Super noob needs help

Sunburn

Sunburn

Sunburn

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Joined
5 Nov 2007
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99
Spec -
CPU Name String: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
CPU Name: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (Kentsfield)
Platform: ASUS STRIKER2 EXTREME bios 0704
CPU Speed: 2400.00MHz (266.67 x 9.00)

RAM
OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666C7 1333MHz Platinum (2x2GB)

PSU
Enermax Galexy DDX 1000w

OS win vista 64bit

The system is water cooled (cpu + fusion block) with 360rad / big ass pump etc, with additional fans on the rest of the system where needed, case is a Silverston t70J

using the default level up in the bios i cant get my system to be stable in windows at anything above the stock level of 2.4gig im really stupid and have read many a guide but i simply dont get the maths or what needs to be changed. I suspect i should be able to get 3.6Gig out of this system shouldnt i?

Can any one walk me step by step through setting up the bios correctly, i have a spare laptop with msn/voice coms if some one is willing to help.

hoping someone can help me.

look forward to your replies.

PS CoreTemp is reading tempreture at above stock values at:36c 37c 31c 32c do these look right?

Sunburn
 
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temps sound a little high for a stock Q6600 if speedstep is still enabled.

other than that, read the stickies here, bump in small increments, test for stability, etc.

best of luck, mate.
 
Temps look fine, it is load temps you only need to be concerned about.

OK here goes :

Set your CPU multi to 9
Set your FSB to 400 (1600 QDR)
Set your CPU vCore to 1.5v
Set your memory to unlinked and to its stock value (1333mhz or nearest value to it) also check that you have the correct memory voltage applied.

That should get you to 3.6ghz although it may need fine tuning to get stability. Test it out and adjust the values accordingly to gain stability (if temps are good (<60) raise voltage slightly - if temps are poor (70+) lower FSB until stable.
 
Cheers mk17,
I have read several (hundred) guides and they all confuzzle me, i'm trying to understand whats safe and whats not and looking for tried and tested methods however im starting to think its unique to every overclock, and trial and error is the only way forward.

Cheers Webbo,

Its the voltage i is scared sheetless about and I'm not sure how i get the memory to stay at stock speeds? as all the guides i have read say memory speed is related to FSB speed... err so if im increasing the FSB its also increasing the memory :) also guides say to keep memory linked where as you suggest that it should be unlinked?

Will 1.5v be safe for the Vcore? i really don't want to fry my chip and worse yet damage my mobo :) all i want is a stable overclock so i can play games online. On a tuned system so to speak.

Thanks for your helps so far guys its appreciated.

Sunburn
 
You need to adjust the Front Side Bus to Northbridge Strap

Not to sure on that motherboards BIOS but if it follows standard ASUS bios setups then this might be of help

In regards to temps wouldnt worry about idle to much.. those are fine as long as your load temps are under 70c then thats all you need worry about
 
Cheers Pneumonic,

I think the temps will settle a little bit more as i have only had the system running for a 4 hours or so and i know it takes a little while for the AS to make a good bond with the waterblock and cpu slug.

is the 1.5v Vcore suggested wise? as im really not sure what these Quad Q6600 (Kentsfield) can cope with?
 
Your motherboard is a 790i (Nvidia chipset). The Nvidia chipset allows you to 'unlink' your memory from the FSB speed. You can therefore run the memory unlinked as if you were to run the memory linked without adjusting the strap you would effectively need your memory to run at 1600mhz (400x4 QDR). Obviously if you can adjust the strap to run the memory in line (linked) to the FSB then all is good.

1.5v is perfectly safe for a watercooled Q6600 aslong as 100% load temps do not exceed 70c. 1.5v was just a ball park figure, it may need more or it may be fine with less, each CPU is different so no-one can tell you exactly what voltage you should use - you have to run some tests by trial and error to find that out yourself I'm afraid rather than be spoon fed the info.

*Edit* Just seen your last post and now wonder why I even bothered trying to help. :(
 
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yup 1.5v as w3bbo said is perfectly fine of water cooling / high end air cooling... with the Q6600 in general its temps that hold the clock back rather than voltage... I ran my rig using high end air cooling at well over 1.5v for months with no issue or damage to the CPU..

AS takes around 200 hours to "bed in" assumming that durring that time you are having periods of 100% load and then letting it cool to room temperature..

Again as w3bbo says overclocking is a lot about trial and error all CPU are different and you will need to learn the little querks of your individual setup.. I would start out as w3bbo suggests and then from there you can start to play around and see what you can get stable
 
Cheers guys for all the words of wisdom and encouragement, its really is appreciated from a noobs point of view :)

If i understand correctly the first step i assume is to set the cpu voltage to 1.5v, set the FSB too 400 and then to unlink the ram so its running at the default speed settings as if the FSB was at 266 then to prime-stable test to make sure the vcore doesnt go above 70c is that correct?

If this works out fine, i assume i can then either lower the vcore down to reduce heat and/or increase the ram frequency to improve performavce further?

if i get crashes how do i know whether or not i need to increase voltage over the cpu/ram or to decrease? or do you only decrease voltage across the system when you start to get close to the vcore of 70c (under load)?

Cheers

Sunburn

PS. Webbo im glad you did bother! your information has been very informative so far, but like with every thing its always best to double check all angles before going ahead with things you may not be 100% sure about I was simply posing the question whether or not these 6600 can take 1.5v continuously. :)
 
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Sunburn said:
PS. Webbo im glad you did bother! your information has been very informative so far, but like with every thing its always best to double check all angles before going ahead with things you may not be 100% sure about I was simply posing the question whether or not these 6600 can take 1.5v continuously. :)
Click to expand...

Check out the links in w3bbo's signature... he's compiled a database of q6600 clocks, so you can get some idea of what to expect...

Also, w3bbo is a pretty experienced overclocker, you can pretty much take whatever he says as gospel, and never have to question it... he does have pretty much the fastest stable q6600 on Earth... (non-extreme cooled at least...)
 
V|per said:
Check out the links in w3bbo's signature... he's compiled a database of q6600 clocks, so you can get some idea of what to expect...

Also, w3bbo is a pretty experienced overclocker, you can pretty much take whatever he says as gospel, and never have to question it... he does have pretty much the fastest stable q6600 on Earth... (non-extreme cooled at least...)
Click to expand...

Looks like V|per is starting up the W3bbo fan club :D
 
well there a couple of people on this fourm with a huge amount of knowledge w3bbo / cob / weescott to name a few
 
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Ok guys, Vista 64bit has been proving a pain in the Ar$$ so i reluctantly decided to *upgrade* to XP, ill be giving the above a go tonight, o fingers x ill be able to post back here with my results. ;)
Sunburn
 
Hey guys,

Sorry for the delay, good news, I managed to unlink the ram so its running at stock speed and at 1.8v and have manged to get the cpu stable (6+) hours in World in conflict / Cod4 at very high to max settings, CPU running overclocked at .... 3.7ghz
(well chuffed), temps fluctuate on the cores between 38 and 41c really happy, voltage at 1.28 ..

Q. do you think i could push it any more? or should i try getting more out of the ram now?

Sunburn
 
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