Overclocking Q6600 to 3.0Ghz

[roberts91]

Well let's see I recently got a Corsair H50 liquid cooling system put in and wanted to see how far I could take my Q6600 as I was plan on upgrading my GPU to the 5850 card. Anyways I noticed that by simply even overclocking my CPU from 2.4Ghz to 2.7Ghz or higher would be unstable. I have successfully got it stable at 2.6Ghz. Anyways I think I have tried literally everything I have asked the same question in almost 4 different forums, eggxpert, some friends, etc. They all seem to come to the same conclusion of "I don't know what to tell you." or "You're obviously doing something wrong." So I still want to try and get this CPU to 2.8Ghz I would be even happier if 3.0Ghz was possible. I don't know if I've failed to overclock this CPU properly because of simple miscommunication, lack of knowledge on the subject, or simply my hardware is not capable of it. I still want to get an answer I hate having a question but no answer. Either way I'm going to try and communicate to the best of my ability and hopefully someone can help me with this. Let's start off with giving a detailed list of the components in my computer.

PSU: Coolermaster 600watt EXTREME POWER - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171013

Motherboard: C2D NFORCE 680I SLI 775MB - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188009

CPU: Intel Quad-Core Q6600 2.4Ghz(G0) - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

CPU cooling system: Corsair H50 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181010&Tpk=Corsair%20H50

RAM: A DATA 1GB DDR2 PC6400 x 2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211063&cm_re=A_data_6400-_-20-211-063-_-Product

RAM #2: Also later on put in the A DATA 2GB DDR2 PC6400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211272&cm_re=A_data_6400-_-20-211-272-_-Product (NOTE: totaling in at 4GB of ram)

Video Card: EVGA 8800GTS 640MB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071

Operation system: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

I believe that is all. Now for the settings I put in the BIOS I could list all day long on all the combination of settings I used. But let's just say I tried disabling features that were recommended by overclockers, I tried putting all the voltages really high like 1.45v to 1.525v, I also tried to unlink, link the ram from the CPU frequency. It will not go to 2.7Ghz or higher without stable results like it will just reboot and reboot.

With the CPU @ 2.6Ghz I am stable with 40C idle and 10hours of Prime95 under 100% load max temps of 51c. So I think I have more room for overclocking.

That's all the information I can think of right now. If you have any questions I will try and respond ASAP. Though it's pretty late here at the time of writing this so I will probably not be able to respond to your replies until tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[amnotanoobie]

did you try to set the ram speed lower? or what about upping the fsb voltage, or locking the pci-e to 100mhz.

have you also tried looking at the core 2 oc guide at the cpu-»intel section

 

[jsc]

OK. First, stop trying to reinvent the wheel.

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. If no luck there, try googling "680i overclock".

You should be able to hit 3.0 GHz with the stock heatsink. In the BIOS, set your memory to LINKED. Set your FSB freq to 333 MHz. Your memory clock frequency should show 666 or 667 MHz. You might need to increase CPU core voltage a little.

That's all theoretical based on an E6600 in an eVGA 680i motherboard. Here's what I experienced ...

I got an E6600 with a TRUE up to 3.6 GHz, Prime95 stable for more than 24 hours. I got a G0 Q6600 and restarted the OC process. Couldn't get past about 2.7 GHz. Yes, the 65 nm C2Q's were supposed to work in the 680i. Apparently, some work and some don't. Mine didn't.

I bought a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P. Pushed the Q6600 up to 3.6 GHz. without a lot of trouble.
----------
Overclocking since 1978 - Z80 (TRS-80) from 1.77 MHz to 2.01 MHz

 

[roberts91]

This should be your first stop.
HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - Guide v1.6.1
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] uals-guide

That was the first thing I read.

Next stop will be a guide for your particular motherboard. Google is your friend. If no luck there, try googling "680i overclock".

Been there done that

You should be able to hit 3.0 GHz with the stock heatsink. In the BIOS, set your memory to LINKED. Set your FSB freq to 333 MHz. Your memory clock frequency should show 666 or 667 MHz. You might need to increase CPU core voltage a little.

If I LINKED my memory and set my FSB to 333 my memory clock frequency would be overclocked as well thus running at around 900 something mhz not 600 something.

I got a G0 Q6600 and restarted the OC process. Couldn't get past about 2.7 GHz. Yes, the 65 nm C2Q's were supposed to work in the 680i. Apparently, some work and some don't. Mine didn't.

I'm confused are you now saying that getting past 2.7Ghz with a Q6600 G0 isn't possible on a 680i board?

 

[jsc]

No. I am saying I couldn't with my 680i board. It's supposed to be possible, and many have done it. But I have also talked to a few others who weren't able to either.

I have no idea about what's happening. I have just filed the incident under the category of "Just when you thought you knew something about electronics..."

 

[roberts91]

No. I am saying I couldn't with my 680i board. It's supposed to be possible, and many have done it. But I have also talked to a few others who weren't able to either.

