Core 2 Quad Overclock Help!

[PC First]

Hello everyone! Its 2017! And its time to overclock hardware from 2008! I have a Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz In my main machine and I would really like to overclock it! I just need to know if I have enough power and my motherboard wont fry itself.

Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz
RAM: Kingston DDR3 @ 1333Mhz
Motherboard: GigaByte G41M-Combo Intel With G41 Chipset (Brand new)
Graphics Card: Radeon R7 360 2GB GDDR5 Factory Overclocked
Power Supply: Zalman ZM400LE @ 400 Watts (Brand new)

 

[dudio]

If your PSU is handling it all now, an overclock of the CPU shouldn't tip the scales.
As for the motherboard, it doesn't seem too kickass, but it has dual bios allowing you to easily reboot back.
I'd also look at software to monitor temps. Not only CPU, but you may be able to monitor chipset

 

[BFG-9000]

This one is remarkably simple as the G41 chipset has a FSB limitation of around 340MHz so you can't expect much of an overclock.

Just go into the BIOS and change the FSB from 266 to 333MHz for 3.0GHz.
Boot Windows and run IntelBurnTest. If it fails raise vCore slightly until it passes 10 runs of Standard--should require only about +0.05v if anything.
Make sure the DDR3 stays locked at its rated 1333MHz (as even in single-channel that will supply as much bandwidth as the FSB can take! Any more and FSB will just be a bottleneck) but focus on reducing memory timings as far as possible--while keeping memory voltages reasonable. Verify stability with 24h of Prime95 torture test.

I don't recommend pushing the FSB the final ~7MHz as it requires increasing the MCH voltage for very little gain. The board also only features 4-phase power but 3.0GHz is only around ~120w.

 

[dudio]

24 Hr Prime95 Torture Test might be a bit extreme, but otherwise very good advise.

 

[PC First]

This one is remarkably simple as the G41 chipset has a FSB limitation of around 340MHz so you can't expect much of an overclock.

Just go into the BIOS and change the FSB from 266 to 333MHz for 3.0GHz.
Boot Windows and run IntelBurnTest. If it fails raise vCore slightly until it passes 10 runs of Standard--should require only about +0.05v if anything.
Make sure the DDR3 stays locked at its rated 1333MHz (as even in single-channel that will supply as much bandwidth as the FSB can take! Any more and FSB will just be a bottleneck) but focus on reducing memory timings as far as possible--while keeping memory voltages reasonable. Verify stability with 24h of Prime95 torture test.

I don't recommend pushing the FSB the final ~7MHz as it requires increasing the MCH voltage for very little gain. The board also only features 4-phase power but 3.0GHz is only around ~120w.

This Worked Perfectly! Max temp i'm getting rightnow is no more than 70° and i've tested it on IntelBurnTest! Cheers both of you for helpng me out with this!!

 

[BFG-9000]

24 Hr Prime95 Torture Test might be a bit extreme, but otherwise very good advise.

I've had it error out too many times at >20 hours to recommend less, but yes, 4 hours to overnight should reveal most problems. Let's just say 24h is to verify absolute stability as good as @ stock speed. At least when warmed up.

I really hate overclocking memory because it can be so unpredictable. Even 24h Prime95 stable does not guarantee it can always cold boot (I've had to add MCH and RAM voltage just for this), and even an overnight successful run of Memtest86+ is no guarantee Windows can even boot!

BTW don't run IntelBurnTest too often as it can actually permanently degrade the chip--after the settings are finalized, I only run it once a year or so to check if the overclock is holding. I really like it because it's a very fast test and Intel actually uses a variation of Linpack to bin processor speeds, but note I did not suggest running more than "Standard" even though that only tests 1GB of RAM--use something else to test the RAM, even though it will be much slower.

70°C is excellent for a stock cooler, which is perfectly adequate for such a mild overclock if you keep excess dust off. But even a cheapo aftermarket cooler can improve this while cutting the noise under load in half or better. The stock downflow cooler does have the advantage of providing some airflow across the VRMs.

I should also point out that the G41 chipset northbridge is rated 25w and the heatsink on it is usually pretty tiny, so directing a case fan toward it is a good idea to ensure stability and long life. It's something people often forget nowadays with modern low wattage PCH but back in the day I would always twist-tie a loose case fan dangling in the case so it pointed at the MCH as that really reduced voltage requirements and improved overclocks.

 

[dudio]

.... I should also point out that the G41 chipset northbridge is rated 25w and the heatsink on it is usually pretty tiny, so directing a case fan toward it is a good idea to ensure stability and long life. It's something people often forget nowadays with modern low wattage PCH but back in the day I would always twist-tie a loose case fan dangling in the case so it pointed at the MCH as that really reduced voltage requirements and improved overclocks.

That's why I mentioned trying to monitor chipset temps.
Mine used to run insanely hot and ate fans with the heatsink solutions I threw at it.

Good recommendations bro

 

[dudio]

(Weirdest Quote Award goes to dudio)

 

[PC First]

Oh the 70 degrees is with a aftermarket cooler haha I think its a Cooler Master??