Help getting my Q6600 stable over 3.0GHz

[Peaks]

My specs are:

Q6600
GA-EP45-UD3P
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz
OCZ GameXstream 600W or 700W PSU cant remember

my systems is stable at these settings:

FSB : 333MHz
multiplier : x9
DRAM : 1066MHz
Memory Multiplier : 3.20B
MCH Frequency Latch : 333Mhz
RAM Divider : 5 : 8

Vcore : 1.31V
RAM voltage and timings : 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1V

tRRD : 6
tWTR : 6
tWR : 8
tRFC : 56
tRTP : 6
Command Rate : 2

I tried increasing the SB to 350, which booted into windows but BSODed when trying to run Prime95.

What settings from the following should I change to get this stable. I also tried 360 FSB but that wouldn't even boot into windows. Not sure if I need a Vcore increase or whether my MCH Frequency Latch is wrong, making my memory unstable.

Help would be appreciated

 

[JDocs]

Try

FSB: 400mhz
multiplier: x8
VCore: 1.32 (after vDroop)
MCh: 400mhz
RAM divider: 1:1
RAM voltage: stock
RAM timing: 4-4-4-12

You'll also need a small up on the northbridge / NB voltage as well.

I hope you're not doing on stock cooling.

 

[sixstones]

Heres a stable 3.0ghz. i am using it now with Asus silent Knight 2, Idle temp is 45 and i Ran Prime95 StressTest overnight with no error .

Fps: 1333
Ram frec : 800

I guess u alrdy know the voltage.jus stick to it, if u need to voltage, do ask me here

 

[Peaks]

No I am not using stock cooling lol. Cheers for the advice, I will give them a try and post results

 

[Peaks]

I am running :

FSB :400MHz
multiplier : x8
DRAM : 800MHz
Memory Multiplier : 2.00B
MCH Frequency Latch : 400Mhz
RAM Divider : 1:1

I have been having trouble booting into windows with an FSB higher than 350, but this seems fine. However, I ran prime95 over night and this morning it had rebooted into windows telling me it had recovered from and unexpected shut down (BSOD for sure). I dont understand why my system is having so much trouble running any clock higher than 3.0GHz?

My RAM is under clocked so it can't be that?

My CPU Revision is B3, is that a problem? I heard its the G0 revision chips that are the real overclockers.

 

[jamesgoddard]

Possibly the CPU you have just won't OC higher than 3GHz...

Remember Intel only guarantees 2.4GHz on a Q6600 - anything above this is just down to luck. Never expect a high OC - sometimes you just don't get it...

 

[Guest]

I am using crappy ram w/ q6600 at 3.6 very very stable on that exact same board.

do,

FSB :400MHz
multiplier : x9
DRAM : 800MHz
Memory Multiplier : 2.00D
MCH Frequency Latch : 400Mhz

 

[Guest]

mines a G0 q6600 tho =(

 

[ir_efrem]

Try this.

Use loose memory timings
6
6
6
18

1.9v

2.0 for memory multiplier

We need to take the memory out of the "reasons for a bad overclock" equation. Loose timings and 1:1 multiplier will facilitate this.
-

CPU
8X multiplier
400mhz FSB

-

Set PCIE clock to 100mhz
Does the UD3P have "Load Line Calibration"? If so set it to enabled (this ONE setting made my q6600 stable on the EP45-UD3LR).

-

Set all voltages (except memory as mentioned before) to Default (not auto)

-

Now adjust only the CPU Vcore until you find something stable. What's your VID anyway? The program Core Temp will display you VID. Once you know VID, adjust your Vcore up from that number.

If you can't find a stable overclock try upping the Northbridge a little. Or increase MCH freq latch. Never adjust a bunch of BIOS settings at once, this will make it more difficult to find a stable Overclock.

If you do find a stable overclock, try upping the multiplier to 9x (if you want to go past 3.2ghz to 3.6ghz). You will likely need to increase Vcore some more.

If you manage to find something stable that you are happy with. THEN adjust the memory timings.

---

EDIT: How well does your CPU handle 400mhz FSB anyway? Try my above memory settings (the loose settings with 2.0 memory multiplier) and use 6x multiplier, 400mhz FSB. All other voltages beside memory set to default (not auto). You need to find out if Northbridge voltage needs to be increased to hold a stable 400mhz FSB. If your system is not stable at 6x400 try upping the Northbridge voltage a tad. Check for stability again. If you cannot get a stable 6x400 no matter what, then you need to lower the FSB until you find something stable.

 

[Peaks]

Thanks for all your advice guys. I think my CPU should handle 400MHz FSB ok, think the problem might be RAM.

