Q6600 overclock

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Hi i built the following spec in July 2007 according to my build spec on the forum. Didnt think it was that long ago! I still havnt attempted any overclocking as it was such a jump in performance to what i was previously used to, i didnt feel the need.

However i now feel as though i would like to learn a LITTLE and perhaps do a small overclock on me cpu. please go easy as i have never done any overclocking before.

The spec is as follows
Lian Li v351b case
Q6600 with Scythe Mini Ninja Cooler
OCZ 6400 4gb ddr2 Gold series
Hx520w
Ati radeon 4870 512mb GDDR5
Samsung Spin point F1 500gb
Vista 64 bit SP1

Thanks
 
Need to know what motherboard you have and what your current idle/load temps are.

Download CoreTemp and Prime95 and check your temps when idle and when running Prime95 Small FFTs on all 4 cores.
 
My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R micro ATX.

i have downloaded both programs, can you give me a little advice as to when to take the temperature readings? Should i leave any programs running or just windows? I have never used Prime 95 what do i need to run on this program/
 
Just run the basic programs for your idle temps, then run Prime95 Small FFTs and let it run for 10-15mins to see what your load temps are.

To run Prime95, open it up (its an executable, no install needed) > Select 'Just Stress Testing' > Small FFTs and press OK.

To stop the test you need to go to Test > Stop

Keep CoreTemp window open and watch your temps. You don't want to see them going North of 70-75c.
 
Coretemp numbers also go yellow then red if the temps are getting too high. On mine there was also a warning beeping noise. I went into my room and coretemp was up to 90c.
I was probably still within range though because Tjmax was set at 100c. From another forum -
....

Tj max stands for Tjunction Max, Tjunction is another word for core temps. All Intel Core processors have a Tj max with values that vary greatly, notebook processor Tj max values are known as they are provided from Intel. Desktop processors on the other hand are not documented and we can do nothing but guess.

'Tj max is the maximum allowable temp for a processor's internal cores, if you reach Tj max the processor's THERMTRIP# signal will activate shutdown to prevent damage to the processor. '

'Tjmax was made up a few years ago by an intel software person in response to a question about desktop's unknown temp point where processor hot (PROCHOT#) is asserted. The term intel uses is TCC.

The CPU does not shut down when DTS=0, ie TCC/Tjmax is reached and prochot# is asserted, but it throttles, reducing frequency/voltage. It shuts down at 20-25C beyond TCC, or approximately 120 to 125C.

Quote from intel specs http://download.intel.com/design/pro...s/31873201.pdf

"An external signal, PROCHOT# (processor hot), is asserted when the processor core temperature has reached its maximum operating temperature. If the Thermal Monitor
is enabled, the TCC will be active when PROCHOT# is asserted....The TCC causes the processor to adjust its operating frequency (via the bus multiplier) and input voltage (via the VID signals). This combination of reduced frequency and VID results in a reduction to the processor power consumption."

http://download.intel.com/design/pro...x/31873401.pdf
"In the event of a catastrophic cooling failure, the processor will automatically shut down when the silicon temperature has exceeded the TCC activation temperature by approximately 20 to 25 °C. At this point the system bus signal THERMTRIP# goes active and power must be removed from the processor."

Many of us on xtremesystems have had our cpus at DTS=0 and beyond. On my E8400, at DTS=0, fluke or temp probe to casing of CPU reads ~94-95C, and at that point throttling (decrease in frequency occurs). My cpu shutdown when casing of my CPU read 118C (tjunction cant be lower), roughly 23C beyond the point where DTS=0.

In attached pic, you can see I am beyond DTS=0, this was done before realtemp existed, with coretemp. Unfortunately pic of IR gun is unclear...very difficult to angle camera just right to get all in focus...but point is cpu is not shutdown and I am past Tjmax/TCC. '
 
Hi diggsy thanks for the quick reply. I have done what you asked.
Idle temps were 44-37oc core 0 being the hottest and gradually decreasing untill 37 on core 3.

I ran the prime95 test and after 14 minutes my temps were
Core 0 80
Core 1 79
Core 2 77
Core 3 75

From what you are saying under load these are running hot?
 
That's quite hot yeah, you may want to invest in another cooler or better airflow before clocking, even on stock cooling my processor wouldn't hit that @ 3.2.
 
I have a Lian Li v350 case, so there isnt a lot of room for coolers. I was advised that the scythe mini ninja cooler that i have was one of the best that would fit a M-ATX spec. I only have 1 hdd and 1 optical drive, these are sata to reduce cabling and increase airflow.

Are these temps too hot for stock? This computer has been running since July 2007 without any problems.
 
