***The Official Q6600 Overclocking Thread ***

[V3g3tto]

Crap, i read it was meant to be 1.9v! Recommends 1.8v!!

It's set at 2.1v with these settings:

Ai Overclock - Manual
CPU Ratio Settig - Auto
FSB Strap - Auto
FSB Freq. - 360
PCIE Freq. - 100
DRAM Freq. - 720~
DRAM Control Rat - Auto
DRAM Timing Control - Manual
4
4
4
12
Rest Auto...
DRAM Static Read Control - Auto
Transaction Booster - Disabled
CPU Voltage - 1.40v
CPU PLL Voltage - Auto
FSB Termination Voltage - Auto
DRAM Voltage - 2.1
Rest Auto...CPU Spread Disabled.

So that's a 3.2ghz OC, will test it. Oh 2T you say, that's on auto too, will change that.

Thanks for the info.

I got reboots at first when tried 3.4ghz and BSOD's too. looks like vcore AND RAM voltage is too blame.

Still doesnt solve the huge CPU core temp spread, but temps seem stable enoguh so not a huge issue now.

 

[V3g3tto]

Might be an idea to start from scratch with the overclocking. Take it all back to stock, and manually set the vcore at it's vid value. Set memory to about 2.1 and keep it on a lower than stock speed, with settings on auto for memory (apart from vdimm). Now take the fsb up gradually try 289, then stress test, then 311 and stress etc for 333..355. Basically try to find when it becomes unstable. Then nudge up vcore one step until stable. Now up fsb to next step and repeat.... make sure you keep ddr frequency below stock to keep it out of the equation, and keep close eye on temps. I hope you don't think I'm trying to teach granny how to suck eggs, but sometimes you just need to go back to stock and start again.

I do think it may be worth getting some AS5 instead of the stuff you're using.

You may also want to take a break from it before you chuck it all out the window! Overclocking can be bloody frustrating at times, but it's great when it goes how you want it to!

I'm just hopeless with voltages, ain't got much clue what they should be, but you're right, i'll do the step by step approach, but seeing as you got pretty similar setup to me(well identical for this case), you know what it can do, so i'll have a dabble. Thanks.

And yes, that thermal grease doesn't cut it, i removed the HSF, and it looked like soapy liquid on the CPU, doesn't actually set, stays semi-solid. This is also a pain as it makes the heatsink slide about when you're installing it lol.

 

[Hesky82]

FSB Strap can be set to 266 up to 400FSB and 333 over that. For me with the NB FSB strap set to 333 I’m good all the way up to 500FSB

You can tell when the incorrect strap is being used because the board will briefly shutdown when you save the new bios settings.

 

[V3g3tto]

Used to shutdown with new BIOS settings, though doesn't seem to now (though yeh it's been BSODing heh). I'll try setting the strap to 266 then, see how that goes.

at 3.4GHz now - Had to up vcore to 1.450v, but due to the BSOD, (just after the windows loading bar), i upped DRAM voltage to 2.15v, though that's the max i'll put that.

Temps...same as 3ghz at 36C idle on my hottest core. Will OCCT test it in a sec.

Edit: Very odd, my vcore changes don't show right in Asus probe or CPU-Z anymore, both show 1.41/1.42 (roud-up). It's manually set to 1.45, it has to be else it won't load windows. Did this @ 3.2 and 3.0 OC's.

 

[Hesky82]

That’s just vdrop, make sure you have cpu voltage damper or load-line calibration enabled as its now called in the latest bios.

 

[V3g3tto]

Ahhh, i wondered where damper went. Think it's on Auto, right that's one problem solved.

Can't figure out the northbridge strap, shuts down to restart even on auto. Unless you got any diea what it should be at 380 FSB? Seems a bit complicated, as if i have to change the ratio, so theRAM divider is real low, so when the strap is applied it doesn't go over 800....heh i don't know.

 

[hernaldo]

Do you have much variation in core temps? i.e. like i've listed mine above. I might reapply my heatsink, though i've read again, it's the luck of the draw with quality testing, and i got one thats....crap.

yeah a fair bit of variation, at max load for an hour or so using prime 95 quad core version small FFTs I'm getting 68c on core 0\1 and about 54c, occassionally flickering at 55c on cores 2\3 (measured with coretemp)

I really wouldn't worry unless the difference is more than 5c-6c under full load after half an hour or so.

