Stability + Overclocking - Help Needed!!

[PhotoGsy]

Hi folks,
I've just built a new system for the first time and it all works ok, but I have some stability problems, even before I start OCing...

Just wondered if anyone can help, firstly to get it stable, and then to start OCing it a bit??

Components are as follows:
GA-X48T-DQ6 (BIOS F5)
OCZ 10666C7 DDR3 (8GB)
Intel Q9450
Zalman ZM500-HP Power supply

The RAM is supposed to run at 7-7-7-20 timings, but the stability was fairly poor, so I've changed these to 8-8-8-21 which has improved things.
Also changed "Performance enhance" in the BIOS to 'Standard', which I think has helped.

It managed about 6 hours of Prime last night before just locking up - screen frozen, just had to switch off.

Any help would be much appreciated!!

 

[PhotoGsy]

Thanks for the reply!
It was freezing at stock settings yes.

I tried setting the RAM to a higher voltage and it freezes even quicker - literally less than a minute of Prime...???

Just to check I'm doing this right - I went into "PC Health/Status" in the BIOS to check the voltages and the "DDR15V" was showing 1.728v, so I increased the DDR3 voltage by 0.15v - My BIOS works by increasing by an amount rather than specifying the total.
Is that correct??

I was running Prime in blend mode.

Thanks