***The Official Q6600 Overclocking Thread ***

[V3g3tto]

Have BIOS 504 yeh.

Well just played Crysis and small FFT's are fine at this 3420mhz (380x9 @ 1.4875v)

Yep, seems the bottleneck is my CPU. I suppose i won't notice much difference between 3.4ghz and 3.6ghz, it's just my parts are brilliant and my settings are perfect...pure luck not letting me get higher OC is VERY annoying, when there's people with VID's under 1.2v , with them, 3.6 is merely a case of increasing the FSB, then exiting...

450x8 is very possible for me, but like i said, my RAM won't run above 800mhz in 1:1 ratio, won't boot, however it will cap at about 1000mhz. This means at the highest FSB i can get at the next closest ration (5:6), would be 416 FSB. This would bring my clock to 3.33Ghz.

With faster RAM (1066mhz), i wouldn't have to OC it to go further, i'd get roughly a 445 FSB at stock 1066mhz, which will OC a little at 1:1. Will take me to 3.6Ghz in theory.

 

[V3g3tto]

Lowering the mult would only result in lower vcore due to the lower cpu frequency. I don't think that 8x450 would need less vcore than 9x400, for example. By using a lower mult, you're actually stressing the system more, because you need a higher fsb to reach the same speed. If your cpu tops out at 3.6, and you can run at 450fsb, then you'd be better doing this, and running an 8x mult, because performance would be slightly higher due to the higher fsb, and (possibly) higher ram frequency. CPU vcore is directly related to it's frequency, and higher temps is a result of higher frequency, vcore, or both.

If you've got to 3.55 and it's fairly stable, apart from one core, why not try doing some real world stress testing, like playing games, encoding dvds etc. If it's ok with them, then you might be able to get away with running at 3.55.

For me, say 8x416 = 3.33ghz takes a lot less vcore and runs much more stable than say, 9x370 = 3.33ghz. You talking a drop from about 1.46v to 1.36v. Why, i don't know, but this is why i want to go the x8 multiplier route, as i know how high my FSB can go (above 500mhz).

3.55ghz ain't worth it if i know it ain't stable, don't think it was in OCCT to be fair, 3.4ghz is the most i can get with x9 multi, UNLESS i up the vcore even more, but my peak temp on small FFT's is 69C, so i'd say the 1.4875v is enough.

 

[V3g3tto]

I really don't think higher speed ram would get you anywhere.. I'm sure your cpu is the bottleneck... although if the ram is having problems at 1:1 above stock speeds then you could try them in the other pair of ram slots?

Also have you updated your bios to the latest (or most recommended)?

You could try playing with some of the other voltages, although it is probably your cpu causing most the problems.

Tried playing with NB, RAM and CPU voltages so far, however in this BIOS, there are many more, but not much info on them.

Note: I've changed the ratio from 1:1 to 5:6, with strap @ 333, putting my RAM above 900 for the hell of it, if i could do that at 1:1, my problems would be solved!

different slots, now thats an idea. I've found no cases where RAM has to be in a ratio other than 1:1 to OC, so something ain't right(maybe a northbridge issue)

Edit: Forums say (after random searching), the yellow DIMM slots are unstable at OCing, Black slots are stable...wtf lol.

Goin to try it now and let you guys know the results, but i've found a guy with the EXACT same issue as me here: Overclock failed with RAM

 

[hernaldo]

Tried playing with NB, RAM and CPU voltages so far, however in this BIOS, there are many more, but not much info on them.

Note: I've changed the ratio from 1:1 to 5:6, with strap @ 333, putting my RAM above 900 for the hell of it, if i could do that at 1:1, my problems would be solved!

different slots, now thats an idea. I've found no cases where RAM has to be in a ratio other than 1:1 to OC, so something ain't right(maybe a northbridge issue)

Edit: Forums say (after random searching), the yellow DIMM slots are unstable at OCing, Black slots are stable...wtf lol.

Goin to try it now and let you guys know the results, but i've found a guy with the EXACT same issue as me here: Overclock failed with RAM

Yep thats right, the yellow slots are only supposed to be used if your using more than 2 sticks of memory...

