Shadowake's OFFICIAL Overclock Thread!

shadowake · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:07

Well as per my last post I've lost all my overclock settings and have to start from scratch

This time I want to make sure my overclock is rock solid, so I thought what better way than to start my own progress thread where you guys can lend your expert views and help me along the way!

My main system specs are:

- ABit IP 35Pro Motherboard

- Intel Q6600 Processor 95W Edition 1066FSB 2.4GHz (As Standard) https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-161-IN

- Asus GeForce EN8800 Ultra 768MB

- 4GB Crucial Balistix PC2-8500C5 1066MHz https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-093-CR

- Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10000rpm x2 In RAID0 https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-069-WD

- Tagan 1100W PSU

- Asus Silent Square Pro CPU Cooler

- Vista Ultimate 64bit

Heres some screenshots from standard:

So what should my first step from here be?

Normally I'd just crank up the FSB until it wont go any further and then up the voltage. I didn't change any of the RAM setting though last time and left it on 1:1.50 (Default) but upped the volts to the rated 2.2V. I also left the multiplyer on x9 although I've been told that x8 may have been better to work with?

EDIT: Any other info you need/want just ask and I'll get it posted up!

shadowake · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:38

Is it worth changing the RAM divider to 1:1 instead of the default 1:1.50?

Also should I drop the multiplier to x8 or will x9 be better?

shadowake · 15 Apr 2008 at 20:26

Cob said:
Yeah keep it on 1:1 til you've finished clocking the CPU. Also set your memory voltage to 2.2v for the Ballistix.

OK set it to 1:1 @ 2.2V it's running 5-5-5-18 timings are they OK?

I've set the processor to 350x8 on default volts. Priming it now, I'll give it 30mins then add 5MHz.

Also turned off fan control and speedstep.

shadowake · 15 Apr 2008 at 21:28

360x8 passed 30 min Prime95 small FFT test. I'll up to 365 or 370 and test again.

shadowake · 15 Apr 2008 at 22:33

Cob said:
5-5-5-18 is grand til you've finished your CPU clocking.

OK cool, I'll keep it at that for now.

380x8 passed 35min Small FFT test in Prime95.

Quite suprised I havent had to up the voltage a notch yet, I'll up to 385 and retest.

shadowake · 15 Apr 2008 at 23:07

Well that passed too. Going to call it a night tonight and I'll give 390 a go after work tomorrow.

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 12:39

Think my teps were no more than low 50's in prime (I'll double check when I get home).

What does the DDR2 Reference voltage option do? It's on 0% as standard, but I've heared people say that with four sticks of ram it should be put to +2% or whatever the option is?

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 18:48

Cob said:
Setting it to +2% is meant to help a lot with 4 sticks on that board.

OK stuck it on +2% (wahst does that actually do? Googled it but couldnt find anything).

Board is prime stable at 390x9 but fails on 392, 394 and BSOD'd on 396, 400.

Guess I'll up the core voltage a notch and then try 392x8 again.

Am I best uping the VCore first or should I alter any of the other settings? northbridge etc etc. Or should I wait until uping the VCore further makes no difference to max FSB.

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 19:01

Cob said:
Have you dropped your multiplier to see what your chips max FSB is?

No prob a good idea though I guess as running a x8 multiplyer I may well get near it.

I'll drop my multiplyer to x6 now and see what I can get her to do!

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 19:33

Cob said:
Have you dropped your multiplier to see what your chips max FSB is?

OK dropped the multi to 6 and my system wont post anything above 464.

So my max FSB is 464.

Does this seem about right for a Q6600 on abit IP35 Pro?

That would give me a max speed of 3712MHz on a x8 multiplyer right? Thats more than I need, I'm only expecting to get between 3.4 & 3.6 TBH.

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 19:57

Cob said:
Well 464mhz is decent enough for a Q6600. You could probably get more by fiddling with the voltages and the CPU GTL Ref.

Up your MCH voltage to 1.4v and try 400mhz. if that doesn't work then up your CPU voltage.

I did have the VCore up to 1.5050 just whilst testing for max FSB. As long as it's over 460 that should be good enough.

Is there any reason to find the max FSB apart from for reference?

