Overlocking Q6600 on XFX 680i SLI

Mad Professor · 9 Sep 2010 at 13:11

Good Day All.

I have been trying to over clock my Q6600 without much luck.

I know that the Q6600 is a very common and easy cpu to overclock, and can quite happly run upto 3.2 on air.

But it seems no matter how much bios tweeking I do I can not get the cpu to overlock at all.

Each time I try to overlock, the computer posts fine, the overlock in show, and you see the windows boot logo, the computer will just restart here or if I am very lucky it will just get to the windows welcome screen this BSOD and reboot.

Here are my current system details.
XFX 850W PSU.
Intel Quad-Core Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz (Revision G0).
XFX 680i SLI Motherboard, Revision A2, (Latest XFX Bios P33).
2x1GB Corsair CM2X1024-6400C4 DDR2 800Mhz Memory.
XFX nvidia GeForce 9600GSO 384MB.
Seagate ST3200827AS.
Seagate ST3500320AS.
WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1.
Samsung SH-B083L.
Running Windows 7 Home 64-Bit.

Can you please advice.

Thanks for your time.

Best Regards.

Mad Professor · 9 Sep 2010 at 17:18

Amidar, thanks for your reply.

I have read that there are know problems with overlocking with the 680i, but on the other hand I have seen on google pepole overlocking the Q6600 to 3.6Ghz, I have no idea what rev board.

I was hoping to get upto around the 3Ghz.

Mad Professor · 9 Sep 2010 at 17:46

I am using the Q6600 stock cooler, 50mm fan on the northbridge/southbridge heatpipe/heatsink, and two 80mm exhaust case fans, 250mm side case fan.

As for temps, My computer has just finished a HD 1080i video rending, that took just over 5 hours, and had all four of my cores at 100% and my CPU temp max out at around 60-62c.

I have not run Intel Burn Test or Prime yet.

As for settings I unlinked my memory, and adjusted the FSB well anything from 1066 upto 1333.

I have tried auto voltage, and manual cpu voltage upto 1.45volts.

I have also disabled CPU Thermal Control, C1E Enhanced Halt State, Intel Speedstep.

But no matter how little or much I try to overclock the system will not boot into windows.

Mad Professor · 9 Sep 2010 at 18:32

I am unable to post any bios screens at this point in time.

I am running the memory at 800Mhz.

I have just overclocked my cpu to 3.2Ghz, and it booted into windows fine.

CPU is sitting around 50-52c at idle, but within a few mins of running Intel Burn Test the temps go sky high, BSOD, and computer restarts.

Mad Professor · 9 Sep 2010 at 18:59

Vinni3 @H|H: I know on the stock cooler @ 3.2Ghz will not be upto the job, that is why I wanted to start low and work my way up.

9x FSB_1422=: Boot fine, 50-52c @ idle.
9x FSB_1333=: Fails to boot.
8x FSB_1500=: Boot fine, 48-50c @ idle.

Mad Professor · 9 Sep 2010 at 21:59

After some more testing it looks like my motherboard has what I beleave is called an "FSB Hole".

9x, 1066 FSB, Boots into OS.
9x, 1155 FSB, Boots into OS.
9x, 1200 FSB, Fails to boot.
9x, 1244 FSB, Fails to boot.
9x, 1288 FSB, Fails to boot.
9x, 1333 FSB, Fails to boot.
9x, 1377 FSB, Fails to boot.
9x, 1422 FSB, Boots into OS.

I know that I need a bigger and better cooling system, That is on the cards.

But 1st I wanted to find out why I could not even do a small bump up in speed.

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 18:14

I have been waiting for a new CPU cooler and case fans to turn up before I when on with any more overclocking: Recommended CPU Cooler for Overclocked Intel Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz

I now have a Akasa AK-CCX-4002HP Venom CPU Cooler.
The rear case fans have been removed and replaced with an 120mm akasa viper fan.
Due to the size of the Akasa AK-CCX-4002HP Venom CPU Cooler, I had to remove the 250mm side panel fan.

I am still very new to overlocking, so a lot of the terms used are over my head.

I know some pepole just adjust the CPU's FSB to overlock, but I have read that this is not the best way to overlock a system, and can even make the computer slower.

I would like to overclock my system to at least 3.2Ghz or maybe more if the system can handle it.

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 19:13

Here you go.