Having said that, mine are in the yellow slots as there's not enough room to get them into the black ones due to the ridiculous heatsink attached to the OCZ memory.

 

[hernaldo]

Good point from uzi on the bios, you should have 0504, which is the latest bios for this board (unless a new one's come out since saturday).

Actually, 504 is a big NO NO.

I updated it before realising and can't be arsed going back but....

BIOS VERSION 504 IS KNOWN TO HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH LOADS OF DIFFERENT MEMORY BRANDS....

Keep away, and thats from pretty much anyone who knows anything about the board

(Sorry for caps, just go checkout the asus.com forums for a start, then the xsforums etc etc)

Stick to 404, there's a guide on the asus forums on how to flash back, I defo would if your memory isn't performing as expected

 

[hernaldo]

Lasted 15 mins on OCCT @ 3.5ghz, 1.5v before i got an error, though the error pics don't help at all, the temp didn't pass 57C,hmm..

Apparently our motherboards work best at 333mhz regardless, which is what im using, but will try the 400mhz strap. Dunno why OCCT crashes, ain't running hot, no blue screen, just throws up an error.

Is that what you've set in the bios, or what cpu-z\coretemp\actual readout of the temp?

If its just what you set it too then I'd suspect thats a little too low (if your chip behaves same as mine that is)

I've done some more testing and I'm definately 100% satable at 3.55Ghz, the bios was set too 1.5125 to achieve this. But there we go, if it blow it blows, I'm sure it won't and it if does. Well I'm sure there won't be a problem getting a recplacement etc.

(Defo look into that bios version thing though, it really is a "big deal" to lots of people who have this board and using the older bios totally solved their problems with ram)

I think I'm running 443x8, didn't need to change any voltages other than CPU\RAM for this

 

[V3g3tto]

Thanks for the BIOS tip hernando!!

This BIOS did change a lot of the options.

Mine boots at 3.55, got it at that now, at 1:1, but tempsidle are 38C, and i think it would hit 70C, so not going to try it.

Wierd how you need that vcore for a x8 multi. Well, i've done some testing anyway, and it's either the BIOS or RAM:

Max. FSB without RAM not booting = 416mhz. Which is 832mhz. Yep, that's how much it overclocks on mine. If you change the ratio, thats 999mhz.

It should hit 1066mhz in all fairness, and it can at high ratio's/low FSB. This board can and will hit 500mhz FSB easily, so ill try the 404 BIOS. Thanks.

 

[V3g3tto]

Well, no luck, though i prefer the BIOS options in 404, more guides for them.

But i can't OC past 3.4ghz because my RAM sucks an OCing (People who OC it must use it at a different ratio that doesn't affect their FSB), and my VID means i'm stuffed.

£900 of hardware when at the moment, half the price would have done a better job because if got the short-end of the stick.

 

[uZi]

You've still got 3.4ghz out of a 150 quid chip.. which is better than a 600 quid one tbh.. you haven't really lost anything mate

 

[spb251272]

Exactly - a 3.4ghz quad core is still a VERY fast cpu, and yours will be a VERY fast system! It might not score as high in a few benchmarks, but I'm sure that's not what you bought your pc for I think you've just got to either forget about getting any higher than 3.4, and start enjoying using your pc, or sell that chip and get a new, hopefully better, one.

 

[V3g3tto]

I'll sell it onto my dad maybe in a couple on months. I just hate being ripped like that. I also bought it for the OC potential. If 2 people bought the same ferrari for the same price, yet one could go top speed of 100mph, you wouldn't say "oh, i don't usually go that speed anyway" you'd be like "what the hell? why did that sales rep. get a 220mph one?!"

Could easily got a P5B, a lower PSU and used the stock cooler ansd still got 3.6Ghz with another chip, saving myself a fcouple £100.

Anyway, BIOS has bumped my temp up 5C for now reason, 39C at idle at 3.33, 1.4v, was 32C before at 3.4ghz, might have to reflash to 504 again...