Hi diggsy thanks for the quick reply. I have done what you asked.
Idle temps were 44-37oc core 0 being the hottest and gradually decreasing untill 37 on core 3.

I ran the prime95 test and after 14 minutes my temps were
Core 0 80
Core 1 79
Core 2 77
Core 3 75

From what you are saying under load these are running hot?

Yeah, as above those temps are very hot and at the moment I wouldn't suggest you overclock.

Don't worry about normal day to day running though, as there is very little out there that will get your CPU as warm as Prime. You'll likely not see much over 65-70 at full load with anything else.

I would assume that your case is the major factor holding you back. It seems pretty small for an air cooled system.

It does look like a Corsair H50 would fit in there, so that might be worth looking at, although it would be £50 odd to get an extra few hundred mhz out of your CPU - not sure if its worth it tbh.
 
Ok thats not a problem, was just an avenue i was keen to explore. I will look into other cooling possibilities, i just didnt think it would be a problem as at the time of my build there were several other forum membes with similar systems that had an overclocked cpu in the same case.

Am i right in assuming that coretemp is one of the more reliable temperature programs. i have default mobo programs such as easy tune pro etc that report diff temps to the ones in coretemp?

Thanks Again
 
Yeah CoreTemp is pretty good. Also try Realtemp to compare.

The only thing about these programs is they often set the tjmax at 100c, which is supposedly higher than Intel state it should be (90c) so as a result your temps look artificially a little high.

I have read loads and loads about these tjmax settings and it would seem that although Intel wrote 90c for the Q6600 (G0 Stepping) it is broadly thought that 95c gives more accurate temps.

You can go into the settings of CoreTemp and set an offset (I would recommend 5c) to get more accurate temps. In Realtemp you can go into the settings and change the tjmax (again I would recommend 5c less, so 95c).

Something here for you to get your teeth into (although he does suggest changing the tjmax to 90)... http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/476469-truth-about-temperatures-voltages.html

Just a thought now I am writing this, is your Q6600 a G0 or B3? Use CPU-Z to check.
 
Last edited:
6600 is GO. I have have an H50 installed

Before with Scythe Was
36-40c idle
81-83c load

Now
39-42 idle
67-69 load

I have tried to clock it higher, to 3.3ghz and 3.4ghz and get errors in prime. I think this is something to do with either memory settings or the north bridge possibly overheating. When its clocked higher it does even get to 65c before erroring, presumably this means its memory or something else?

Ooops you're replying to me in the wrong thread /facepalm :p :D

Reply in your original thread, or start a new one if you like and I will see if I can help you out. I need you to post all of your current bios settings too.
 
Yeah CoreTemp is pretty good. Also try Realtemp to compare.

The only thing about these programs is they often set the tjmax at 100c, which is supposedly higher than Intel state it should be (90c) so as a result your temps look artificially a little high.

I have read loads and loads about these tjmax settings and it would seem that although Intel wrote 90c for the Q6600 (G0 Stepping) it is broadly thought that 95c gives more accurate temps.

You can go into the settings of CoreTemp and set an offset (I would recommend 5c) to get more accurate temps. In Realtemp you can go into the settings and change the tjmax (again I would recommend 5c less, so 95c).

Something here for you to get your teeth into (although he does suggest changing the tjmax to 90)... http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/476469-truth-about-temperatures-voltages.html

Just a thought now I am writing this, is your Q6600 a G0 or B3? Use CPU-Z to check.


i will have a read of the article now. According to CPU-Z under stepping it refers my cpu as 'B' and the revision as 'go'
the core speed is also down as 1600 mhz? is that right? My cpu should be running 2.4ghz or is it because of the multipliers etc that it reads 1600mhz on this?
 
i will have a read of the article now. According to CPU-Z under stepping it refers my cpu as 'B' and the revision as 'go'
the core speed is also down as 1600 mhz? is that right? My cpu should be running 2.4ghz or is it because of the multipliers etc that it reads 1600mhz on this?
Check the first pic in my thread. Turn off the thermal throttling and EIST function.

This will lower it when its not it use then will go to set speeds when your CPU is at load/working. To test this run prime95 small FFT and watch your mhz shoot back to 2400
 
Yeah, so you have a G0 chip, which is great, as they run cooler than the B3.

Regarding it reading 1600, as above, thats Speedstep and C1IE. If the board is stable, leave them alone as they will save you power and keep the heat and voltages down when not needed.
 
Thats great Diggsy, iv also had a read of the article, this makes sense, I dont pretend to know half as much as some of you guys on here but i can definitly relate to that.
Thanks Again
 
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