Overclocking Q6600 with IP35 Pro...Noob Advice Needed!

alex350r

alex350r

alex350r

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Hi,

Ive just got the following kit from OC UK:

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz

Abit IP35 Pro

OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz SLI-Ready Edition Low Latency Dual Channel DDR2

Tuniq Tower

It's all set up and I want to start overclocking, I tried to raise the FSB slightly to get an overclock to 2.7ghz but it was unstable and vista was all over the place, can anyone recommend some settings to start off with?

Temperatures are relatively low, ive got a coolermaster 830 stacker case and the cpu is usually around the 30 mark on full load.

Cheers

Alex
 
I have a similar set-up. What I would recommend is reading this.

I'm managing to run at 3GHZ on my q6600 on stock volts. It's worth raising the fsb to 333 and seeing if it could at least do it. Remember to change your RAM multiplier too i.e. so it stays at 800MHZ.
 
Hi,

First up I would check your RAM voltage. The IP-35 range (I have the -E) set the default to something very low, you may want to bump this up to around 1.9-2.0v.

I have a very similar setup, and tbh you should be able to bump the FSB from 1066 to 1333 without so much as a voltage bump. This should give you an immediate 3.0GHz on the Q6600. Most seem to do that with no problems.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for your replies guys, I will have a go later when I finish work.

Is there an option to disable that 'speedstep' rubbish in the bios as well? because at the moment windows seems to control the processor speed.

Cheers,

Alex
 
This works well for me on my Q6600 running at 3200Mhz

CPU Multiplier x8
CPU Voltage 1.5v
RAM Voltage 2.1v and timings of 4:4:4:12
Bus Speed = 400Mhz
FSB : DRAM ratio = 1:1
 
Last edited:
alex350r said:
Is there an option to disable that 'speedstep' rubbish in the bios as well? because at the moment windows seems to control the processor speed.
Click to expand...

In bios there is a function called C1E and another as well i think which control speedstep. Far better to overclock with it off but once you've got your settings I find it useful to put it back on to keep idle temps low
 
hundred-and-one said:
This works well for me on my Q6600 running at 3200Mhz

CPU Multiplier x8
CPU Voltage 1.5v
Click to expand...

:eek: I only need 1.4v to run mine at 8 x 425 (3.4Ghz) :D (EDIT: just to clarify before anybody says my sig says different, 1.4v in bios = 1.3v in load after vdrop and vdroop ;))

Of course it depends a lot on the VID of the chip to start with. ;)

As far as the op goes, as well as reading the guide as linked above, switch off the speedstep stuff etc and do the following:

Change the ram voltage from auto to whatever your ram should be (2.1v in my case) as the ABit pro sets it to 1.8v as default. I beleive it should be at least 2.1v if not 2.2v for your memory but check your documentation.

My system wasn't even stable at any overclock until I did this.

Set the ram timings from auto to 4-4-4-15 1T - don't worry about the other timings yet, just leave them on auto.

Change the vcore voltage from auto to 1.35v (the q6600 are all rated at this voltage and although a lot run at 3ghz leaving it on auto, some chips don't)

Change the fsb speed to 333Mhz and change the memory speed to match the memory back down to 400 (800Mhz dual).

It should boot up fine and stable.

After that you may want to try dropping the vcore voltage and see how little your cpu needs for that speed or alternatively keep trying to go higher.

That's a good starting point.
 
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thanks Greebo, very clear and concise :-)

I will try this later, having read your reply and read around it seems like my RAM voltage is probably too low.

I will check on the ocz site for the recommended voltage.

Cheers for your help!

Alex
 
Cob said:
Set the DRAM Speed to 1:1 before you do anything.
Click to expand...

Yeah, good point Cob. With the memory only running at 2 x 333 = 666 it will at least take the memory out of the equation.

If then stable at 3Ghz, the op can then try running the memory at it's stock speed of 2 x 400 = 800.

You are the guru of all things overclocking in relation to quads and abit pros as always.

So answer me one question please? I am struggling to get my system stable if I try for 9x multiplier. I can now get 8 x 450 (3.6Ghz) stable with quite a lot of volts through the cpu but I fail to even boot at 9 x 356 (3.2Ghz) and that's if I leave all my other voltage settings the same as my stable 3.6Ghz overclock or the lesser voltages for my stable 8 x 400 (3.2Ghz)?

I know it can't be my fsb or the max of my chip as it is stable at both 450fsb and 3.6Ghz so what am I missing?

From memory I have put up VTT one notch and the northbridge a couple of notches and left everything else at stock.

What about the funny % thing set at 67%? (sorry I am at work and I can't remember what it is called :o) Should I be altering that? Tips gratefully received.

Sorry to Alex for hijacking the thread slightly ;)
 
You can probably leave GTLRef at 67% at 3.6ghz. I didn't need to touch mine at 3.9ghz, or atleast I can't find any reference to changing it in my notes. But then I was using the x9 multi with the lower FSB.

Have you tried 9 x 400?

I think it was Walter than said he found that some Q6600's clock better on the x8 multiplier. I'm not sure if he gave a reason tho.
 
Tbh I'm not that bothered since 8 x 450 will be quicker than 9 x 400 but I like to know reasons why sometimes. ;)

9 x 400 won't even get to bios boot :confused:
 
Greebo said:
:eek: I only need 1.4v to run mine at 8 x 425 (3.4Ghz) :D (EDIT: just to clarify before anybody says my sig says different, 1.4v in bios = 1.3v in load after vdrop and vdroop ;))

Of course it depends a lot on the VID of the chip to start with. ;)

As far as the op goes, as well as reading the guide as linked above, switch off the speedstep stuff etc and do the following:

Change the ram voltage from auto to whatever your ram should be (2.1v in my case) as the ABit pro sets it to 1.8v as default. I beleive it should be at least 2.1v if not 2.2v for your memory but check your documentation.

My system wasn't even stable at any overclock until I did this.

Set the ram timings from auto to 4-4-4-15 1T - don't worry about the other timings yet, just leave them on auto.

Change the vcore voltage from auto to 1.35v (the q6600 are all rated at this voltage and although a lot run at 3ghz leaving it on auto, some chips don't)

Change the fsb speed to 333Mhz and change the memory speed to match the memory back down to 400 (800Mhz dual).

It should boot up fine and stable.

After that you may want to try dropping the vcore voltage and see how little your cpu needs for that speed or alternatively keep trying to go higher.

That's a good starting point.
Click to expand...

I am confused at which RAM timings to change, there are all sorts in the bios could someone post the names for each one?

Cheers

Alex
 
Right guys, ive got my Q6600 now set to 9x with 333 FSB, Ram Voltage at 2.1 and timings at 4 4 4 15. This is running at 3.0Ghz and stable, where shall i go from here if I want to try and OC some more??

Cheers,

Alex
 
1. up the fsb by 5mhz
2. check for stability
3. if stable go to 1
4 if not stable up vcore by one step and go to 2
5. repear ad infinitum :p

That's the basics really. You could just try jumping in at 9 x 355 just to see what happens. You might get lucky ;) although it might need a few more volts. Make sure you use something like prime95 to stress test (I try 10 mins when trying to find my max and then a full 8 hours to make sure when I think i've found my max) and keep an eye on those temps with something like coretemp.

On a another note, keep an eye on your ram speed. As fsb rises above 400you might need to slacken off your ram timings to 5-5-5-18 just to make sure it's not the ram making your overclock unstable.

Good luck and welcome to the 3Ghz club!
 
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