 

[V3g3tto]

lol something wierd has happened. Changed back to latest BIOS, my temps are even higher @ 3.4ghz, 39 idle (these exact same settings were 33 last night/this morning)..

However..

..What niggled me before was the 10C difference between core#0 and core#2. This is now a normal 4-5C difference.

Why am i getting the feeling the Zalman thermal grease is doing a number on me lol (it does take a week to bed in, but temps should gradually go down after stressing for a few days, not up!)

Oh wait, tell a lie, it's just switched cores, core#1 is now the cool one. That makes NO sense whatsoever, as its a chip defect when cores vary so much, even if the Heatsink was seated unevenly, the cool core wouldn't just swap over!

Unbelievable, it's the harry potter of Quads

 

[spb251272]

Problem with your Ferrari analogy is that these chips are not guaranteed to go any higher than stock. We all know they should, but it's not guaranteed. Doesn't make it any less of a bummer, especially when you read about other people easily reaching 3.6. I know I'd be totally ****** off if mine was not a good clocker. I've just moved from a B2 E6600 that I've had running at 3.6 for about 11 months, so if my Q6600 hadn't reached 3.6 I would have been a bit fed up.

Anyway, I'm off to try 3.8 on mine (cringes and hopes he's not upsetting v3g3tto!). After 3 hours of small ffts on 3.6 I'd say it was stable.

 

[uZi]

Thing is, you'd didn't buy a ferrari.. you bought a nissan skyline hoping you could tune it up to go like a ferrari.. sadly yours goes like a porsche instead.. not such a huge deal really is it?

Anyway, with the change in temps.. maybe when changing the bios you've dropped the voltage?

Or maybe your ambient temperatures have dropped.. or when you've left it off for a few hours, its given the heatsink a chance to bed in without being at such high temperatures.. who knows.. could just be the bios change affecting the temperature reading?

I do get it though, bloody annoying when your chip is a let down.. my Opty 170 was a bit of a dud.. could only really run it at 2.4-2.5ghz at reasonable voltages.. whereas a lot of others were hitting 3ghz on air

 

[hernaldo]

lol something wierd has happened. Changed back to latest BIOS, my temps are even higher @ 3.4ghz, 39 idle (these exact same settings were 33 last night/this morning)..

Unbelievable, it's the harry potter of Quads

I wouldn't worry about the temp change between bios revisions, Its todo with intelspeedstep and a setting or two that disables the cpu when not being used. I think those options were removed from the 504 bios (in cpu settings in the bios) so at idle, you will have higher temp.

This is NOTHING whatsoever to worry about, and having those options disabled is prefereble for overclocking\performance.

Basically, the bios puts the cpu into full power mode a couple of hundred milliseconds after the cpu is needed for hard work (something like that).

If you're load temps are higher then I would consider gojng back but I don't think that will be the case

Also like couple of others have said, 3.4Ghz is more than decent, if you think about it, even the people on 3.8Ghz (most chips don't make it that far) only have a 400mhz faster than yourself.

its not even 15% faster

I know how you feel though, but thats overclocking for ya

 

[hernaldo]

Just read your post on switching back to latest and still having high temps. Go and check cpu settings just had a quick look about, there are still a couple of options that affect cpu temp when idle in the 504 bios, could be those.

tbh idle temps don't mean anything - so don't worry about them, could also be the time of day, nights\mornings pretty cold these days?

 

[V3g3tto]

Just re-lapped my CPU, so it's definately not concave anymore, spent an hour with very fine grit, it's like a mirror., the edges went slightly down to copper, without touching the centre, shows ya. Also, when i removed the fan, the thermal grease seemed to have almost burnt off at edges, but was moist in centre. Have put it on both surfaces now following Zalman guidleines. I won't touch it again though, too risky.

My temps are exactly the same though, 38,34,27,32, when it's all settled. I checked back on my earlier posts, seemed i got 57C MAX under 100% load at 3.2ghz, but no longer the case. Therefore, it's not the grease, heatsink, CPU IHS. Must be BIOS. This is new grease compared to slightly bedded...should be some difference.

