Q6600 Overclock - what RAm adjustments?

[Festisio]

Hi,

I am trying to overclock my G0 Q6600. At the moment, following the guide on this site, I have got it to 9*300 - 2700Mhz.

I understand the RAM:FSB ratio needs to be adjusted to stop the RAM being overclocked too much? Or something like that, not really sure what's going on here RAM-wise.

My RAM is 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory Platinum Performance CL5 (5-4-4-18) (although BIOS, CPUZ shows as 5-5-5-15!) , I dont understand what RAM timings (if any?) I need to change to allow me to OC more?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Andrius]

You need to change the FSB:RAM ratio.
266:800 = 3 (2:3 on some motherboards)
300:900 = 3 your RAM is now overclocked to 900MHz.

You need to set your FSB:RAM ratio to 2.4(or 5:6) for upto 333MHz FSB.
1:2(or 1:1) in for upto 400MHz FSB.

Timings :
5-5-5-15 are standard (JEDEC) values and on some boards RAM falls back to these values.
You can leave them at that until you've stopped playing with the CPU settings.
Only change 1 setting at a time as the guide says.

 

[Festisio]

thanks for you reply, when I get home I'll have a go setting the FSB to 333, so then potentially I can get 3.0Ghz.

Can we just break it down, as I really don't want to screw this up.

With a CPU multiplier of 9
FSB - 333Mhz - I use a ratio of 5:6 (thats how you described it)

If I get greedy and try 366Mhz for FSB I set it to 1:2

 

[rubix_1011]

Seriously, the 333 FSB setting is like a 'free' overclock; you can even hit that with DDR2-667 RAM just by switching that one setting. If you want to get above that, I believe you will need at least DDR2-800. I was barely able to get over 3.0ghz on DDR2-667 (3.01 or something meaningless like that) I went with 1066 and hit 3.6, but I run @ 3.425 99% of the time.

 

[Andrius]

thanks for you reply, when I get home I'll have a go setting the FSB to 333, so then potentially I can get 3.0Ghz.

Can we just break it down, as I really don't want to screw this up.

With a CPU multiplier of 9
FSB - 333Mhz - I use a ratio of 5:6 (thats how you described it)

If I get greedy and try 366Mhz for FSB I set it to 1:2

If you want your RAM to run below or at 800MHz the settings I stated are correct, yes.
Some motherboard manufacturers mark the settings differently so check your motherboard manual on what is right.
frq stands for RAM frequency
[fixed]Q6600 9xFSB : FSB:frq : FSB:RAM(DDR)
2400 9x266 : 266:400 : 266:800 : 2:3 , 3, 1.5
2700 9x300 : 300:400 : 300:800 : 3:4 (not available on all boards)
3000 9x333 : 333:400 : 333:800 : 5:6, 2.4, 1.2 (widely available)
3000 9x333 : 333:333 : 333:667 : 1:1, 2, 1 (just in case)
3150 9x350 : 350:400 : 350:800 : 7:8
3300 9x366 : 366:400 : 366:800 : 11:12 (most likely not available)
so go with
3300 9x366 : 366:366 : 366:733 : 1:1, 2, 1[/fixed]

In case you get greedy don't leave the Vcore voltage setting on auto and stay below 1.4V at all times or you could end up with a $200 QC keychain. Good luck.

 

[Festisio]

Thanks for the help.

Unbelievably I cannot find anywhere where to set this FSB:RAM ratio. Nowhere in my BIOS do I see an option like that at all? Nothing that has ratios in even!

So.. I tried setting the FSB at 333 and I got blue screens all over the place.

It's running at 1.336V at the moment under idle so maybe I'm getting as much as I can out of my chip.

My motherboard is a P5k p35, in case anyone has the same and knows where this setting is. But I looked at every single option and had no results!

 

[Andrius]

BIOS : Advanced :
Set AI Overclocking to Manual (if you haven't done so already).
Set DRAM Frequency to DDR2-800MHz

That voltage seems excessive for a Q6600 (G0 stepping) at 3.0GHz.
My Q6600 runs 3.0GHz at 1.22500V and 3.3GHz at 1.29750V (VID = 1.3V).

For other settings I recommend you read the motherboard manual section 4.4.

 

[Festisio]

Hi,

I had set both those settings yeah. Didn't relate that to any ratio, just I knew that was the same figure as my RAM speed.