I am going to try your suggestions tonight. hallubalooza I ran your settings the other day and they were unstable on my system. I gotta run tests on other suggestions so will update in the morning.

thanks again

 

[Peaks]

Back again with more instability:

I have tried the following:

FSB :400MHz
multiplier : x8
DRAM : 800MHz
Memory Multiplier : 2.00B
MCH Frequency Latch : 400Mhz
RAM Divider : 1:1
Timings : 6-6-6-18
VDIMM : 2.1V
VCore : 1.31V
MCHv : 1.16v
Load Line Calibration : Enabled

This cause blue screens in Prime95[\b]

then I tried :

FSB :400MHz
multiplier : x8
DRAM : 800MHz
Memory Multiplier : 2.00B
MCH Frequency Latch : 400Mhz
RAM Divider : 1:1
Timings : 6-6-6-18
VDIMM : 2.1V
VCore : 1.318V - INCREASE
MCHv : 1.16v
Load Line Calibration : Enabled

This cause errors after 4 minutes[\b]

I then tried playing around with the Vcore and MCHv. First i increase the VCore and the MCHv but still got blue screens and windows shut downs after about 20 minutes in prime95.

Here come the questions:

what is a safe value to increase the Vcore? the same goes for the MCHv?
Can I safely say that RAM isn't the problem as timings are loose and it is under clocked? Is it possible to provide RAM with too much voltage, causing errors?

 

[kg4icg]

also he has to set the xmp for the mem to either profile #1 or #2, On my EP45-DS3l, I have my mem profile set to #1 which is the only setting for it, running 400x8=3.2 ghz with the fsb being at 1600 quad pumped. Voltage on my mem is set at 2.0 v, and my q6600 is set at 1.325v.

I have been running my system stable like this for 6 months with my temps getting as high as 50'C on full load

 

[teamlosigp]

ur chips at 3.2 right now 400x8=3200 and factoring in vdroop and vdrop and considering u dont have a really wizzy air cooler ur vcore is too low.

for example in my bios my q6600 is set to 1.49xx volts but under load in prime 95 its only 1.392

 

[teamlosigp]

also make sure u turn off c1e and speedstep in the bios and try raising ur northbridge vlts to u are at a 400mhz fsb after all

 

[jeremyrailton]

put the vcore at 1.4, raise the nb voltage a notch or two, and see if you can run.

I've had two q6600s, one went right to 3.6, no muss, no fuss. The other wouldn't go above 3.1 without lots of voltage (and lots of heat). Intel says the q6600 can go up to 1.5v, but you gotta have pretty darn good cooling to handle that

sometimes it's just a luck-o-the-draw thing

 

[ir_efrem]

2 questions

What is your VID?

Does your system run stable with all voltages set at default @ 6x400?

 

[kg4icg]

with the settings of the pics i put up my system is stable and has been for 6 months. You don't need to crank the voltage way up just to get over 3 ghz, as a matter of fact you don't need to take over 1.35 to get to 3.6 ghz.

 

[teamlosigp]

what is ur actual multi i doubt 9 at that low of voltage

 

[Peaks]

AH thanks for all the replys. I have been away for a while so sorry for the late response, took me a while to find this thread lol.

I am currently running a stability test on these settings:

FSB :400MHz
multiplier : x8
DRAM : 1066MHz
Memory Multiplier : 2.20D
MCH Frequency Latch : Auto
RAM Divider : 1:1
Timings : 5-5-5-15
Memory Profile : Profile2
VDIMM : 2.1V
VCore : 1.49V
MCHv : 1.18v
MCH Ref : 0.48v
Load Line Calibration : Enabled

in answer to ir_efrem my VID is 1.3125v

I couldn't boot with my MCH ref any lower then what I have it set to now. Will get back with results, I am sure it will fail though 🙁 Anything glaringly wrong with this?

 

[teamlosigp]

ya you want 3.0ghz and ur at 3.2!!!! wtf do u want!!!!

 

[Peaks]

wtf do you want??? Read the thread title mate. I am clearly at 3.0 and want to get higher. if you dont have any advise wtf is the point in making a post!!!!!!!!

 

[teamlosigp]

stfu man i says i need help getting my Q6600 over 3.0ghz that doesnt mean that u should jump to 3.2 thats just a crap shoot and thats why u are having so many problems noob

 

[Peaks]

mate if I am having problems at 3.2 then i will have those problems at hight clocks. And you think it is as simple as that, haha your the f**king noob!!! If you can do it better then post up a suggestion rather than wasting your time. You need to get a life man!!!

 

[teamlosigp]

little **** up the fsb/voltage in small increments dont just jump to a 400fsb alot of time and tweaking goes into overclocking, i know, check my profile, my Q6600 is at 3.7GHz!

 

[teamlosigp]

read the guides i did im 15, im sure u can figure it out unless you are the 11 year old child you are acting like on this forum