Q6600 (B3) Can't OC period.

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Dakir

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Hello, I have a Dell XPS-710 which consists of: nforce 570i modified with 2 pci-e x16 slots, Geforce 8800GTX, Core 2 Quad 2.4ghz Q6600 (B3), 2gb ddr2 667mhz memory, 160gb raptor X hard drive, soundblaster X-fi xtrememusic, and an unmarked 1000w Powersupply. At stock speed my processor runs after a few hours of CoD4, Crysis, and WoW at tops 32 degrees celcius. The videocard runs 60 degrees tops as well too. The tower and components have very good airflow and everything runs very cool.

The main problem I have is that I hear people easily overlocking Q6600's to 3.2ghz+ on air, mine runs plenty cool enough to overclock to at least 3ghz but whenever I overclock is past 2.4ghz my computer freezes up randomly. I've had times it went 2 days before freezing, I've had 15mins before, the time varies and its not due to temps. The Bios are locked from Dell and I have to overclock with ntune, which is hear sucks, but its the only thign I have. Still, I'm confused as to why I can't overclock the processor at all, regardless of speed.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Brett
 
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dagger

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That's not true, 667mhz x2 = 1333mhz (333x4) fsb = 9x333 = 3ghz. So even if the ram cannot oc at all, it's already guarantees 3ghz at stock clock rate.

It's the 570i motherboard. The chipset is trash, and cannot handle oc.
 
bc4

bc4

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What options have you tried in the BIOS? What options are there?

Dell restricts what you can change, but I think you should be able to get a small overclock.
Search google " overclock XPS - 710" many threads and posts similar to yours (if you don't get sound advice here)
 
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Dakir

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Recap: 570i cannot go past 667mhz memory so that option is off, I can't replace the motherboard cause my tower and everything is BTX layout unless I buy a whole new power supply and case, I'd have to buy a whole new processor cooler and case fans if the case doesn't come with any.

Dell has every overclocking option locked in Bios, there is absolutely nothing I can do there to increase performance. I've searched overclocking xps X series and all of them require software overclocking which is complete ****, theres even a dell video that shows you that to overclock you need to use ntune, or replacing the dell motherboard.

Basically I'm **** outa luck, I need to tear my whole pc apart to move to into a new tower. The thing I also should of added was I recently bought a 780i in hopes of upgrading this 570i inside my Dell case but I also didn't think my setup was BTX either so its laying in its retail box in the corner of my room collecting dust.

I could buy a new tower, case fans if it doesn't come with any and a cpu cooler. I've heard remarkable feats done by the Xigmatek S1283 cpu cooler and some very good reviews on antec 900 case. The main thing I'm wondering is if I should get an Antec Twelve-Hundred case, its basically the same exact thing as the 900 only bigger but MUCH more expensive. Considering how big today's videocards are idk if you could easily fit two 280 gtx's with a sound card on your motherboard inside an antec 900.

Opinions?
 
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Dakir

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Its a WD Raptor 10,000rpm 16mb cache hard drive, not a dell one.

As for replacing the tower, cpu cooler, power supply and memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003&Tpk=XIGMATEK s1283 (cpu cooler)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227248 (memory)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750w (power supply)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec 900 (Tower)

$338.95 with the crossbow bracket for the Xigmatek, before shipping as well.

Opinions?
 
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orangegator

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Probably it's your ram, as was said. Since the bios is locked, the ram multiplier is stuck at 2.5 (2.5x266=667). And the voltage is stuck at 1.8V. So, when you raise the fsb, you are also overclocking the memory. And at 1.8V, it won't go far.

Your best option would be to try to do a "pad mod" to the Q6600 to have it overclock to 333fsb for 3.0ghz. You won't need to do anything else. Just google for instructions. Only problem with that is your cpu may not be stable at stock voltage and 3.0Ghz. But you won't know till you try.
 
aeiouandxyz

aeiouandxyz

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If you can't get a stable 3.0 ghz oc, maybe you should settle for 2.7 ghz. My Q6600 was stable at stock volts but it's a G0 with a 1.32 CPUVID. I don't know what pad mod is yet, but it's worth a shot if you're bent on 3.0 ghz.
 
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Dakir

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Thats the thing, ntune lets my raise memory voltage in increments of .5 from 1.850 all the way to 2.100. But I've tried different voltages and nothing works.



I wish I could even get to 3.0ghz, I tried 2.5ghz and it freezes, 2.6ghz freezes, nothing works if I vary the speed or memory voltage. My q6600 (B3) is default 1.325V also.

 
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orangegator

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Motherboards have multipliers for the memory. Mine you can choose 2,2.4, 2.5, 3, or 4. That's with a GA-P35-DS3L. For OEM, the board will automatically choose the correct multiplier to run the ram at or below it's default speed. So, for DDR2 667, with a 266fsb cpu, it will use a multiplier of 2.5.
 
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Dakir

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That is very interesting. But does it matter if your q6600 is B3 or G0? I have the first version of q6600 the B3. Its amazing that one small piece of tape can make your processor run that much quicker. I might try that out considering how cheap q6600's are even if I screw it up...

Edit: My 570i only supports 1066 FSB, if it clocks it at 1333 then it wont work right?
 
jerreece

jerreece

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I don't think I'd be comfortable messing with the pins on my CPU.

I can say though, that the 680i based motherboards aren't that great for OC'ing a Q6600. I say that from personal experience, and from what I've read on forums. So I can't imagine the 570i is any better......

My first 680i board wouldn't OC my Q6600 at all. It eventually died and I got it replaced. New one (and new PSU) I can OC to 3Ghz or 3.2Ghz fine.
 
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JuiceJones

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I would think what orangegator is. The BIOS is probably locked at a 4:5 ratio, (266:333, or another way to phrase it would be a 2.5 RAM multiplier for 266 x 2.5 = 333), and any FSB overclock is making the RAM unstable.

If it would be at all possible to borrow someone's DDR2-800 you could verify this and get away with just a cheap RAM upgrade.
 
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Dakir

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Ok so I've done some research and it turns out that the 570i is pretty much complete garbage as for OC as compared to the "ok" memory, as some of you hinted on. None of my buddies have any ddr2 800 I could try in my 570i.

Regardless, I have a 780i thats not fitting in my dell tower. For all the computers I've ordered or made I've always used either Corsair xms series or Crucial memory, except this one because Dell didn't have an option for specific memory brands. Is Corsair or Crucial still rock solid, oc ready memory or have they been replaced by a new brand?

If anyone could suggest a decently priced ($120 tops) oc stable ddr2 800mhz memory link I'd be much appreciative.
 
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