"Retro" Build: Q6600, Foxconn G33M

[hanging_moon]

To start off -- I know this is old hardware architechture, and I'm aware that I won't be able to make a powerhouse computer out of these old parts. I'm not trying to make a powerhouse computer though, I'm merely trying to get into overclocking and tinkering without putting $1000 on the line for an unlocked i5/Z97 combo.

As of yet, I've done a bit of experimental (aka very basic) overclocking with 2 different GPUs, a GTX 680 and a Radeon HD 7950. Using Afterburner, I got some pretty good results without trying to dig into voltage tweaks; I've simply messed around with bumping up core and memory clocks. However, I'm looking to get my feet wet with CPU overclocking, so I dug up some old hardware to try my hand at it.

In my research, I've found that the Foxconn mobo is pretty slim pickins as far as OC controls, but according to this Tweaktown review of it, overclocking is possible (just not by much). Link to that: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1168/foxconn_g33m_motherboard_intel_gma3100/index5.html

Again, I'm absolutely a novice overclocker, so I don't understand what the effects of bumping the FSB up or down will do, what voltage(s) I should and shouldn't touch, etc. Really any guidance in the right direction to help me learn about the art of overclocking would be really appreciated. Even if that means just pointing me over to a general introduction to the physics of overclocking, or something like that.

Again, not looking for replies such as "it's a waste of time, buy better hardware next time" or whatever. I'm trying to make this a learning experience, not set world records.

 

[andy_Man]

When overclocking via FSB you have to watch a few different things. Your fsb controls the speed of your ram and pci-e lanes. (If I remember right) The multiplier on the pci-e lanes is not that high so you don't need to worry about that so much. Most just keep a watch on the ram. I suggest when overclocking the cpu, turn down the ram multiplier. This will keep the ram within a range you can be sure it can handle while you focus on the cpu. Then once the cpu is stable you can adjust the ram multiplier for a ram overclock.

 

[4745454b]

The Q6600 has a 266MHz FSB. With the CPU multiplier of 9 that gives you the 2.4GHz clock speed. One of the easiest OCs to do is to bump the FSB to 400. If you have good cooling and a good chip it's now running at 3.6GHz. You might need to drop the multiplier down to 8 however for 3.2GHz. Notice in the review they had to drop the multiplier down to 7 to get to 438. This will be the first OC I'd shoot for.

I didn't see where it mentioned FSB to RAM changes. I hope you have some good ram in there or else it will be limiting the OC.

 

[delaro]

If you really want to push that chip and find what the limits are get a board with P45 or X48 chipset, they will be much more Overclock friendly and have the VRM's to push a Q6600 to the 4ghz mark. P45 boards run on Ebay for around $50.

 

[hanging_moon]

andy_Man: thanks for that! So I should underclock the RAM before turning things up on the FSB? And is there any approximate target I can expect from the FSB, with a default of 1066?

4745454b: I did see that, and I've seen another explanation of how the core multiplier works. Are Bus Speed and FSB the same, though? I'm not sure what the difference is between "Bus Speed" and "Rated FSB" in CPU-Z. I only ask because I think the default FSB is 1066 -- but that would be on the mobo as opposed to the CPU, right?

delaro: That's the future goal, once I get some of the basics figured out. A mobo that has more OC options would certainly be nice, because then I can learn basic and advanced tinkering on the same board. It'll certainly be a future investment -- I know Q6600 chips are known for overclockability, so a nice cooler and (eventually) better board are long-term goals for sure.

 

[4745454b]

Bus speed and FSB are the same. On the Q6600, it's 266MHz. "Rated" takes into account that on these chips they can send 4 bits of info per clock, so it's "in effect" FSB isn't 266, but 1066. When making adjustments in the bios you use the 266 number, not the 1066.

 

[hanging_moon]

Ok, well, I dropped down the CPU multiplier all the way to 6 to start. Then I pushed the FSB up to 1200 (there's nowhere in the BIOS where I can work with the 266-based frequency). That worked fine, the CPU clocked in at 1.8GHz and worked fine. I decided to push it higher, to 1600 (which I figured was the equivalent of a 400Mhz FSB o/c ... right?).

It warned me on boot that the CPU was going to be running past its limit, so I hit F1 to go into the BIOS and drop it back down. Save settings, restart, same thing. Dropped it lower again. Save and restart again, no video. I don't think it's posting anymore.

Any ideas?

 

[andy_Man]

Back off the fsb, fsb affects pci-e speed. Which is why you might be running into video problems.

Try fsb of 375(1500), again with the cpu and ram multipliers turned down. Is there control for ram multiplier or ram ratio, might be called one of those?

 

[hanging_moon]

Don't think there's any way to back off the RAM, I just have the option of running it at 667 MHz or 800 MHz, or "Auto." I'm not sure what the RAM is set to at stock. Is that potentially what's holding back the o/c?

 

[4745454b]

What ram do you have? Set it to 667/800 depending on what you have in there.

It warned me on boot that the CPU was going to be running past its limit

Did it allow you to proceed? That is what OCing is after all.