Overclock to maximum using stock parts.

[rockmaster]

I hope someone can help me. I want to overclock my Quad6600 using an Asus Maximus Motherboard.
I am using stock parts of the heatsink and fan. I also have 550 watts PSU. How much can I put this to maximum speed with what I have without damaging anything?
I want to mostly play games this requires 2.8 - 3.2Ghz I just want to overclock approximately 3.0Ghz or even 2.8Ghz. I know this can be done but I am new to this kind of thing. Can anyone tell me what to do in the bios as well please? Thanks for your time.

I look forwards to your views.

P.S this is my PC spec:

Quad6600 SLACR Go CPU
X-Fi Creative Elite pro 7.1 sound card
Geforce 8800 GTS Nvidia card
Asus Maximus Motherboard
2GB DDR2 Ballistix Memory 8500
Windows Vista 64bit
Windows XP 32bit
CD-DVD RW
250GB SATA HDD

Once again thank you.

 

[outlw6669]

Welcome for the fourms!

Before you do anything, please read the Core2 Overclocking Sticky.
It will give you an excellent overview on the procedures used in overclocking.

There is nothing to complicated in overclocking your CPU, although you will be very limited by your stock CPU cooler.
I would HIGHLY recommend upgrading to a quality aftermarket cooler.
For a basic 3.0Ghz overclock, run Coretemp and locate your VID (Voltage ID).
Go to the BIOS and change:

FSB: 266Mhz => 333Mhz
CPU Voltage: Auto => VID
RAM Speed, Timings and Voltage manually set to specs.

Save and boot back into windows.
Test for stability and to ensure your CPU will not overheat by running quad instances of prime95 set to small FFT's while monitoring your temps with Coretemp.
If the temperature on any core goes above 75c, stop testing and lower your voltage/overclock.
If during testing one or more core fails prime95, you will need to add more voltage up to a maximum of 1.5v.
When your overclock is stable, you can test for the lowest stable voltage by lowering the voltage in the BIOS one notch at a time and testing for stability at each step.
Once your CPU becomes unstable, raise the voltage two steps and call it done.

 

[rockmaster]

Thank you for your reply. I really liked the link you sent me. This has given me a lot of help. Any idea what kind of aftermarket cooler I would need?

Thank you once again.

 

[iluvgillgill]

just simply change FSB to 333 and change the memory multiplier to 2.0 or 1:1 depend on which 1 is available.

For aftermarket cooler the OCZ Vendetta V2 is good with bolt thru kit.or even better Core Contact Freezer.

 

[rockmaster]

I’ve been told only to change the Bios settings to FSB 333 and change the memory multiplyer. To either: 2.0, 1.1 or 1 depending on availability. I can’t find this on the bios anywhere. Therefore, I have written exactly what I have on the Bios in the Extreme Tweaker. This is where all the overclocking can be done. Nonetheless I have written the main things that are important.

It would be a good help as to what settings as to change for me to overclock correctly. I haven’t changed any settings and a lot of these settings are auto.

In the Bios settings I have main, extreme tweaker, advanced,power,boot, tools, and exit.

In the extreme tweaker I have:

Ai overclock Tuner, this can be set to Manual or Auto.

Overclock by CPU level up this can be set to Auto, Q6700, QX6800, QX6850 or Crazy

CPU Ratio Control this can be set to Auto, Manual

FSB Strap NB this can be set to: 200mhz, 266mhz, 333mhz, 400mhz and Auto

DRAM Frequency this can be set to Auto, DDR2 667mhz 800mhz 887mhz and 1066mhz

Dram Timing Control this can be set at Auto or Manual

Dram Static Read Control this can be set to Auto, enable or disable.

Ai Clock Twister this can be set to Auto, moderate, light, strong.

Transaction Booster this can be set as Auto, disabled or enabled.

NB LED Selection NB this can be set as FSBT Volt or Volt.

SB LED Selection this can be set up as SB Volt or 1.5 Volt

CPU LED this can be set as CPU Volt or PLL Volt.

DDR LED this can be set as turn on or turn off.

CPU Spread Spectrum auto or disable.

PCIE Spread spectrum Auto or disabled.

Thanks to all those who have helped. Most appreciated.