If only i could system restore to last night lol.

Got a feeling it's reading my temps wrong, it was stable at 73C. Will have another look in BIOS. Actually i'll do one better if anyone can take a peak. Ill try and psot all my BIOS settings.

 

[V3g3tto]

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 378
FSB Strap to North Bridge : AUTO
PCI-E Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: 756
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual
CAS# Latency : 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 4
RAS# Precharge : 4
RAS# ActivateTime : 12
RAS# to RAS# Delay : AUTO
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : AUTO
Read to Precharge Time : AUTO

Read to Write Delay (S/D) : AUTO
Write to Read Delay (S) : AUTO
Write to Read Delay (D) : AUTO
Read to Read Delay (S) : AUTO
Read to Read Delay (D) : AUTO
Write to Write Delay (S) : AUTO
Write to Write Delay (D) : AUTO
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
Clock Over-Charger : AUTO
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax: [3]

CPU Voltage : 1.4625
CPU PLL Voltage : AUTO
North Bridge Voltage : AUTO
DRAM Voltage : 2.1v
FSB Termination Voltage : AUTO
South Bridge Voltage : AUTO
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : AUTO
North Bridge GTL Reference : AUTO

SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled

 

[V3g3tto]

Odd, it now takes less vcore to run stable now, yet my temps are more than 10C higher. Would get blue screen and restart at 1.4625 before, needed 1.4875 i think.

Also, Core #1 is borked, fails worker thread #2 everytime, though lasted a bit longer, others passed small FFT's.

Hot core sitting at 39C idle now. Maybe lapping it made it worse, but can't see how thats possible, unless it's now the heatsink.

 

[uZi]

I'm not a huge believer in auto settings, esp if you're trying to hit 400 FSB with a dodgy CPU..
This is what I'd start from although probs working up from around 380 FSB is 5mhz increments and upping vcore if I'm having problems, but I'm basing most of this on X38 boards, but the idea is the same:

Ai Overclock Tuner : Manual
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
FSB Frequency : 400 <-- or work up from your current towards this
FSB Strap to North Bridge : 400
PCI-E Frequency: 100 or 101
DRAM Frequency: 800
DRAM Command Rate : 2T
DRAM Timing Control: Manual <--- Can tighten these up once the CPU is ok
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
RAS# ActivateTime : 18
RAS# to RAS# Delay : 3
Row Refresh Cycle Time : AUTO
Write Recovery Time : 6
Read to Precharge Time : 3

Read To Write Delay(S/D): 8
Write To Read Delay(S): 3
Write To Read Delay(D): 5
Read To Read Delay(S): 4
Read To Read Delay(D): 6
Write To Write Delay(S): 4
Write To Write Delay(D): 6
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
Clock Over-Charger : AUTO <-- Guessing this is the same as AI clock twister.. could try changing to disabled?
Transaction Booster : Disabled
Relax: [1] <-- may wanna play with this if you're having trouble

CPU Voltage : 1.475 <-- again.. might have to go higher to hit 3.6ghz
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.5 <--- possible you'll need to notch this up slight
North Bridge Voltage : 1.45 <--- probs more than enough
DRAM Voltage : 2.1
FSB Termination Voltage : 1.45  <- again.. more than enough I'm sure
South Bridge Voltage : AUTO
Loadline Calibration : Enabled
CPU GTL Reference : x.63
North Bridge GTL Reference : x.67
SB 1.5V Voltage : AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum : Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum : Disabled

Advanced CPU Configuration
CPU Ratio Control : Manual
- Ratio CMOS Setting : 9
C1E Suppport : Disabled
CPU TM Function : Disabled 
Vanderpool Technology : Disabled  <-- could try enabling, but may make things worse
Execute Disable Bit : Disabled
Max CPUID Value Limit : Disabled

Oh and I'm still not convinced your IHS is flat.. I really would take it to the copper with a low grit then finish off with something high (1200+).. but thats up to you, although the burning you mentioned makes me think something is not flat/making contact