Advice for O'clock w/ Q9650 please?

[knightmirror]

Hello all...

I am having some trouble getting my FSB past 450-465 area. Thing is, I want to link/sync wth RAM @ 2000mhz, which gives a bus of 500 X 4. I don't think it is cooling problems since my temps are normal. My RAM isn't issue either. I think the board takes up to 600 bus speeds, right or no? Anyways, here is my set-up:

EVGA 790i SLI FTW

C2Q 9650 O.C. @ 4.175
(FSB):1856mhz
(Bus Speed):464
(core voltage):1.312/ have tried higher and lower up to 1.4
(FSB voltage): 1.325/ have tried 1.4, but no higher.
(MCP voltage): 1.55/ have tried a bit higher and lower

RAM: OCZ3P20004GK (9-10-10-31 @ 1856 w/ 1.8 voltage), but want to use OCZSLI20002GK for 2000mhz link/sync. RAM checks good with memtest, but cannot get past post with FSB @ 2000. Actually, no higher than 1856.

So, any suggestions??? If anyone will need additional info then I am more than willing. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Gravitational24]

While some boards may get that high not every board is identical. I have seen lots of people get the p5q pro past 500 FSB but my particular one will only do 430. To get it stable past that requires a FSB voltage of 1.48v. So i would say if you memory is 2000 capable it's your mobo. You could probably get it stable but that all depends on what voltages you want to run??? Personally I wouldn't go past 1.4v.

 

[knightmirror]

OK, that does make sense and was my main suspicion of this. I also will not take FSB volts past 1.4; atleast, not without watercooling. Well, this set-up isn't bad (neither is yours), I was just wondering if my limits are reached thus far. Seems so. Am I correct in thinking I can achieve higher bus by going with liquid for cooling?

 

[Gravitational24]

Yeah thats a good overclock and in terms of gaming going any further won't provide you with much extra performance as your cpu will be bottlenecked by your graphics card. I'm not 100% sure about the water cooling fsb thing. If it's your board that doesn't like the higher FSB speed then no I don't think water cooling would help. If it's your CPU that doesn't like the high FSB speed then maybe it would help. I haven't built a water cooling rig yet as much as I would like to need more money

Maybe someone else with more expertise will be able to answer this question but my gut feel is probably no.

 

[Gravitational24]

Here is a section about VTT voltages from the Core 2 Duo/Quad overclocking guide here at Tom's Hardware.

1.2-1.3V - for a FSB of ~400 MHz.
1.4-1.5V – for a FSB of ~420-440 MHz (exceed 1.4V at your own risk with a 45nm chip)!
1.6V – for a FSB of ~440-475 MHz - use at your own risk with a 45nm chip!

So 464 fsb with only 1.325 v I would say is pretty good

 

[knightmirror]

Good advice. Thank you much.

 

[Gravitational24]

All good. Happy to help

 

[ewood]

try a better NB cooler if you dont mind taking off the stock heat pipes (it has they everywhere right?) and i wouldnt be worried to go up to 1.475 on the NB, but thats just me

 

[Gravitational24]

He has been past 1.55v on the northbridge and it didn't fix the problem. I wouldn't advise going much past there.