I've found there can be a difference of 7c after full load for a couple of mins, but it soon catches up to nearly always be a gap of 4c after any length of time as stated ^

I don't think you should have lapped your cpu really, as doing that sort of thing, unless you know exactly what your doing nearly always goes wrong\end up with worse result than what you started with.

Your temps\behaviour of your system sounds almost exactly the same as my Q6600, I also have a P5k premium and same VID as you (1.325v). I had same thing happening as you at 3.4Ghz, but after setting the bios to 1.475v and enabling the option to get rid of vdroop, Cpu-Z now reads 1.448v and its done 2 hours on prime95 with no problems so far, will do a longer run tomorrow.

Thats at 3.47Ghz, so pretty sure I will be able to get 3.5Ghz at least with a little more tinkering, it might even do it on the vcore its currently at.

.....Not sure about your cooler though, your temps do seem VERY low so unless your getting near 70c or more then keep on pumping in the volts into the cpu to get your overclock stable, having said that I'm new to this so do take anything I say with a pinch of salt

 

[hernaldo]

Ahhh, i wondered where damper went. Think it's on Auto, right that's one problem solved.

Can't figure out the northbridge strap, shuts down to restart even on auto. Unless you got any diea what it should be at 380 FSB? Seems a bit complicated, as if i have to change the ratio, so theRAM divider is real low, so when the strap is applied it doesn't go over 800....heh i don't know.

Mine shuts down momentarily, before turning itself back on when I alter some bios settings. I don't think its a problem though is it?

I thought it was due to the particular setting changed, I've noticed it doesn't always do it, but if I change a few settings then it will. I thought it was just that particular options, if they are changed will cause the shutdown\restart....and that its a normal behaviour for the board?

I'm NOT talking when it shuts down, restarts with a load of default settings (like RAM running at DDR800)?

I've got some wierd behaviour though, the properites in "My Computer" says my CPU is running at 3.89Ghz!!!? Whats that all about

 

[Hesky82]

double post

 

[Hesky82]

Ahhh, i wondered where damper went. Think it's on Auto, right that's one problem solved.

Can't figure out the northbridge strap, shuts down to restart even on auto. Unless you got any diea what it should be at 380 FSB? Seems a bit complicated, as if i have to change the ratio, so theRAM divider is real low, so when the strap is applied it doesn't go over 800....heh i don't know.

266 maybe fine up to 450FSB but the DRAM frequency could have climbed to high way before then, so shift up to the 333 strap.

 

[V3g3tto]

yeah a fair bit of variation, at max load for an hour or so using prime 95 quad core version small FFTs I'm getting 68c on core 0\1 and about 54c, occassionally flickering at 55c on cores 2\3 (measured with coretemp)

I really wouldn't worry unless the difference is more than 5c-6c under full load after half an hour or so.

I've found there can be a difference of 7c after full load for a couple of mins, but it soon catches up to nearly always be a gap of 4c after any length of time as stated ^

I don't think you should have lapped your cpu really, as doing that sort of thing, unless you know exactly what your doing nearly always goes wrong\end up with worse result than what you started with.

Your temps\behaviour of your system sounds almost exactly the same as my Q6600, I also have a P5k premium and same VID as you (1.325v). I had same thing happening as you at 3.4Ghz, but after setting the bios to 1.475v and enabling the option to get rid of vdroop, Cpu-Z now reads 1.448v and its done 2 hours on prime95 with no problems so far, will do a longer run tomorrow.

Thats at 3.47Ghz, so pretty sure I will be able to get 3.5Ghz at least with a little more tinkering, it might even do it on the vcore its currently at.

.....Not sure about your cooler though, your temps do seem VERY low so unless your getting near 70c or more then keep on pumping in the volts into the cpu to get your overclock stable, having said that I'm new to this so do take anything I say with a pinch of salt

I didn't actualy lap it, i kinda polished it a few times with 1200 paper, just to smooth it over (well actually to get rid of any crap on it), you can still see the writing on it perfectly.

Also, my temps read (at 3.2ghz). Core 0 - 35C, 1 -32C, 2 - 25C, 3 - 30C. That's just with this browser open, and it's like that regardless what load is on it. My vcore is at 1.45 at the moment, with my RAM voltage at 2.1v. It doesn't last 2 seconds in prime95 blend, get blue BSOD straight away.

Will try it on 3.2ghz now...

 

[V3g3tto]

266 maybe fine up to 450FSB but the DRAM frequency could have climbed to high way before then, so shift up to the 333 strap.

Ok will try that. It's annoying if i put it back to auto after though, because it jumps the dram frequency up without telling me lol, so it crashes, i then find a dram frequency of like 1200 lol.

