99.5, stress test on OCCT attached below)
2009031916h36cpu1.png


BUT, if I open the case, temps drop by some 8 degrees! Is this normal?
Here are the temps with the case open and closed
speedfancaseopen.jpg
speedfancaseclosed2.jpg


All stable after 2 days but I don't know if I should push it some more I'm not happy with those temps going higher.

Any thoughts? Should I have kept the FSB: DRAM at 1:1 or was I right to change the RAM dividers, seeing as the RAM is rated at 1067?
 
If you've currently left the VCore voltage at auto you can probably take that down a bit from its current value. Just take it down slowly, testing each time and you should manage a fairly big temperature drop.

It's pretty normal to have lower temps with the case open as this gives it better air flow. Whether to go further with the overclock or not, I'd really only say yes if you think it is a major bottleneck in your system at the moment, otherwise it probably won't make the biggest of differences (except maybe in your 3dmark06 score)
 
I thought the whole concept of air flow was that to get best results, you need to push cool air into an enclosed enviroment, and draw out the warm air at the same time, therefor keeping an enclosed space (i.e. your case) cool.

I've never understood how removing the side panels yield better results, as the airflow is pretty much doing nothing but blowing cool air into an open space, where the (presumably) warmer ambient air is. By enclosing the environment, surely this should keep the components cooler?
 
63c idle for a 3.2ghz Q6600 is insane. Either you live in Death Valley or your cooler is powered by hamsters.
 
I'd be reducing my speed down to stock immediately. They're rated for 71 contiued load temps right? That's what the Intel Thermal spec says anyway if it's a G0.

Why don't your try to run it at 3ghz with near stock voltages? that'll reduce your temps surely.
 
valdai said:
If you've currently left the VCore voltage at auto you can probably take that down a bit from its current value. Just take it down slowly, testing each time and you should manage a fairly big temperature drop.

It's pretty normal to have lower temps with the case open as this gives it better air flow. Whether to go further with the overclock or not, I'd really only say yes if you think it is a major bottleneck in your system at the moment, otherwise it probably won't make the biggest of differences (except maybe in your 3dmark06 score)
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks for the tip, I've reduced down to 1.312v with stability, although temps are much the same. Will try take it down another notch or two.

For the record I accidently went down to 1.256v and core 0 failed prime95 small FFT test.

Think I'm quite happy with 3.0 Ghz, but yeah will have to try and improve airflow in my case, will try a couple of noctua case fans for starters.
 
cje said:
I'd be reducing my speed down to stock immediately.
Click to expand...
Stock speed is not an option for me I prefer to burn my q6600 instead.
cje said:
They're rated for 71 contiued load temps right? That's what the Intel Thermal spec says anyway if it's a G0. Why don't your try to run it at 3ghz with near stock voltages? that'll reduce your temps surely.
Click to expand...
The 71C limit is not true you see I have it like that for more than a year and nothing happen (not even a single crease)
If I try to run it at 3ghz is like 4C less
I will be happy to go from 3.2GHz to 3.6GHz but the temps will be extremely high so I have to live it at 3,2GHz
 
I was just stating my opinion, just incase you didn't realise how hard you are pushing it. Fair enough if you want to burn it, and you realise that it won't last long, more power to you mate.

Let us know when it does burn though, if you've ran it for a year like that, it just goes to show that the Intel recommendations are quite conservative.
 
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