I don't really know what to say about the voltage, maybe I just have a runt of a chip!

I thought the G0 was good to near 1.5V (although I don't want to go near that)

Going to dig up the manual now and see what that has to say on the matter.

Cheers

 

[Andrius]

Since you're making screenshots shoot one of the Memory and SPD tab as well.

The G0 is good upto about 1.5V but since you're having trouble and didn't state what CPU cooler you use, I'd rather you keep it safe. If you feel confident about setting the voltage manualy go into BIOS and set it to 1.25V and run Prime95 for stability checks . I'm sure it's going to be stable at 2.7GHz. After that set the memory to DDR2-667MHz and try to push it to 3.0GHz.

Good luck.

 

[Lupiron]

Whats the Factory VID of your q6600 Andrius? The newest Core Temp Should have a fixed Value, could you list it please? Remember that Festisio has the Worse VID possible for a q6x00 series.

Thanks!

--Lupi

 

[Lupiron]

LOL, Gotta Love Speed Step! Nice CPU-Z Shot.

--Lupi

 

[Lupiron]

Uhh, after re reading, What is your Mother board, Festisio?

--Lupi

 

[Festisio]

Cheers for replies, I tried to add rep or whatever it is by clicking on the green thumbs up but it errored for half of you...

Since you're making screenshots shoot one of the Memory and SPD tab as well.

The G0 is good upto about 1.5V but since you're having trouble and didn't state what CPU cooler you use, I'd rather you keep it safe. If you feel confident about setting the voltage manualy go into BIOS and set it to 1.25V and run Prime95 for stability checks . I'm sure it's going to be stable at 2.7GHz. After that set the memory to DDR2-667MHz and try to push it to 3.0GHz.

Good luck.

I notice the RAM timings are different now than they were yesterday. Guess I changed some other settings in the BIOS today which affected that. As you will have gathered I'm not understanding everything I'm doing (unwise I know when messing around with crucial system settings but that's never stopped me before )

Remember that Festisio has the Worse VID possible for a q6x00 series.



Thanks!

--Lupi

 

[Festisio]

No editing allowed !

 

[Festisio]

Motherboard: ASUS P5K AiLifestyle Series iP35 Socket 775 eSATA 8channel Audio ATX Motherboard

Cooler: Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 Processor Cooler

Bought especially for overclocking. Be nice to get my moneys worth.

 

[Festisio]

Since you're making screenshots shoot one of the Memory and SPD tab as well.

The G0 is good upto about 1.5V but since you're having trouble and didn't state what CPU cooler you use, I'd rather you keep it safe. If you feel confident about setting the voltage manualy go into BIOS and set it to 1.25V and run Prime95 for stability checks . I'm sure it's going to be stable at 2.7GHz. After that set the memory to DDR2-667MHz and try to push it to 3.0GHz.

Good luck.

When I set it to 1.25V it wont get past the POST screen, just kind of loops that continuously.

9*333 with Auto Voltage now gets to Windows, but when I rune prime95 it BSODs almost straight after beginning the test.

I think I have to resign myself to sticking at 2700Mhz. Not gonna lie, I'm dissapointed, I was hoping to at least get into the 3.xxx figures. Ho Hum.

 

[Andrius]

^Bad luck. I guess Lupiron is right.
The Autovoltage is not good for overclocking (you have no control over it).
For editing use QuickEdit next to Edit in the top right message corner (works for me) unlike the Edit function.

@Lupiron
I quote myself :

That voltage seems excessive for a Q6600 (G0 stepping) at 3.0GHz.
My Q6600 runs 3.0GHz at 1.22500V and 3.3GHz at 1.29750V (VID = 1.3V).

It also runs stock 2.4GHz at 1.075V (24h Prime95) stable on a noname PSU.
If he has the worst I guess I have close to the worse also.

 

[Lupiron]

Lets try this, okay? Do you have a Load Line Calibration option in your bios? if so, turn it on, then re start. If not, onward!

Select VCore of 1.3250 in your BIOS!

Boot into windows ant any speed that works, and look at CPUz and watch the idle Voltage, its lower than 1.3250. By how much? Thats your VDrop.

Now Run Prime 95 small ffts on all 4 cores. After 1 min, note the new Value in CPUz. Thats VDroop.