Right well I guess we just got the short end of the stick and got a defective board it's something you won't really notice until stressing the board (IE: overclocking).

I have no idea about what's happening. I have just filed the incident under the category of "Just when you thought you knew something about electronics..."

Haha not really sure what your talking about but it sounded funny.

Thanks though! A+ for the effort!

 

[topper743]

Do you have the latest BIOS installed? The current ram config is holding you back as stated by Zip. Since you have been working in the BIOS a lot try clearing the CMOS and starting over with default values. Follow the OC guide per JSC. Try re-seating/re-pasting the HSF. Really that MB is a little long in the tooth.
Consider one of the MBs listed below and another stick of the same 2GB ram you have now. A good question to ask here on the forums is " are the Nvidia MBs good overclockers", I would think that mostly the answer is no.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280%201070509908%20107172615&name=Intel%20P43%2fP45%2fP55

 

[jsc]

roberts91:

I am 63 and I have about 50 years experience working with electronics first as a hobby, then military electronics - communications, test equipment, computer and radar systems. Still working as tech support and training in Saudi Arabia.

And occasionally something inexplicable happens, "Sigh. Just when I thought I knew something about electronics ..."

 

[roberts91]

If your running your 800mhz ram at 900mhz, then thats most likely why your overclock failed.

Right.

Like I said, change the fsb/cpu ratio so that the ram stays around 800mhz.

Any ratio (while the CPU is at 3.0Ghz) will not go below 800Mhz. Now I can try 2.8Ghz but that's really not the desired results.

Did you try that as I suggested?

Yes

Did you try different multipliers like I suggested?

Yes

Do you understand that your only running your ram in single channel and not dual like you should be??

No idea

Are you paying attention or am I wasting my time???

I am definitely paying attention. Wasting your time? I don't know are you?


Also sorry for the late reply I'm so use to getting notified by email when I get a reply I didn't get any email so I assumed no one replied.

 

[amnotanoobie]

Like I said, change the fsb/cpu ratio so that the ram stays around 800mhz.

Any ratio (while the CPU is at 3.0Ghz) will not go below 800Mhz. Now I can try 2.8Ghz but that's really not the desired results.

Doesn't your BIOS have the option to set the memory speed lower? I.E. 667MHz, 533MHz when running at stock. The 533 setting for example would become 665MHz when you OC the bus to 250MHz (12 x 250 = 3000MHz).

 

[crowheart27us]

Had a hard time getting a stable overclock with mine as well. Have mine at 9x333=3Ghz had to lower the memory to 667Mhz. (at 833Mhz when overclocked) and had to up the voltage to 1.325. ran prime95 for 12 hours and finally got a stable overclock with temps running at 47C. I'd like to push it to 3.2Ghz but im not sure i wanna play with the voltages anymore and risk more heat.

 

[roberts91]

Ummm...no. I'm running at 3.15ghz (9x350) with system memory muliplier at 2.0, and my ram is only at 700mhz.

I never seen a "system memory multiplier" option in my BIOS.


Also to the guys saying the RAM is causing the problem do you think I could take out the 2 1GB sticks and keep the 1 2GB stick in there and then try and overclock and if it works then I know that the RAM is holding me back. And of course i can upgrade or something

 

[aberchonbie]

I have mine currently running at 3.0 at 333x9.. if you're trying to overclock to 3.2, i've found that my chip likes 400x8 (with no additional voltage)

as far as memory speed goes, i own a dfi x38 board and it's under "DRAM Speed" and you can set the fsb:ram speed ratio.. for example, some options are: 266/800, 266/1066, 333/800, 333/1066, etc..

 

[roberts91]

I have mine currently running at 3.0 at 333x9.. if you're trying to overclock to 3.2, i've found that my chip likes 400x8 (with no additional voltage)

as far as memory speed goes, i own a dfi x38 board and it's under "DRAM Speed" and you can set the fsb:ram speed ratio.. for example, some options are: 266/800, 266/1066, 333/800, 333/1066, etc..

Yea we have completely different boards

 

[Adroid]

Glancing over this thread, my two bits :

Read your mobo manual. For instance my Mobo wouldn't let me manually adjust the ram timings unless I press cntrl+F1 in bios to enable the "advanced bios options".

If you can't turn your ram ratio to 1:1 as mentioned above and set FSB to .333 at least to stabilize the system, then adjust the ram after, the truth is your mobo sucks and you probably need to get one that doesn't suck - or stay at 2.6ghz.

Try calling EVGA if you can't figure out how to tweak it.

I buy gigabyte, because its the best for overclocking. With a DS3R you should be able to get that system to 3ghz in no time... I was able to get to 3 ghz on my Q6600 at 1.275 Volts and yes that is UNDER volting it.

 

[roberts91]

It's referred to as different names by different boards. System memory multiplier or cpu/fsb ratio, SPD, etc. It will allow you to raise your fsb to overclock without running your ram faster than its rated.

Why not just unlink it and set your frequency like I've been doing ?