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 20:07

OK tried 392 again put upped the vcore one notch from 1.2750 to 1.2850 and it failed prime pretty quick then BSOD'd. Upped the vcore to 1.2950 and so far so good, twenty minutes in prime and no warnings. I'll wait another 15mins or so then try 394 with the same vcore.

EDIT: 392 @ 1.2950 is fine I'll up FSB a notch and retest.

EDIT: 394 @ 1.2950 FAILED BSOD

EDIT: 394@ 1.3050 20 minutes prime stable so far... Temps around 61-66degC

shadowake · 16 Apr 2008 at 22:16

396 @ 1.3050 = PASSED
398 @ 1.3050 = PASSED
400 @ 1.3050 = FAIL
400 @ 1.3150 = FAIL
400 @ 1.3250 = PASSED
402 @ 1.3250 = PASSED
404 @ 1.3250 = PASSED
406 @ 1.3250 = FAIL
406 @ 1.3350 = PASSED
408 @ 1.3350 = FAIL
408 @ 1.3450 = PASSED
410 @ 1.3450 = FAIL
410 @ 1.3550 = PASSED
412 @ 1.3550 = FAIL
412 @ 1.3650 = PASSED
414 @ 1.3650 = PASSED
416 @ 1.3650 = PASSED
418 @ 1.3650 = FAIL
418 @ 1.3750 = PASSED
420 @ 1.3750 = FAIL
420 @ 1.3850 = FAIL
420 @ 1.3950 = FAIL
420 @ 1.4050 = PASSED
422 @ 1.4050 = PASSED
424 @ 1.4050 = PASSED
426 @ 1.4050 = FAIL
426 @ 1.4150 = PASSED

shadowake · 18 Apr 2008 at 23:18

OK got my processor up to just over 3.4GHz which is about all I can get temperature wise (until my new fans come at least)

Currently at FSB 412x8 with a 1:1 RAM ratio, so my memorys at 824.

What am I best to do from here? Should I change my ram to 1:1.25 which will put it just under its rated speed? Or are there any other voltage tweeks I need to do. My systems stable at the minute but I've only upped the RAM to it's rated 2.2V and put the VCore up to 1.4150. Any help much apreciated

shadowake · 19 Apr 2008 at 11:24

Cob said:
Yeah I'd stick the memory on 1:1.25. You may as well get your moneys worth out of it.

Messing with the other voltages won't really get you any more atm. They'll just create more heat. Tho you *may* need to up the MCH a touch for running 4 sticks at over 1000mhz.

Might up it to 1.4 if its not stable.

Would it help my temps if I droped my vcore a notch and stabeised it uping some other voltages (north bridge etc). Or would it not really make any difference?

shadowake · 19 Apr 2008 at 13:59

Hmm upped my RAM to 1:1.20 (5:6) and it's fine even on standard MCH.

Upped it again to 1:1.25 (4:5) and the computer wouldn't even boot. Tried upping the MCH from everything up to 1.48V and the computer just blue screens shortly after getting into windows? Also CPU-Z shows my RAM as 6400 (400MHz) not 8500 (1066MHz)?

shadowake · 19 Apr 2008 at 14:36

Cob said:
What's your timmings set to? They'll need to be 5-5-5-15 for 1066mhz. Try 2.25v too as the Ballistix loves voltage.

And it's normal for PC2-8500 to report itself as PC2-6400. The former is just a good overclocking version of the latter.

Ah cheers Cob, timing are on 5-5-5-18 default (I think) I shall go and change them now!

shadowake · 19 Apr 2008 at 14:44

OK don't want to mess this up (never touched these setting before)!

What do I need to change to get 5-5-5-15 timings?

shadowake · 19 Apr 2008 at 15:28

Really wierd PC is completely stable at 426x8 RAM 1:1.20 (5:6) 1022.4MHz @ 2.2V 5-5-5-18

but wont go to 1:1.25 (4:5) 1065MHz @ 2.25V 5-5-5-18 no matter what I seem to do?

shadowake · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:07

RAM timing will tighten up to 5-5-5-12 OK though on 5:6 so may just keep them on that for now and try and tweak them a bit more later.