Q9550 questions from an inexperienced OCer

[Latsabb]

Hello.

I have done very minor overclocking in the past, usually 5-10%, which often did not involve touching the vcore. However, I wanted to buy a Q9550, and boost it up to around 3.2-3.4ghz.

I had planned to stick with the stock cooler, and I would preffer to not mess with the vcore more than neccesarry. I had also planned to buy ddr2 800 ram. From what i have been seeing, all of the above seem unlikely. I have heard that I cannot use ddr2 800 to go above 3.2ghz, and that the stock cooler will barely allow overclocking at all.

Can someone clear some of these up for me please? I dont want to go crazy on the overclocking, I just want a nice, respectable overclock. If it will involve tons of extra tweaks, I would rather just stay at stock speeds.

Thanks for any help that you can provide!

 

[Mondoman]

DDR2-800 will take you up to 1600MHz FSB, which would be a 3.4GHz CPU core speed on your CPU. As for the vcore and cooler, it's easy enough to start with stock and see how far that takes you.

 

[Latsabb]

I realize that there is no way of telling when I will need an aftermarket cooler, but is it at all realistic to assume that I can get a Q9550 to 3.4ghz on a stock cooler? I might be able to adjust my budget to allow for a new fan, but I dont want to unless I REALLY need to. However, if it can't be done with a stock, flat out, then that gives me a better look at my options.

Anyway, I am not looking for certaintees. I am just looking for someone to show me what the reality is. And if the reality is that I will need to buy an aftermarket cooler, no matter what, then so be it I guess.

 

[RJR]

Well for certainties you have DEATH and TAXES, one you can cheat on.

As for OCing, NO SUCH THING !!! 2 EXACT same setups will probably OC differently.

Trying to OC a quad with a stock cooler, I'd say you will "probably" NOT like the outcome, but it's only a small OC.

Can you get a golden chip that OC's to 3.4 GHz on lower that stock voltages thus keeping your temps within reason. WHO KNOWS. Buy the chip and test it, that's the ONLY way you will know for sure (as stated).

 

[blackpanther26]

well to tell you the truth the Stock cooler for Intel's chips S*ck. Get an aftermake cooler and then do your research. And you can probally hit 3.6GHz on stock volts but you'll need DDR2 1066. I'm at 4GHz on stock voltage. 1.32v

 

[aznguy0028]

most likely, you would have to get an aftermarket cooler for 3.4ghz. i wouldn't use a stock cooler for that speed. 2nd, you would also most very likely would have to change the vcore but not by any super great amounts. i've OC-ed alot of the Q9xxx series for my friends, and every single one, i had to raise the vcore to hit 400fsb.

it's not hard if you know what you're doing, but it is time consuming stress testing the system. expect 12-18 hours of your time. i do all my tests for 12+ hours just to ensure 100% stability.

 

[RJR]

The VID on your Q9650 is 1.32v???

Seems a little high Blackpanther, that sucks.

 

[blackpanther26]

well acually it is 1.318v Still stock voltage as Intel rates it up to 1.3625v

 

[RJR]

Well, to over simplify things 1.3625v is Intel's recommended max voltage per their product spec sheet.

You can obtain your VID by using a program like CORE TEMP or some others. This will report your VID as set by the manufacturer when the chip was produced. It is, you can say, the default vcore of the chip or the stock setting (very over simplified). You can change your vcore all you want and the VID will not change.

Here is another thread about VID of chips:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/247750-29-could-post-core-temp-factory-please