Bios Issue? Please help

[Adroid]

Ok so I am new to overclocking, but done alot of reading. I have started overclocking just a couple days ago. I have had this system for 2 years and its been rock solid.

Heres my setup
Ga p35 DS3r Rev F2
Q6600 G0 Stepping SLACR w Zalman 9700 attached properly w as5
2x2gb Corsair DHX DDR2 1.8v 5-5-5-18 (I can't tweak the timings with this bios)
GTX 260 w 216 (just upgraded a couple weeks ago)
Corsair 550w PSU which seems more than adequate
320 gb seagate 7200rpm sata
Antec 900 with plenty of fans and airflow
Vista ultimate 64 bit

So after reading dozens of threads I set my FSB to 333, set ram timings to 2:4 (to maintain the 800 mhz ratio) and put my PCIe on 100 CPU voltage at 1.262v. Here is my issue = My computer boots at 332 FSB not 333... I can't figure out why. If I put it on 334 it boots at 334 which seems fine but it throws my ram timings of to something goofy like 5-6-6-18

Another thing is that CPU-Z shows my voltage much lower than what I set it at and it fluctuates. Core temp says 1.30VID no matter what I do..

Now that said I ran prime 95 and it did stop with an error and I upped the CPU voltage to 1.275 to see if that will help.

I did actually set the FSB to 400 with voltage at 1.35 and it started but wouldn't boot windows. I'm sure I need to add voltage to the mobo but not sure how much and kinda didn't want to go there. Any recommendations?

I didn't want to throttle my machine too hard, because I do use it for work, and don't want to burn it up. But I had to admit overclocking to 3ghz made a big difference in my games (esp COD & Crysis).

On the bright side with prime 95 large FFT I can't force my cpu over 57c @ 3 ghz after two hours (2.988 actually because the stupid FSB issue), which seems pretty comfortable. I think I got a CPU from a pretty good batch.

All that said my main questions;

Do I need to update bios to fix my FSB issue, or maybe just try clearing cmos first?

What is the danger of a machine that seems stable but won't clear 24 hour prime95?

And other random questions;

How safe would it be to go 400 on FSB, what other voltages should I adjust, and what mobo temperatures would be safe? Or should I just stick with 3ghz since its my work machine? I want this comp to last another 5 years..

Maybe I should aim for like 380 fsb or something? I am eager to suggestions on ratios.

My ram has huge heatsinks on it, should I try to OC it a little (I mean leave the 1:1 ratio with upped FSB) if so will a little extra voltage hurt it?

Once again I don't mind playing with fire, but stability is my first concern.

Thanks for the input. I'm a long time reader and a first time poster.

 

[daft]

if you can, change your cpu multi to 9x and your FSB to 400, this will make 3.6Ghz. set ram to 1:1 5-5-5-15. set cpu voltage to about 1.35v
when you run P95, run with small FFT's, this makes sure of any instability. large fft tests more along the lines of memory. as for stability, if you pass P95 for 8 hours, then you should be good to surf the web or just about anything all day. (my own experience)
Cpu-z sometimes wont show the correct voltage on the cpu untill there is a load, mainly due to power saving options. (turn those off by the way).

 

[Adroid]

if you can, change your cpu multi to 9x and your FSB to 400, this will make 3.6Ghz. set ram to 1:1 5-5-5-15. set cpu voltage to about 1.35v
when you run P95, run with small FFT's, this makes sure of any instability. large fft tests more along the lines of memory. as for stability, if you pass P95 for 8 hours, then you should be good to surf the web or just about anything all day. (my own experience)
Cpu-z sometimes wont show the correct voltage on the cpu untill there is a load, mainly due to power saving options. (turn those off by the way).

Thanks for the response. My CPU will boot at 400 FSB with 1.35v, but windows won't load. I have read from other threads I may need to increase the North bridge voltage, which kinda scares me. I was hoping to overclock to the max without volting the motherboard and ram. When I booted with voltage on auto at 400 FSB I had a ram failure issue. I have been running Prime 95 for about 10 hours with large FFTs as I type this, still no errors yet.

I was wondering if I should add a small bit of voltage to my ram, but not sure if this is a bad idea. Anyone know if overvolting the ram is a bad idea? I have huge heatsinks on it, not that it means its worth a crap. I am actually pretty ticked off with that ram I bought.. I paid over 200 for the kit, and it seems to be the worst peice in my computer.

 

[Adroid]

And BTW CPU shows my voltage as 1.20 under full load. Even though my Bios is set to 1.275, I can't make sense why. Power savings is turned off.

 

[daft]

cpu-z does that sometimes, what RAM kit did you get? i would never suggest anything higher than 2.2volts on RAM myself but some can go higher. as for volting the NB, do so in the smallist of increments. if you can post what its currently at, i can help out a bit more

 

[Adroid]

I tried volting the nb a touch, and I did try volting the ram in small incriments to 2.1 both at 400 FSB and I couldn't get windows to boot. I could get windows to boot at 380 but I BSOD shortly after.

I think I may just quit while I am still ahead and leave my system at 332 FSB, because it seems very stable. BUT I am most annoyed by the fact I set it to 333 FSB and it goes to 332 for no apparent reason... You have any ideas on that?

 

[daft]

afraid not. sorry mate