Overclocking newbie wanting speed from Q6600

[GH057]

I am a newbie to overclocking and would like some help in getting the fastest speed out of my setup which is as follows:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0
MB: ASUS P5Q Pro
RAM: 2 sticks of Kingston HyperX Matched Pair = 2GB @ 1066MHz, 2 sticks of Kingston HyperX Matched Pair = 4GB @ 1066MHz, totalling 6GB @ 1066MHz in dual channel.
Cooler: CoolerMaster Sphere
Cooling: 1 front bottom intake @ 120mm, 1 x 120mm intake fan blowing over HDD's, 1 x 120mm exhaust @ back.
GPU: SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 4670 1GB
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit


According to CPU-Z here are some other setting you may want to know:

Core Voltage: 1.144
Core Speed: 1601.6MHz
Multiplier: x6.0
Bus Speed: 266.9MHz
Rated FSB: 1067.8MHz
Chipset: Intel P45
BIOS: AMI
BIOS Version: 0506
DRAM Freq: 533.9MHz
FSB DRAM: 1:2
CAS Latency: 5.5.5.18

 

[jsc]

This should be your first stop.
HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - Guide v1.6.1
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overclock-quads-duals-guide

Next stop will be a guide for your particular motherboard. Google is your friend.

Stock cooling will take you to about 3.0 GHz. For a serious overclock, you will need better cooling. Here are three under $50 heatsinks that are pretty popular:
Sunbeam
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004
Xigmatec Dark Knight
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

I've added this one, because it is starting to get really popular:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

They all require a somewhat different approach to applying thermal compound.
Suggestions for applying thermal compound:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=5

Before you start, you need to decrease the DRAM freq to match the bus speed. That will give you an FSB😀RAM ratio of 1:1. Do this in the BIOS. If you don't, you will end up overclocking your RAM and that will drastically limit your CPU overclock - where the real speed comes from.

 

[GH057]

Thanks for the reply mate. I have already read that guide and have tweaked the BIOS a little to get a stable 3.00GHz with a setting of 9x333, DRAM at 667MHz and VCore at 1.35v.

Just to remind you I have a CoolerMaster Sphere cooler running, so no need to find another cooler.


After stress testing for a few hours without errors I have dropped the VCore down to 1.30v. While stress testing again, the core temps have not reached anywhere near the height of where it was at 1.35v (which was 69c). 1.30v seems to be sitting fine on 59-60c.
Should I try and go a little more or drop the VCore a little more? Are there any other settings I can fiddle with to tweak it just that little bit more?

 

[jsc]

You should be able to run at 3.0 GHz at or a little above stock (VID) CPU voltage. Unless you have a total lemon of a CPU chip, you should be able to reach 3.3 - 3.4 GHz fairly easily.

My Q6600 is running at 3.6 GHz at 1.42 volts. Prime95 load temps are 61 - 66 C. Cooler is a Xig Dark Knight.

 

[GH057]

What settings do you have in your BIOS if I may ask?

 

[jsc]

According to CPU-Z here are some other setting you may want to know:

Core Voltage: 1.144
Core Speed: 1601.6MHz Core speed 1.6 GHz instead of 2.4 because StepStep dropped the multiplier
Multiplier: x6.0 ........................ to X6 because the CPU was working under a light load
Bus Speed: 266.9MHz FSB is stock
Rated FSB: 1067.8MHz quad pumped bus clock = FSB X 4
Chipset: Intel P45
BIOS: AMI
BIOS Version: 0506
DRAM Freq: 533.9MHz DRAM frequency not memory clock which is twice DRAM freq
FSB DRAM: 1:2 FSB:memfreq means you are overclocking your memory. You want this to be 1:1
CAS Latency: 5.5.5.18

Overclocking your memory here will drasically limit your CPU clock where all the real speed comes from. You really need to get that to 1:1. That should be your first step.

I have Gigabyte motherboards. My BIOS settings will not help you.