Newbie overclocker: Q9450 & Abit IP35 Pro

[atrifix]

OK, newbie overclocker here. I am running with Q9450, Abit IP35 Pro, Corsair Dominator 2x2GB 1066 (PC2-8500), Xigmatek HDT-S1283, PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W, EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB G92, Antec Twelve Hundred.

First thing, updated my BIOS to 16 and changed my VRAM to 2.2V. I am doing okay at 420 FSB (3.36Ghz). Once I push to 426 FSB, I can still load Windows, but am no longer prime stable. At 431 FSB, Windows loads but crashes fairly quickly. I tried raising vcore from default 1.2375V to 1.3375V. No luck. At 436 FSB, Windows fails to load.

I feel like I should be getting higher stable speeds than this. I don't intend to push the CPU as far as it can go, but I do want to know how high it will be stable and then make adjustments. Thoughts? Am I doing something wrong or am I just reaching the practical limits of how far this board can go?



CPU is at 31C in BIOS, System 30C, PWM 40C.

 

[atrifix]

Update: Am now stable at 3.55Ghz (444 FSB).

Final settings:
vcore 1.3075V
mch 1.44V
cpu vtt 1.25V
ich 1.05V
ichio 1.50V
cpu gtlref 67%

 

[Evilonigiri]

And you want to go higher? I dunno if your motherboard can do any more, so I'd say you're at the limit.

 

[jatt5]

Right now iam doing 450x 8 on Q9450 with cpu vcore 1.32v. I can go up to 463x 8= 3.7ghz on Gigabyte Board. Also you always want to start your memory at 1.8V not max 2.2v unless your memory dont operate at 1.8v. The high voltage will kill your memory in short time. You might think if a manufacturer say 2.1 or 2.2v then maybe its normal. Actually thats a max voltage. Its like a cpu the max is 1.5v. Do you think people will set the cpu at 1.5v from start. The cpu will fry in weeks or right away. My memory can do 1.8v (Normal) with 926MHZ or more. Bye