Overclocking Q6600 help needed please

jasuk1983 · 2 Dec 2013 at 13:01

Hi Everyone, can someone give me some help on overclocking my CPU please. I'm new to overclocking but I think I nearly got it just need help with the voltage hopefully.

I have set my CPU clock ratio to 8, System Multiplier to 2.00 and cpu host mhz freq to 400 and leave the voltage to auto. Boot to desktop and run prime95 which runs fine at peak but soon as I change the voltage either fail safe kicks in or if it goes to desktop and I run prime95 and 1 or 2 cores fail under load. After getting the voltage from CPU-Z from running smoothly the first time.

I'm running:-

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) with a freezer 13 cooler
6GB (3x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Series (800mhz)
Nvidia 660GTX 2GB GPU

Regards Jason

Evil-I · 3 Dec 2013 at 17:22

Okay, long time since I've run a q6600, so gonna be a bit rusty.

First off, it's best to work up to your desired overclock testing as you go. I also wouldn't have voltage on auto either. Not a good idea really, manual control from bios always recommended.

So, good way of starting is to prove your front side bus of 400mhz is even possible. Best way to do this is to drop the multiplier down to 5, which will give you a cpu speed of 2ghz, and see if that's stable. Not all motherboards/ RAM could do that FSB, this way you know its not CPU limited (as the CPU is running slower than stock) so any stability issues will be because of the motherboard and or memory.! AT least that gives you a clue if the FSB is possible at all.

Then I'd try going back to its default settings of 266x9 then bump the FSB up by ten or so then run prime95 for about 30 secs. Start at a cpu voltage of 1.25v and you can slowly increase this to 1.35 (which is your safe maximum for this chip without fairly silly cooling). Some say 1.4v is fine if you can manage the heat.

In theory you should be able to get 3.2 reliably if it's a q6600 G0 stepping chip, but there's no guarantee's. Overclocking is all about luck of the draw as far as hardware goes. Two identical chips from the same batch can perform quite differently. The same also goes with every other component, some are good, some are bad. Hence why you just need to start low and slowly work your way up.

I think I got my Q6600 G0 up to 3.4Ghz, but only after it had been lapped and then it was on an Abit IP35 motherboard which was know as very good for overclocking that chip.

So the most improtant thing to remember is temperature. Monitor it very carefully, in theory under 70 is best for these chips if I remember correctly.

Secondly, maximum CPU voltage of 1.35 (1.4v if you're feeling brave and have VERY good cooling).

Lastly,there's no guarantee that your chip is a good overclocker, just work up slowly and see what you can acheive and remember, you can quite easily kill your kit too! SO take it easy and keep checking at each stage.

E-I

Marine-RX179 · 3 Dec 2013 at 17:32

For 3.60GHz, just change the multiplayer to 9, and vcore to around 1.40-1.50v (depending how good the particular chip is, but the chance are you would need 1.45v or more). Also give the FSB and MCH overvoltage a bump (I recall that there should be 3 settings...use the middle one). The memory should be staying at 800MHz to keep the 1:1 ratio.

Sidenote: I use to have a Q6600 running at 3.60GHz 24/7 on 1.50v...but I was using the Thermalright Silver Arrow which is still one of the best air coolers around and temp never exceeded 65C even in Prime95. I think Freezer 13 should be fine too...granted it's not gonna be sub 65C like on my SilverArrow, but it should still keep it below 75C without problem provide you got good airflow. Make sure you check the temp when stress testing it.

Evil-I · 3 Dec 2013 at 17:33

Once you get a fairly comfortable setting that seems to work, then run Prime or similar for at least 12 hours to prove stability (monitoring temps carefully).

jasuk1983 · 3 Dec 2013 at 21:08

Ok thanks for the information, i'll give it ago tomorrow.

I take it there's no other settings in BIOS I need to change around?

Marine-RX179 · 4 Dec 2013 at 08:41

jasuk1983 said:
I take it there's no other settings in BIOS I need to change around?

See if there's a setting on C1E in the bios...if there is, disable it. It has always been somewhat agreed that it can cause instability for overclock.

jasuk1983 · 7 Dec 2013 at 15:39

I tried dropping the multiplier down to 5 but i could only enter 6-9. After several attempts at voltage, multiplier, disabling C1E etc core 4 kept failing under prime95 load.

My mate is gonna look at it after Christmas for me as he does a fair bit of over clocking so will let you know how we get on then. Thanks for the input and advice though it was helpful.