At 3.2Ghz now @ 1.450v. Might try upping that vcore, because it's not stable at 3.4ghz whatsoever in prime95.

 

[Hesky82]

I didn't actualy lap it, i kinda polished it a few times with 1200 paper, just to smooth it over (well actually to get rid of any crap on it), you can still see the writing on it perfectly...

tbh that was a waste of time if you didn’t use a completely flat and true surface to rub down the ihs, more than likely explains why temps didn’t improve.
Maybe have a better go on both the cooler and cpu?

 

[V3g3tto]

tbh that was a waste of time if you didn’t use a completely flat and true surface to rub down the ihs, more than likely explains why temps didn’t improve.
Maybe have a better go on both the cooler and cpu?

Did it a bit on both, yeh was a waste of time, was just a tester really, my priority was re-applying the thermal grease and heatsink. My temps went up slightly actually, but they are still low to be fair.

1.4625v @ 3375mhz now (375 FSB). Good call on the Strap, didn't shutdown at restart, seems to like it. I'll try the blend again, but i can't see it working.

My temps are still 36C idle heh. Last time hit 57C under blend. One wierd CPU this.

 

[Hesky82]

Ok will try that. It's annoying if i put it back to auto after though, because it jumps the dram frequency up without telling me lol, so it crashes, i then find a dram frequency of like 1200 lol.

At 3.2Ghz now @ 1.450v. Might try upping that vcore, because it's not stable at 3.4ghz whatsoever in prime95.

The “general” rule when overclocking is to keep the FSB to NB strap as low as possible after setting an acceptable CPU and memory speed, but these P5K boards seem to break this understanding and often performs best using the 333 strap regardless of FSB speeds.

So set your fsb strap and choose the appropriate divider to keep your memory frequency at an achievable target, its as easy as that!

 

[V3g3tto]

Good advice on the voltages guys, it actually ran blend fine. Although haven't tested if for any decent amount of time, the fact it progressed without errors proves the voltages were my only problem. If i do get errors, it would suggest lack of juice or naff RAM. It hit 58C under blend, nothign seems to budge the temp, though i don't think i can push the vcore a lot more can i?

If temps aren't a problem, then cooling isn't, then it's purely down to the chip. I'm hoping it's not a weak one.

 

[V3g3tto]

Ran small FFT's last night with prime95, hit 68C @ 3.4ghz, so i stopped it.

Though think i've figured out the high temps (though 10C core temp spread between cores is a mystery):

a) didn't properly clean off the 1st application, hence temps about 3C higher
b) Zalman STG1 Thermal grease takes about a week to cure and settle in.
c) Re-fitting the Zalman 9700 cooler, complete pain on that grease as it slides everywhere, so heatsink slid back and forth several times, surely spreading the grease out.
d) Only applied grease to the CPU spreader this time and not the heatsink as well, the movement of the heatsink during installation may have thinned it too much (this is not paste btw, it's thinner and applied with a brush)

Might try tonight to redo it all without moving accidentally sliding the heatsink about when trying to screw it down, though to be fair, the stuff i applied to the cpu was perfectly uniform.

 

[tyranus]

How much of an overclock is it generally ok to start at? Is straight up to 3ghz taking the ****?

 

[spb251272]

Sounds like you're making some progress at last! It does look like you're never going to get superclocks from that chip, but I'd just keep going the way you are and see where you get to.

3.4 wouldn't really be a disaster, but I must admit I'd be a bit peed off if mine was like that. You just expect 3.6 as a given with the G0 Q6600's.With a bit more tweaking you may even reach 3.5 or 3.6. Otherwise, you could always sell it on MM and buy another (with your fingers crossed).

Well my thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme was delivered this morning, so I know what I'll be doing when I get in fom work! With 3.2 stable at 1.25vcore (and that's with Load Line Calibration diabled) on the stock cooler, I'm hoping for at least 3.6. Anything over that will be a bonus.

 

[V3g3tto]

Yeh it's crap that my VID is 1.325v,but i reckon i can get it to 3.6ghz,which is all i wanted really. The second time i applied the heatsink i haven't done it right for the reasons listed above, it's added maybe 5C onto what my temp was originally (though i have to check it out due to the 10C variation in cores)

i'm going to clean it using some wipes, leave to dry, sand it down a bit with 1200 paper, then reapply the grease. Hard to know with this stuff whether to apply to just the CPU, heatsink or both, as Zalman says both.