List all that junk here for me please? I am currently looking for the lowest VCore voltage for 3.4 on a 1.3250 VID chip. Will let ya know in a while.

--Lupi

 

[Lupiron]

Hehe, thought you were meaning 1.29750 = 1.3 VID, lol!

And not necessarily! I have a 1.3250 and its looking like its sweet spot is 1.344v @ 3.4 (Gets 3.6 at 1.416 (1.4200))

Only tested it for just over 2 hours there, but my cooling may be a factor. Hottest core was 52c on the 3.4 test.



--Lupi

 

[Andrius]

@Lupiron
No problem. I've made it bold so it's easier to see. With all the frequencies and voltages in that line it's easy to miss.

I've done a few of these "free bumps" to 3.0GHz and most Q6600s take it well (and still below 1.3V). Maybe it's because they didn't run with 4 sticks of RAM on the plain vanilla P5K board.

I went upto 1.4V on my Q6600 but it wasn't yet stable at 3.6GHz. I'd like to keep my chip for a few years so I'm not taking risks as it's my workhorse build (my GF9600GT is already overkill for this build).
The cooling part is strange yes. My Q6600 goes upto 54°C (CoreTemp/HWMonitor) at 3.0 and upto 55°C at 3.3 (9x367MHz) in a Prime95 maximum heat 24h test. That's quite strange as it's a .0725V bump in voltage. I also have a "quite cheap" P35 board and everything above 367MHz FSB I have to raise (G)MCH and ICH voltage by one notch (stable 3.2GHz (8x400MHz), I didn't test further as it wasn't stable at 3.6GHz).

 

[Lupiron]

You may need more VCore, my 1.3000 needed 1.43 - 1.44 loaded to be stable.
Got my water cooler, and behold.. it doesnt fit, so modifying it as I type, so I am way slow. My 1.2000 is at 3.6 @ 1.300 Loaded, hehe. But I cant get the cooler on right. Its like 6c hotter than I expect it to be, waaahhhh!!

--Lupi!

 

[Andrius]

Yes, however I didn't want to risk it at that time. The values I've posted are all BIOS settings. At 1.4V BIOS the Vcore in Windows is about 1.38V. I predict I'd have to use a BIOS setting of about 1.47V to get 1.44V under Windows. I've chickened out on it.

However given the fact that I've had some problems in Linux with 8x400MHz I'd rather not have 3.6 and "issues". The drawback of buying a cheap board I guess.
What watercooler did you get? Doesn't fit how (board or mount issue)?

 

[dragoncyber]

I was having problems the other day with my Q6600, Lupi probably remembers me. But anyways my board is a 790i Ultra EVGA. I was running it at 3.4 for a month solid, no issues. Then I came home and after I did a bios update to P04 recently for the 790i series I could get it too boot at 3.4ghz no problem but the system would freeze after 15-20 seconds.

My solution was this>>

Do not forget to adjust all voltage settings available to the components that you are over clocking. If you are adjusting the Core Voltage you need to adjust the FSB Voltage as well, also I adjusted the MCP voltage and SPP voltage. If one component in your system runs faster all the components must keep up. The extra power to each component on the mother board =
more stability as all of the board is being used.

My Q6600 is rock solid stable again at 3.4ghz with these settings>>

Vcore: 1.35 (actual shows 1.32)
FSB: 1.40
MCP:1.40
SPP: 1.40
MEM: 1.60

378 X 9 = 3.4ghz
FSB set to unlinked at (1511) or ( 378 x 4)
Memory : Corsair DDR3 XMS3 (4gb) 1067 OC'd to 1200 at 1.6 voltage
Mem timings: 8-8-8-23
(this memory will run at 1333mhz at 9-9-9-27) Stock voltage is 1.5.

These settings are adamantium solid at 3.4GHZ Tested and burned with >>
4 instances of Prime95 for 12 hours solid.
Loop tested 3dMark06 Score = 18,808 with Sli'd 8800 GT OC'd to >>
700 Core/1000 Memory/1600 Shader.
PC MARK05 And Orthos Stable

Best part is my core never exceeded 60 Degress Celcius under full load, I am using a modified Thermal Take V1 CPU Cooler with (2) 120mm fans.

So my recommendation is that you may want to possibly raise your voltage settings a bit higher to remain stable.

GOODLUCK