Striker II Extreme with Q6600(G0) Overclocking Guide - 4GHz :D

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 14:00

*Warning/Disclaimer* - Putting silly voltages through your components can kill them. Myself or OcUK carry no responsibility whatsoever for any of your equipment if you decide to follow any of the advice or use any of the settings in this guide.

General Consensus is that max Vcore for a Q6600 on air cooling is aroun 1.5V - 1.55V MAX - PLEASE only push further than this if you absolutely have to and have either water/ phase cooling.

I'm posting this to help out anyone struggling to clock their Q6600 G0 on an Asus Striker II Extreme 790i Ultra board.

There has always been serious slaggings for the Striker boards, especially when it comes to Quad Core CPUs - even more so when filling all four RAM slots on the MOBO.

After a many attempts and crashes half way through stress tests and benchmark runs, I've finally got mine sorted.

I'll update this thread later on with BIOS screenshots and some benchmark screenies.

PLEASE bear in mind that no two CPUs will clock identically - there are no guarantees here - hopefully this will be a good starting point for those who are struggling to clock what is reportedly the hardest board to clock with a quad.

Before we start fiddling with the hardware the software I'm using on my machine is:

Striker II Bios 1104:

http://rapidshare.com/files/148386046/STRIKER_II_EXTREME1104.zip

Striker II Drivers:

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

Nvidia GFX Driver:

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

X-Fi Driver:

http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=1&catName=Sound+Blaster

At least with software & drivers we can rule any problems out there before we start

BIOS Settings:

1) - Extreme Tweaker:

2) - Voltages:

3) - RAM:

4) - CPU Config:

5) - Temps:

6) - Spread Spectrum Etc:

Benchmarks:

Far Cry 2 DX10: [1st Place DX10] http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12755892&postcount=2

3DMark 06:

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 14:13

Yep

Its called "Making it have it."

42 degrees idle - mid 60's load

**EDIT**

Just checked in BIOS and its set to 1.635V.

CPUz is reporting it at 1.68V

Running 4 Sticks of RAM and thats always meant needing more vcore than usual along with the NB.
__________________

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 19:14

*OP UPDATED

^^^^^

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 19:28

Yep

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 20:08

Hi Webbo

What settings would you recommend mate?

Not tweaked GTL much - stable in benchmarks but crashed after an hour of orthos this afternoon. 3.9GHZ seems more stable.

To anyone else reading this, webbo knows what he's on about

*Edit*

w3bbo said:
Nice guide all in all but isn't 'recommending' someone to put near 1.7v through a cpu is a little reckless?

Disclaimer added

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 21:05

MooMoo444 said:
1.68v is pretty nasty for only 4ghz :S

Good job though if you can cool it

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12772156&postcount=3 ^^^^

Still looking for advice from Webbo & Pneumonic on GTL settings

Any pointers lads? Apparently, a wise man once said:

"Voltage....Your best friend, and your worst enemy."

AndyOcUK · 26 Oct 2008 at 21:35

w3bbo said:
.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom.....Wisdom..................

**Edit** just realised you are using 1.6v VTT not 1.62v so your setting should be 51.20031mv (so still +50mv) - just wanted to clarify before the mathematicians jump on my back lol.

Nice one Webbo - more tweaking tomorrow night. Will try dropping Vcore to 1.525V and work from there.

CPU details are as follows if this helps:

Q6600 G0
Product Code: Q6600SLACR
FPO: L720B058
Pack Date: 08/15/07
Version: E10342-001

Told you he knew his stuff folks

AndyOcUK · 27 Oct 2008 at 19:17

Cheers- still some stability issues - help needed Webbo

VID is 1.2625

AndyOcUK · 27 Oct 2008 at 19:38

Pneumonic said:
what batch number?

Q6600 G0
Product Code: Q6600SLACR
FPO: L720B058
Pack Date: 08/15/07
Version: E10342-001

AndyOcUK · 27 Oct 2008 at 23:23

w3bbo said:
Post your current settings and I'll try and point you in the right direction.

Cheers Webbo - Last run was as in the OP. Ran Far Cry 2 Benchmark and 3DM06 fine - crashes in orthos. Need to fine tune voltages mainly I think. Any help will be greatly appreciated

Thanks again in advance

AndyOcUK · 29 Oct 2008 at 20:36

Back again - still struggling at 2T.

GTL voltage steps are different for each core...46 - 52 - 56 are the increments available to set.

Won't get into windows at 4GHz with either 8 or 9 multi with less than 1.625V core in BIOS (Probably nearer 1.6V accounting for vdroop) and at 1.6375V, the BIOS voltage monitor AND CPU-z (1.4.8.0) report 1.68V Vcore :confused:

Under clocked RAM to 1000MHz from the stock speed of 1333MHz. No different. Cant see any of my components being the weak link.

Any ideas webbo?

FULL list of components as follows mate:

Akasa Eclipse 62 Case
Antec Quattro 850W PSU
Striker II Extreme 790i Ultra (BIOS 1104)
4 X 1Gb Corsair XMS DDR3 1333MHz
Gainward GTX 280
X-Fi Fatality
2 X WD Raptor 150Gb Striped RAID (0)
1 X WD 400Gb SATA II (Storage)
1 X LG Bluray/ DVDRW Combo
CPU Details posted above

Swiftech GTz CPU Block
Swiftech Tripe RAD (3 X 120mm)
Swiftech (Laing) MCP 655
1/2 Tube
NB Fusion block watercooled
Asus VRM fans both in place
Antec Spot cool

Last night, it would run the Far Cry 2 benchmark no probs at all at 4GHz - seems to crap out on CPU test in 3DM06 though.

After 10 runs of Far Cry 2 bench, temp maxed out at 47 degrees so heat can't be an issue.

Either I'm missing something or I've pushed it as far as I can