Overclocking a q6600

ajstan

ajstan

ajstan

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Hi all, I'm new to this part of the forum and I'm not a very experienced overclocker so go easy :p

I recently bought bc2 and I'm getting some fairly poor FPS so I'm trying to get as much out of my Q6600 as reasonably possible - aiming for 3.6ghz.

Specs are:

Processor:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs),

Memory:
Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 C4 Extreme Performance

Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT

Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-EP35C-DS3R P35 Socket 775 Motherboard
Pics of BIOs

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Anybody got any advice for me?
 
First things first, I would get CoreTemp to monitor your temps, and find out your VID.

Also, what cooling are you using?

Hopefully Diggsy will spot the thread as he is the expert :)
 
i set the cpu volt to auto and watch it for 1-2 days while stable, then start to reduce it manually from what it was stable at when at auto

put ur memory = 2.1 or 2.2

u may need to increase NB a little

ive done this recently and still new but its proven successful
 
Do you have the G0 stepping version (cpu-z will tell you)? If not, you may struggle to get 3.6Ghz.
 
provided you have good air cooling, H50 or proper water...

9 x 400

5
5
5
16

cpu voltage 1.50 - 1.5650

keep an eye on temps

turn off all speedstep type options that lower voltages and clocks when idle

8800gt is enough for BC2. I had an 8800gt before the 5770 im using now and it ran BC2 perfectly in highest settings, 2xAA, 1680 x 1050 on my [email protected]. There was one option that killed FPS, cant remember what it was but it doesnt make much difference to graphics
 
Played around a bit more and I found that overclocking can stop hybrid sleep working, anyone know why?
 
Not sure about the hybrid sleep, but regarding the overclock, idle temps tell you nothing.

You need to run Prime95 Small FFT's and check your individual Core temps using either CoreTemp or RealTemp.

If they are below 70c, then that's fine. Anything above and you need better cooling.

To be perfectly honest I would have serious doubts that the ACF7Pro will be capable of 3.6, more like 3.2 will be the ceiling. You would be better off with a TRUE or Megahelms or even a Corsair H-50 for cooling.

Once you know your temps are fine, then its a matter of increasing the Host Frequency a little at a time and repeat the Prime95 test.

If it crashes, add a little vcore, but try to keep below 1.5v, or less. You may also need to bump the MCH and FSB voltages a little, but they won't need too much.

It is possible you will also need to slacken your RAM timings a little. It looks from the screenshot like you are running 4-4-4-12, although the bios seems to be suggesting 5-5-5-16. What are the default SPD timings?

Finally, keep tabs on the Memory Multiplier, you need to set it so you are not running your RAM way over its rated speed. At the moment it looks as though you are running at 854mhz, even though your RAM is rated at 800.

Will keep an eye on the thread as and when I can :)
 
With my Megahalems HS and Apache fan setup, 3.52Ghz was too hot for me to be happy. 3.4Ghz temps were fine on mine but I am still playing with it a lot.

I only needed +0.025V from 2.4Ghz to 3.2Ghz but for 3.4Ghz I needed +0.100V. That produced a lot more heat. Let us know your full load temps and we can help you out.
 
Bung it at 3.2-3.4 ghz for summer it's what I have done it's just too humid to be pushing a chip to the limit at the mo imo.
 
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