Q6600%20@%202.4Ghz%20-%20Bios%20Sytem%20Clocks.jpg

Q6600%20@%202.4Ghz%20-%20Bios%20FSB%20&%20Memory%20Config.jpg

Q6600%20@%202.4Ghz%20-%20Bios%20Memory%20Timing%20Settings.jpg

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 20:00

It still fails to boot into windows when running at 3.0Ghz

Q6600%20@%203.0Ghz%20-%20Bios%20Sytem%20Clocks.jpg

Q6600%20@%203.0Ghz%20-%20Bios%20FSB%20&%20Memory%20Config.jpg

Q6600%20@%203.0Ghz%20-%20Bios%20Memory%20Timing%20Settings.jpg

Q6600%20@%203.0Ghz%20-%20CPU%20Configuration.jpg

Q6600%20@%203.0Ghz%20-%20System%20Voltages.jpg

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 20:32

Both 1.45v and 1.50v gets as far windows welcome screen and the BSOD.

As for the "memory timing settings" that is default or Expert.
Set to default just grays out all the boxes, so it can't be adjusted.

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 20:51

Setting the memory to 666Mhz still gets as far as the windows welcome screen then BSOD.

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 21:01

As said before I can seem to be able to run the processor at 2.4, 2.6, or 3.2, but that seems to be about it.

Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz

Q6600 @ 2.6Ghz

Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz

Mad Professor · 20 Sep 2010 at 21:10

I have not yet done any kind of stress testing at 3.2Ghz yet.

I do have both "Prime 95" and "Intel Burn Test" on my computer

I 1st just wanted to make sure if I am overclocking the right way, etc.

Mad Professor · 21 Sep 2010 at 08:30

I have started stress testing the system at 3.2Ghz, I will 1st be using the Intel Burn Test program.

With the core voltage set to auto, the system will boot and is stable at idle and light loads, but will BSOD within 10 cycles of Intel Burn Test.

I have then manualy adjusted the core voltage, And my motherboard does have a fair old vdrop on the core voltage.

-----------------------------------------
1.425 = 1.384v, (0.041 vdrop) @ Idle.
1.425 = 1.336v, (0.089 vdrop) @ 100% Load.
------------------------------------------
1.450 = 1.408v, (0.042 vdrop) @ Idle.
1.450 = 1.360v, (0.090 vdrop) @ 100% Load.
------------------------------------------
1.475 = 1.432v, (0.043 vdrop) @ Idle.
1.475 = 1.392v, (0.083 vdrop) @ 100% Load.
------------------------------------------
1.500 = 1.464v, (0.036 vdrop) @ Idle.
1.500 = 1.408v, (0.092 vdrop) @ 100% Load.
------------------------------------------

With the bios core voltage set to, 1.425v, 1.450v, or 1.475v, I would also get a BSOD withing 10 cycles of running Intel Burn Test.

Running the the bios core voltage set to 1.500v, seems to be stable at this point in time, and runs for way more cycles, but I have to abort the test as the cpu core temps go pass intel's 71c max limit.

Mad Professor · 21 Sep 2010 at 15:28

I have been running the computer at 3.2Ghz all day, just doing day to day stuff, no problems at all, I have also played a game rounds of Counter Strike, did some work in SolidWorks, also no problems.

I did do a 2hour stress test with the intel burn test, but I had to ziptie my 250mm fan to the side of the open case to move more air around the system, the core temps maxed out at 72c.

While the system was running Intel Burn Test I had a feel of the Akasa AK-CCX-4002HP Venom CPU Cooler, I could touch any part of the cooling fins and it was just warm to the touch, the top of the heat pipes was also warm, but I can't reach the bottom of the Akasa AK-CCX-4002HP Venom CPU Cooler, or the bottom heat pipes.

I have not lapped the cpu or cooler, do you think it might be worth giving this a try to knock a few c off the temps?

As for windows, I am not worried about that, all my data is backed up.

Is it very strange that I can not get the system to boot into windows running at 3.0Ghz

I don't have any blank cd's or dvd's to burn a copy of MemTest, but I will look into seeing if I can get it to boot from a USB Memory Stick.

Mad Professor · 21 Sep 2010 at 16:22

Went onto MemTest site, and they had a ready build USB installer.

Ran MemTest, but it can not detect my chipset.

I let MemTest run a full pass of all the tests, no errors found, this was with my computer overclocked to 3.0Ghz.

I am not sure what info you wanted me to collect.

Mad Professor · 21 Oct 2010 at 10:04

I was running the lastest bios P33 (691N9P33), but after reading on google, that pepole seem to be able to overclock better using the P31 (691N9P31) bios.

So last night I downgraded the bios to P31.

And now the computer will boot into windows at 3Ghz (333x9.0), and this is with all the voltages set to auto.

I have not yet done any long stress tests, only 10 loops of IntelBurnTest.